A method is disclosed for providing highly available, redundant optical modules using a single network connection in a data processing system. An embedded network interface or network adapter card that occupies one network slot is included and includes a plurality of optical modules. The embedded network interface or network adapter card is used to communicate with a network utilizing one of the optical modules. One of the optical modules is currently designated as an active module. A redundancy controller is included on the network adapter card. The redundancy controller detects a failure of the optical module that is currently designated as the active module and changes the active module designation from the failed optical module to a remaining one of the optical modules such that the remaining one of the optical modules becomes designated as the active module. The embedded network interface or network adapter card then begins utilizing the newly designated optical module to communicate with the network.