This Raspberry Pi project visualizes your real-time network traffic in the most beautiful way
Originally published on tomshardware.com by Ash Hill on 2 January 2025
Visualizing network activity doesn’t have to be confined to charts or data logs—it can be an art form. Maker and developer Alex Chang has proven this with a mesmerizing Raspberry Pi-powered project that transforms network activity into a dynamic light display. The centerpiece of the project is a large geodesic sphere filled with fiber optic cables and LEDs, lighting up in real-time as data packets move across the local network.
The core of the setup is a Raspberry Pi 3B+, which coordinates the lighting effects in sync with network activity. Complementing the Pi is an ESP32 module, which sniffs Wi-Fi packets and relays this data to the Pi. When packets are detected, the LEDs—40 in total—flash accordingly, creating a visual representation of the network’s activity. The result is both functional and artistic, making it easy to monitor activity at a glance while enjoying the light show.
The sphere itself is constructed from 60 wooden dowel rods, connected by 12 3D-printed pentagonal joints and 30 hexagonal joints. These components, which you can download from Thingiverse, form the structure. Inside, fiber optic cables distribute the LED light, creating a glowing, interconnected display. Given the limited GPIO on the Raspberry Pi, Chang designed a custom PCB to control the SMD5730 LEDs and TLC5916 drivers.
On the software side, the ESP32 uses an open-source tool, ESP32-WiFi-Sniffer, to capture network packets. A Python script on the Raspberry Pi interprets the data and controls the LED illumination. Both the ESP32 and Raspberry Pi code are open-source, accessible on GitHub, allowing anyone to recreate or adapt the project.
For a closer look at this brilliant combination of network security and artistic design, you can explore Chang’s video on YouTube or visit the official project page on Hackster. It’s a unique way to bring both functionality and beauty to your home network.
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