Real-time health monitoring in an all-photonics network

A method for analyzing an information handling system, the method comprising:

• providing, in each network node of a plurality of network nodes of the information handling system, an optical link and a reflectometry analyzer configured to provide reflectometry results, each reflectometry result providing a characterization of physical properties of the optical link at the time of the reflectometry result;
• for each optical link analyzing, by a processor of the information handling system, the reflectometry results to determine a fingerprint of the physical properties of the associated optical link;
• determining a status for each of the optical links based upon the associated fingerprints, wherein the status for each of the optical links includes an age-related status for the associated optical link, the age-related status being determined based upon a drift over time in a mean value of the associated reflectometry result;
• and
• displaying a map of the information handling system including each network node and the associated optical link, wherein the map provides an indication of the status for each of the optical links.

An information handling system, comprising:

• a plurality of network nodes, each network node including an optical link and a reflectometry analyzer configured to provide reflectometry results, each reflectometry result providing a characterization of physical properties of the optical link at the time of the reflectometry result;
• a processor configured to:
• for each optical link, analyze the reflectometry results to determine a fingerprint of the physical properties of the associated optical link;
• and
• determine a status for each of the optical links based upon the associated fingerprints, wherein the status for each of the optical links includes an age-related status for the associated optical link, the age-related status being determined based upon a drift over time in a mean value of the associated reflectometry result;
• and
• a display device configured to display a map of the information handling system including each network node and the associated optical link, wherein the map provides an indication of the status for each of the optical links.