Cisco SFP+ compatibility with 3rd party device

[adeebtaqui]

 Can someone please share their experience and knowledge regarding below queries related Cisco SFP compatibility with 3rd party devices.

-can we use any existing 3rd party 10GBase-SFP+ SR/LR on Cisco switch when connecting to any 3rd party device that is using a similar SFP standard of 10GBase-SFP+ SR/LR. For example, existing Juniper/HP/AV Terra device connecting to Cisco switch.

-Can we use Cisco official SFP's on Cisco switches for connecting to 3rd party devices like Christie Terra AV transmitter, HP/Juniper switches that are using their 3rd partyu SFP's of similar SFP specification/standard like 10G base SR. •

-To be specific, we have a deployment as shown in below/attached pic of cisco switch 9300 to connect to an AV device called Christie Terra transmitter/Receiver.

o The Christie representative is saying that a connection will not be established between Terra device having their generic sfp 10Gbase SR and cisco switch 9300 having Cisco official 10Gbase SR

 o Terra vendor is saying that “Only Cisco coded SFP+ transceivers used on Terra will work or establish link with Cisco switches. The encryption Cisco uses is specific. You will need Cisco coded transceivers at BOTH ENDS of the fibre OM cable. Cisco coded transceivers can be obtained from third party suppliers.” Is this is right.

[MUHAMMAD TAYYAB MUNIR]

Hi adeeb,

You can use 3rd party SFPs on cisco devices after enabling below mentioned commands in IOS.You just need to go into the IOS control panel and enter in two commands at the hash prompt. First:

# service unsupported-transceiver

Then the second command:

# no errdisable detect cause gbic-invalid

Once service unsupported-transceiver has been run, it will accept this command, which forces it to leave the port open even when an unrecognized SFP is inserted.

That's it. At this point, your Catalyst should happily accept a quality third party SFP you plug into it.

***Rate if Response helpful***

[ricardo.josephs]

Hi doesn´t seem to work on 2960L, can you help?

[Reza Sharifi]

Hi,

That is an older command and it is not available in most newer IOS versions. As for 3rd party optics working with Cisco equipment, it is hard to tell but if you are not buying it from a Cisco partner or reseller. I get mine here and they have worked with no issues.

https://www.fs.com/

They can also customize optics if need be.

HTH

[Joseph W. Doherty]

Generally, if optical transceivers are supporting the same optical standard (e.g. 10G base SR), they should work on different ends of the fiber link regardless of hardware vendor.  (NB: much like copper Ethernet generally doesn't depend on hardware vendor to intermix on the same copper link.)

If you find this not to be the case, likely at least one vendor isn't meeting the optical standard.

What's often a problem is using non-Cisco optical transceivers in their equipment, or sometimes even specific Cisco transceivers in their equipment (Cisco generally publishes what transceivers are supported on what platforms, starting with a specific IOS version).

Conversely, other vendors equipment might have problems running other than their own brand of transceivers in their hardware.