Physical layer management (PLM) system for use with an optical distribution frame having trays with selectable patch side

A tray for use in a subrack of a rack, the tray having a top side comprising:

• a printed circuit board configured so that a plurality of connections are made at a plurality of positions on the printed circuit board, each of said plurality of positions having at least two sides on said top side, each of the plurality of connections involving at least one connector positioned on a patch side of the plurality of positions and the at least one connector having a device associated with the at least one connector in which information is stored;
• a plurality of adapters, each adapter being held in the tray and associated with a respective one of the positions;
• wherein the tray is configured so that either side of said top side of the tray and either side of the adapter is used to support patching;
• wherein the tray is configured so that the device associated with the at least one connector involved in making the connections at the patch side can be read via the tray from whichever side of the tray is selected as the patch side;
• wherein the subrack includes a backplate adapted to receive a plurality of vertically stacked trays;
• and
• wherein the tray is configured to be removably mounted to the backplate.