Model transmit power for interfaces

[jeremystretch]

NetBox version

v3.0.8

Feature type

New functionality

Proposed functionality

Add a tx_power field to the Interface model for tracking transmit signal strength. This will be an integer value measured in dBm.

Use case

This was originally going to be part of the wireless networking feature (#3979), but I realized that such an attribute could be useful for optical interfaces as well. I'm opening this issue for review by the community to see if the proposed implementation would be suitable for general use.

Database changes

Add a new integer field to the dcim.Interface model. This would not apply to VM interfaces.

External dependencies

No response

[tb-killa]

Nice idea for wifi it's great.
For gbic it would be great if we have Rx and Tx power.

[xkilian]

For optical, I don't see great value, as the power is defined by the optics type. ZX, BX20, ER,etc. Actual power observed is in the monitoring domain and not Netbox. Maybe there is other use case...

[julianze]

The tx_power of optical transceiver could be useful for tracking the normal/desired TX Power. On the monitoring part we can compare the real power with the power it should be.

Of course the tx power has to bei baselined after the link has established.

Beide the tx_power there would be useful to have additional values like tx and rx dBm. Both values have to be baselined and then put in NetBox as single source of truth.
Monitoring can poll the live values and trigger alerts of the delta is to big. In additional in manual debugging this could as a desired reference.

This applies to optical and wireless interfaces.

[jeremystretch]

@julianze the purpose of this field is solely to indicate configured transmit power. Anything beyond that should utilize a custom field.