My organization has put out an RFP for a province-wide Fiber Optin government WAN. At the moment we are tendering for media converters.
The plan is to use a combination of 6500s, 3750-Es, and 3560s.
Several vendors have suggested that Cisco has relaxed their restriction to only use of Cisco specific parts, and only require meeting the conditions of the Multisourcing agreement.
I am waiting for a response from my Cisco rep, but has anyone else heard this?
There are semi-undocumented commands in some versions of IOS code on those switch lines in order to let other SFP vendors work in them.
In general, you will get messages saying that you will be unsupported then, and at first sight of a problem, TAC will blame your SFPs.
So, I wouldn't say that would be too relaxed in dealing with it.
OOTH, I was just sourcing some SFPs for some of the MDS gear, which I found that cisco only works with cisco label no matter what, but the cisco label SFPs were by far cheaper than any other vendor, even being half the cost of "guaranteed 3rd party replacement". Not sure if they just had a huge cost cut across that line or what.
The only cisco SFPs that I've seen that are outrageous in price were the more specialized ones. Ie. single mode long range, or CDWM versions.
haven't heard so, but I've come across to an issue where a non-cisco sfp was ok on the gig0/2 port of a 3560 switch and it wasn't ok on the gig0/1 port of the same switch. the cisco sfp worked fine on both ports. On another 3560 (same model) non-cisco sfp worked also fine.
I think that Cisco's optics are too expensive (while in storage networking are not), but I wouldn't blame TAC for not accepting RMA for the above mentioned 3560...
I got a reply from my rep stating that things are etting stricter, rather than looser. Even if it works, seems like warrantee issues.
Thanks for the input.
Trent
That's our impression. We have Cisco and 3Com kit. 3Com GBICs generally work in Cisco kit (though 'show int status' doesn't identify the type) but 3Com SFPs don't. Mind you neither Cisco GBICs nor SFPs have worked in the 3Com kit we've tried them in, but given the, errm, broad range of 3Com kit that's not a very exhaustive test.
Sam
thcollicutt crashed Echelon writing news:b77ebd4e- snipped-for-privacy@s12g2000prg.googlegroups.com:
Cisco's feelings are very strict when talking about support, however in real world there are a line of vendors Cisco equipment accepts, and as mentioned by others, on certain equipment there are commands to switch of vendor check.
Myself are using several Agilent branded SFPs and GBICs. Actually when you look at Cisco branded SFPs and GBICs it is Agilent who made them.
My suggestion is to NOT scrimp by buying "too good to be true" Cisco SFPs or GIBCs. I've been burnt by counterfeits. These parts are pretty expensive (in terms of what Cisco charges), but the headaches and odd behavior you'll save are probably worth it - too a point. The counterfeit devices are something to behold in terms of appearance, so be careful and buy from a reputable partner.
thcollicutt wrote:
It's not counterfeits that I'm bothered about, it's other reputable brands not being usable that's annoying.
Sam
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