System management functions are remotely performed on customer premises equipment (CPE), such a residential gateway, even if the CPE has not been authenticated or dynamically allocated an IP address or otherwise is not in a state that enables normal communication with the network. CPE management information is communicated using an IP address identifying a destination CPE but exclusively associated with CPE management. The access node that receives the CPE management information reconfigures the packets to translate the address to a fixed, non-public address. The same fixed address can be shared by all of the CPE's connected to the access node. The CPE recognizes the fixed address as though it were being addressed locally rather than through the network and is therefore able to receive the CPE management information even if the CPE has not been authenticated or dynamically allocated an IP address.