In the Privileged EXEC mode of the switch, use the show fiber-ports-optical-transceiver command by entering the following: interface interface-id - (Optional) Specify an Ethernet port ID. Note: In this example, te1/0/3 interface is used. Monitoring the optical power of SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) modules is a critical step in maintaining stable network links. Even if an interface appears up, degraded Tx/Rx levels can cause intermittent flapping, packet loss, or err-disabled states. Checking optical power helps pinpoint issues. This guide gives a practical, CLI-focused workflow for checking SFP health and diagnostics on Cisco switches, shows the exact commands you'll use, explains what the numbers mean, and compares OEM (Cisco) vs third-party modules so you can pick the right SFP module supplier for reliability and cost. Once the transceiver and fiber optic cable are plugged in properly in the switch optical module, you should be able to view the. When optical modules operate on a switch, it is usually necessary to read the module's internal information to understand its working status—such as connection status and real-time metrics like optical power and temperature. Sample Output: IOS-router#show hw-module subslot 0/2 transceiver 2. An SFP module is a hot-swappable transceiver that converts electrical signals into optical (or electrical, in copper variants) signals. It enables flexible connectivity between networking devices and supports different speeds, wavelengths, and distances.