FAQs About Third-Party SFP

In order to cut down the costs on the expensive SFP transceiver modules, many companies are seeking for Cisco SFP alternatives to use. And when we are recommended cost effective solutions for upgrading customers' networks, we often run into several frequently asked questions involving the Cisco Catalyst line of switches, and whether we can use a Cisco compatible SFP (a 3rd Party SFP) with them. Here are some common questions we might have when using a 3rd Party SFP transceiver. And from the answers, we might have a deeper understanding of using these 3rd Party SFP transceivers.

What Does "Third-Party" Mean?
In commerce, a "third-party" means a supplier (or service provider) who is not directly controlled by either the seller (first party) or the customer/buyer (second party) in a business transaction. For example, in the fiber optics industry, all fiber optic transceivers are defined by Multi-Source Agreement (MSA). MSAs strictly define the operating characteristics of fiber optic networking equipment, so that system vendors may implement ports in their devices that allow MSA compliant networking components produced by different manufacturers are interoperable. As long as a manufacturer complies to MSA guidelines, their transceiver modules will function and operate identically to any other manufacturer's MSA-compliant transceivers. For instance, Fiberstore’s 100% MSA compliant GLC-SX-MM transceiver will function identically to a Cisco GLC-SX-MM transceiver and will be 100% compatible with Cisco networking equipment.

Can We Use Third-Party SFPs With Cisco Catalyst Switches?
In most cases, if you plugged a non-Cisco SFP transceiver into a Cisco Catalyst switch, you would get an error message like the following:

Are Third-Party Cisco-Compatible Transceivers Safe?
In our experience, there is absolutely no possibility that a third-party transceiver will cause problems. If the SFP is well-made and from a reliable vendor, there's simply no reason it should cause any issues. Most third-party transceivers are made and assembled in exactly the same plants assembling officially-branded transceivers and the chances of even a poorly-made one causing actual damage are extremely minimal. There are only a very small number of devices in this world with the specialty equipment needed to produce fiber optic hardware. Actually, there is no difference between an official Cisco transceiver and a third-party plug, aside from the brand name and the price difference.

The above-mentioned are the most frequently asked questions in the usage of a third-party SFP. If you confronted with the situation in which Cisco refused warranty support after actual damage when using a third-party transceiver, you could resort to an obscure regulation called the Magnuson-Moss Act specifically which prohibits a manufacturer from revoking warranty support merely for the use of unapproved hardware. Because they can't revoke your warranty unless they can demonstrate a forceful reason to prove the third-party hardware is at fault.