Fiber Link Optics Visualizer

A practical, operator-focused visualization of Cisco transceiver detail from both ends of a fiber link.

Fiber Link Optics Visualizer turns Cisco transceiver output from both ends of a link into a self-contained HTML report. The default workflow imports saved CLI output, and an optional read-only SSH workflow can collect the same data from approved lab or operational environments.

The report places the two endpoint threshold graphs side by side with bidirectional optical-loss estimates in the middle. It displays temperature, voltage, bias current, transmit power, receive power, device thresholds, and collection timestamps.

The images use synthetic readings and placeholder device labels. A complete browsable example is available at examples/dummy-report.html.

Version 0.3.5

This revision promotes the tested Nexus/CDP compatibility work into the sanitized public package while keeping the repository source-only.

• Added Nexus-style SFP Detail Diagnostics Information parsing for row-based DOM tables.
• Added a supported-platform dropdown for live SSH collection and limited it to validated choices only.
• Routed Nexus live collection to show int <interface> transceiver details.
• Trimmed CDP-discovered B-side hostnames so domain suffixes or parenthetical trailer text do not interfere with SSH connection attempts.
• Normalized Ethernet and Eth interface names consistently across CDP, operator input, and parsed logs.
• Preserved the sanitized public scope with synthetic fixtures only and no binary artifacts committed to the repository.

See HISTORY.md for the revision log.

Safety and Scope

• Manual log import remains the default workflow
• Optional read-only SSH collection
• Operator confirmation before live collection commands
• No credential collection or storage
• No device configuration changes
• Local HTML output

Directional loss is calculated from device-reported source Tx and remote Rx values. It is an operational estimate, not an OTDR measurement, and the tool does not impose a universal acceptable-loss threshold.

Supported Input

The parser targets threshold-backed Cisco IOS, IOS-XE, and Nexus-style output from commands such as:

show interfaces <interface> transceiver detail
show int <interface> transceiver details
show interfaces transceiver detail

It supports common compact threshold tables, Nexus row-based SFP diagnostics, and common Cisco interface names including Gi, Te, Twe, and Eth. Older modules that explicitly report DOM/DDM diagnostics as unsupported are treated as limited data rather than failed optics; directional loss is marked unavailable when Tx/Rx power is missing.

Optional CDP-assisted discovery uses:

show cdp neighbors detail

The discovered endpoint pair is displayed for operator review before the tool uses it.

Quick Start

Python 3.10 or newer is required.

python fiber_link_optics_visualizer.py

The desktop application uses standard Tkinter. Installing ttkbootstrap adds the optional themed appearance:

python -m pip install -e ".[gui]"
fiber-optics-gui

Install Netmiko only when you want to use the optional SSH workflow:

python -m pip install -e ".[ssh]"

For dependency scanners that expect a classic Python manifest, requirements.txt lists the optional GUI/SSH runtime dependencies.

In the GUI:

1. Select one sanitized or locally collected transceiver log for each endpoint.
2. Enter the endpoint labels and interfaces.
3. Optionally enter ISO 8601 collection timestamps with UTC offsets.
4. Select Analyze Logs.
5. Select Export HTML to create the report.

If a timestamp is omitted, the file modification time is used and identified as such in the report.

Optional Live SSH Workflow

Live SSH collection is designed as an operator-gated convenience, not a replacement for approval, change-control, or local security policy.

The workflow is deliberately step-by-step:

1. Enter Endpoint A device, Endpoint A interface, expected Endpoint B device, SSH username, SSH port, and the starting Device type from the GUI dropdown. Supported live choices are cisco_ios, cisco_xe, and cisco_nxos.
2. Select Connect A and complete the interactive login flow. After login, the tool runs show version to refine the IOS/IOS-XE/NX-OS command family when the platform can be identified.
3. Select Discover B via CDP to run show cdp neighbors detail.
4. Review and confirm the discovered B-side device and interface.
5. Select Collect A Optics and confirm the read-only transceiver command.
6. Select Connect B and complete the second interactive login flow.
7. Select Collect B Optics and confirm the read-only transceiver command.
8. Select Build Live Report, then Export HTML.

The live collector uses only:

show cdp neighbors detail
show version
show interfaces <interface> transceiver detail
show int <interface> transceiver details

When CDP discovery finds a B-side device name, the tool applies a sanitized host value to the connect field by keeping the base hostname and dropping any domain suffix or parenthetical trailer text.

MFA and interactive SSH behavior varies by environment. Some SSH gateways present MFA prompts through the SSH session, while others require VPN, jump hosts, management subnets, or access controls outside this tool. If the SSH server cannot be reached, MFA prompts will not appear. Manual import remains the fallback path.

Sample Data

Synthetic files are included:

sample_data/endpoint_a_sanitized.log
sample_data/endpoint_b_sanitized.log

They contain no live device data. Use interface Te1/1/1 for both samples.

Command Line

python -m fiber_optics `
  --a-log "sample_data\endpoint_a_sanitized.log" `
  --a-device "LAB-SW-A" `
  --a-interface "Te1/1/1" `
  --a-collected-at "2026-01-15T10:30:17-05:00" `
  --b-log "sample_data\endpoint_b_sanitized.log" `
  --b-device "LAB-SW-B" `
  --b-interface "Te1/1/1" `
  --b-collected-at "2026-01-15T10:30:18-05:00" `
  --output "reports\fiber-link-report.html"

Tests

python -m unittest discover -s tests -v

All committed fixtures must remain synthetic and sanitized.

Windows Executable

Install the build dependencies and use the included PyInstaller specification:

python -m pip install -e ".[build]"
pyinstaller --noconfirm --clean fiber_link_optics_visualizer.spec

The windowed executable is written to dist\FiberLinkOpticsVisualizer.exe. Executables and build artifacts are not committed.

The public repository intentionally distributes source code, sanitized sample data, and reproducible packaging metadata. Published binaries are left to the operator because local signing and trust requirements vary by environment.

Privacy

Generated reports contain the endpoint names, interfaces, timestamps, input filenames, or live command labels entered by the operator. Review reports before sharing them. Keep raw operational logs in an ignored local input/ directory.

License

MIT. See LICENSE.

Cisco, Catalyst, IOS, and IOS-XE are trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. This project is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cisco.