Quoted:
At work I'm helping with our data center expansion. For the top of rack switches in the expansion cabinets, we're going to run a 25gb SFP drop from the main switches (which are Aruba's) that talk to the outside world. Is there any transceiver brands to avoid?
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Why would you use transceivers?
Would would you not use the appropriate approved SFP (Small form Plug-able laser) fiber plugged into it, then the fiber runs to the main core or edge switch or router, then plugs into the SFP on that end?
I am missing something or over complicating this on accident or is it semantics and you all callthe SFP/Laser module a transeiver ?
We always called them "Lasers" SFP, SC, XFP, etc etc... I can't remember them all now, but I remember there were about 10 different formats/sizes, aside from SX,LX, ZX, and various Mux Colors...
When I was working in all of Charters Data centers and hub sites, we only used Cisco SFP, XFP, or whatever sized laser modules in the Cisco Routers and switches... Officially and as far as Cisco was concerned. Now in actuality, we did run a bunch of off brand lasers bought from Worldwide Technology and a few other vendors for a pretty steep discount.
However, if we had an issue big enough that we had to open a TAC case and escalate to the upper level Cisco Engineers, we'd quickly swap out to actual Cisco lasers, for the call. That way when they did a Show Interface, Show Inventory and Show tech I think it was, they'd show up as Cisco.
If the TAC engineer logged in and ran those commands and they saw a non Cisco laser, that is the 1st thing they'd stop at, swear that was the issue and not go any further.
Then, If we swapped out the laser to Cisco's, they'd proceed to work the issue. It was almost like union guys walking off the job and filing a grievance.. LOL...
Not once did we ever have an issue that the issue experienced was a non-Cisco laser issue.
Now we did have a few failed (link down) lasers, that we replaced and resolved the link issue ourselves, without engaging Cisco TAC...
In my go box in my truck, I used to carry around about 30 or so lasers of various sizes (and different Lambdas for CWDM and DWDM muxes) for troubleshooting and replacements as needed.