Compatibility between the 20G/40G port to 10G port

[ciscosnt-int]

I have a problem when connecting a 20G/40G port to a 10G port. In my scenario, I need to connect the 20G/40G port on an ASR1002-HX EPA module to a 10G port on an ASR1001-HX. I need to know whether this scenario will work specifically, will the 20G/40G port be compatible with the 10G port?

[Leo Laohoo]

Optic port's speed must be the same at both ends and must be using the same wavelengths.

[DanielP211]

Hello,

This will not work. Maybe look into using a breakout cable on the 40G side (4x10G)? 

BR

[Giuseppe Larosa]

Hello @ciscosnt-int ,

generally speaking . No a 40 Gbps link can connect only to another 40 Gbps link.

There are specfic cases where a 40 Gbps is connected to a breakout cable that creates 4 10 GE ports but you need the correct connector (breakout cable) and the device needs to be configured to break out the port ( if this is supported it is for example on Nexus switches).

There is also another type of optics that can be plugged into a 40 Gbps slot and provide a bay to insert a single SFP+.

Again I have seen this on Nexus switches,

Hope to help

Giuseppe

[ciscosnt-int]

Hello @Giuseppe Larosa 

Can I use 40G to 10G converter for 40G QSFP port

Thank you

[Giuseppe Larosa]

Hello @ciscosnt-int ,

the part number of the converter is :

CVR-QSFP-SFP10G

The Cisco QSFP-40G to SFP or SFP+ Adapter (QSA) Module offers 10 Gigabit Ethernet and 1 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity for QSFP 40G ports. 

see

Cisco 40GBASE QSFP Modules Data Sheet - Cisco

but compatiibilty with ASR 1002 has to be checked using the compatibility tool

Optics Compatibility Matrix (cisco.com)

actually we need to dive into the datasheets

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/routers/asr-1000-series-aggregation-services-routers/datasheet-c78-731632.html

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/routers/asr-1002-router/data_sheet_c78-443175.html

and you need to check this on the EPA module datasheet

I have seen there is no SPA with 40GE speed

Hope to help

Giuseppe

[ciscosnt-int]

Hello @Giuseppe Larosa 

Thank you for your information.

[Giuseppe Larosa]

Hello @ciscosnt-int ,

I have not been able to find an authoritative answer if the converter CVR-QSFP-SFP10G is supported with your EPA 40G module. if the device is under a service contract you can open a Cisco TAC service request to ask this.

Hope to help

Giuseppe

[Joseph W. Doherty]

My understanding of such break out cables, on the 40g port, they create 4 virtual 10g ports.  So supporting such a transceiver is a little more complicated.

[Giuseppe Larosa]

Hello @Joseph W. Doherty ,

the breakout cable requires an explicit configuration on the main interface when it is supported and it is actually this SW breakout capability that is part of the thread.

From a physical point of view the breakout has a QSFP base and then it has 4 pairs of fibers each of them terminated either with two LC connectors or a sort of bay for SFP optics ( there should be different types of these breakout cables)

As an alternative I have suggested a different optics thay is actually a converter between the QSFP and a bay for inserting an SFP optics that is called CVR-QSFP-SFP10G.  I have used it on Nexus 3000 series in this case a single 40 GE port is downgraded to  an SFP+ single port without using breakout commands.

Unfortunately, as I have explained before there is lack of documentation on what kind of optics are supported on the 40GE EPA module.

Hope to help

Giuseppe

[ciscosnt-int]

Hello @Giuseppe Larosa,

Yes, this is very helpful. Thank you for the information.

Regards,
Anuradha