Why an API for Patch Cables and Transceivers?
In modern data centers, every asset is documented – every switch, every server, every cable. What sounds clean in theory is a tedious job in practice: typing in serial numbers, digging through vendor datasheets, manually copying wavelengths, reach values, and vendor codes into NetBox. One typo, and a troubleshooting session can run hours in the wrong direction.
Our co-founder Moritz Frenzel saw exactly this problem and approached Thomas Weible, CTO at FLEXOPTIX GmbH, with an idea: what if the data FLEXOPTIX already maintains for every transceiver and patch cable were simply available via an API? Thomas was immediately on board – and his team shipped.
The FLEXOPTIX Transceiver API
FLEXOPTIX has now opened the API to the public. Given the serial number of a transceiver or patch cable, you can pull all the relevant metadata – vendor codes, compatible platforms, optical specs, reach, and more. The full story is on the FLEXOPTIX blog (login required).
Our Contribution: The NetBox Plugin
After a short time with preview access, we did what we do best – integrated the API straight into NetBox. The plugin takes the serial number, calls the FLEXOPTIX API, and automatically fills the corresponding inventory item, transceiver, or cable with all available information.
In practice, that means:
- No more manual upkeep of vendor codes
- Consistent, vendor-verified data in NetBox
- Faster onboarding of new optics into existing installations
- A single source of truth for operations and audit
The plugin is published on GitHub under the MIT license: github.com/EdgeOps-GmbH/netbox-flexoptix-api. Pull requests and issues are welcome.
Thanks to FLEXOPTIX
A big thank you to Thomas Weible and the entire FLEXOPTIX team for being open to this idea, for the early preview access, and for shipping a clean, well-documented API. This is exactly the kind of collaboration we need to finally stop treating network documentation as busywork.
Our position stands: there can never be enough APIs.