A redundant optical connection system is manufactured in specially prepared
form to allow optical connections to be made at a later step. In response
to information specifying which of the optical sources are functional,
further structure may be activated or introduced into the connection
system which guides optical energy to optical outputs from only those of
the sources that are functional. In one aspect of the invention, the
preliminary form includes primary guiding structures coupling each of a
plurality of primary optical sources to a respective application
structure, and a secondary guiding structure coupled to a secondary
optical source and terminating without yet coupling to any application
structure. If the information indicates that one of the primary optical
sources is non-functional, then structure can be added or activated which
transfers optical energy from the secondary guiding structure into the
primary guiding structure corresponding to the non-functional source.