A pluggable active optical module (AOM) having an electrical connector at a first end and one or more optical adapters at a second end is disclosed. The AOM includes a storage device interface at the second end, and a programmable processor coupled to the storage device interface and one or more first contacts of the electrical connector. The programmable processor is configured to access a storage device in one or more optical fibers through the storage device interface and provide physical layer management (PLM) information obtained therefrom to a host device connected to the electrical connector. The AOM also includes a switch coupled between a second contact of the electrical connector and ground, the switch coupled to the programmable processor such that that programmable processor can control the switch to selectively connect a second contact of the electrical connector to ground.