A WDM optical system including a media converter module including a plurality of converter cards, each converter card being configured to convert a native signal into an optical signal. The system also includes a panel bracket having an opening and a plurality of fingers, and a cable management panel including a drawer having an interior space. The cable management panel includes a splitter/combiner module mounted in the interior space, and the cable management panel is positioned in the opening of the panel bracket so that a space is defined between the cable management panel and the media converter module.