Cybersecurity Updates & Tools

Telebix for Telegram-Based Zabbix Monitoring

Telebix is a Python-based monitoring application that connects Zabbix infrastructure monitoring with a Telegram bot. It allows network administrators to receive infrastructure alerts in Telegram, retrieve monitoring information, and interact with their Zabbix environment through bot commands.

The application combines Python and shell scripts with a graphical interface, making configuration and monitoring more accessible to administrators. Telebix can run on a compatible computer once the required Zabbix credentials, Telegram bot token, and recipient ID have been configured.

Telebix Features

  • Telegram notifications: Receive alerts when monitored infrastructure encounters problems.
  • Bot-based interaction: Send commands through Telegram to retrieve information from the monitored environment.
  • Graphical configuration: Enter connection details and manage settings through the application’s interface.
  • Zabbix integration: Connect to an existing Zabbix monitoring deployment using the appropriate credentials.
  • Python and shell scripting: Combine Python application logic with shell scripts for setup and operation.

Telebix may be useful for administrators who want monitoring notifications delivered to a messaging platform they already use. For broader monitoring coverage, see this guide to Nmap network discovery and scanning.

How to Create a Telegram Bot for Telebix

Telebix requires a Telegram bot to exchange commands and monitoring messages. Create one before configuring the application.

  1. Open Telegram and search for BotFather, the official bot used to create and manage Telegram bots.
  2. Start a conversation with BotFather and send the command /newbot.
  3. Follow the prompts to choose a display name and a unique username for your bot.
  4. Copy the bot API token supplied by BotFather and store it securely.
  5. Open your newly created bot and send it a message so Telegram can register the interaction.
Creating a Telegram bot for the Telebix Zabbix monitoring application

Security note: Treat the bot token like a password. Anyone who obtains it may be able to control the bot. Do not publish it in screenshots, source repositories, or shared configuration files.

Telebix Installation

Clone the project’s GitHub repository, enter the downloaded directory, and run its installation script. These commands reflect the installation procedure documented by the original project.

git clone https://github.com/Warflop/Telebix.git
cd Telebix
chmod +x setup.sh
sudo ./setup.sh --install

The setup script runs with elevated privileges, so inspect the script and confirm that it is suitable for your operating system before executing it. The repository is an older project; check its current availability and compatibility before installing it on a production monitoring server.

Configure Telebix with Zabbix and Telegram

Launch Telebix and open the Settings tab. Enter the connection details required to let the application communicate with your Zabbix server and Telegram bot.

Telebix settings interface for Zabbix credentials and Telegram bot configuration

Configure the following fields:

  • Zabbix credentials: Supply the login information required by your Zabbix installation.
  • Bot token: Enter the API token generated by BotFather.
  • Telegram user or group ID: Specify the account or group that should receive notifications.

Telebix includes a GET ID button that may retrieve your Telegram user ID after you have interacted with the bot. If you need to look up updates manually, use the Telegram Bot API endpoint below, replacing TOKENHERE with your actual bot token:

https://api.telegram.org/botTOKENHERE/getUpdates

Check the returned update data for the relevant chat’s id value. A group ID can also be used if the bot and application configuration support sending messages to that group. Keep the token private because it appears in the API request URL.

Telebix configuration interface for connecting Telegram notifications to Zabbix

Test Notifications and Monitoring

After saving the settings, verify that Telebix can authenticate with Zabbix and communicate with Telegram. Send a test message or supported bot command, then confirm that the expected response reaches the configured account or group. Check the application logs and Zabbix configuration if messages do not arrive.

For reliable operation, use a dedicated Zabbix account with only the permissions the application needs. Restrict access to the Telegram bot, protect credentials, and test the setup in a non-production environment before relying on it for operational alerts.

Telebix Video Tutorial

The original article includes a video walkthrough covering the application and its configuration.

Watch the Telebix video tutorial on Vimeo

Project repository: Warflop/Telebix on GitHub.