netbox-community
Support Firmware Tracking for Modules
NetBox version
v4.3.2
Feature type
Data model extension
Proposed functionality
In many modern hardware deployments, especially in high-density, modular switch and router platforms, transceivers and interface modules (e.g., SFP, SFP+, SFP28, QSFP28, CFP, and DWDM pluggables) often have upgradable and trackable firmware.
NetBox currently supports firmware version tracking for devices, but not for modules, which limits visibility and lifecycle tracking of critical hardware components installed in modular systems.
Use case
Network operators need to audit and validate firmware versions on pluggable transceivers and line cards. Tracking firmware across devices is important for: Security patching Compatibility with switch OS versions Vendor recall tracking Without this, users must maintain external firmware inventories or overload custom fields or tags.
Database changes
No response
External dependencies
No response
This sounds like a great use case for the new module profile types feature introduced in NetBox v4.3. This way, users will be able to set a firmware only for applicable modules.
Is it possible to use already defined platforms in modules using those profile types?
This sounds like a great use case for the new module profile types feature introduced in NetBox v4.3. This way, users will be able to set a firmware only for applicable modules.
This would work well if all the modules are on the same baseline, because you're effectively setting the firmware at the Module Type level.
Not sure whether this would work in larger environments, where you may (for example) have a large quantity of the same line card across your environment, and you may not be upgrading every single one to the same baseline for various technical, budgetary or other reasons. We often have the same line card across our setups with a few variations of firmware for that reason. Hardware wise, they're the same card, but running on different firmware levels.
In my use case, we deploy the same type of sfp modules with different firmware on them (to support different manufacturers).
NetBox currently supports firmware version tracking for devices
NetBox has a platform model, which can be specified for device and virtual machines; is that what you mean? Is the proposal here to add a platform field on the Module model as well? That seems like it would be confusing.
I'm not clear on what the proposed implementation is.
Hi @jeremystretch yeah I was talking about the platform model. Modules should be able to be assigned platforms as well.
Or there could be another model similar to platforms that does firmware tracking.
In this case we would recommend using a custom field to enable this functionality which should work.
Per Jeremy's comment adding platform to the Module model would be confusion. If you feel there should still be a separate feature request for this, a more detailed proposed solution should be outlined as it's not clear what the proposed implementation is.
