Re: SFP Cost Variation

2016-03-12 Thread Nick Hilliard
Josh Reynolds wrote:
> http://packetpushers.net/overpriced-optics-by-oems/

the cost bases mentioned in this article are a bit odd:

> So how much does a 10GB SFP+ SR optic cost? It turns out around $85 +
> some margin, bringing the cost to $95.

You can pick up a 10GB SFP+ SR for $15 in units of one from fiberstore.
Given the volumes they buy, vendors are probably paying a lot less than
that.

Nick


Re: SFP Cost Variation

2016-03-12 Thread Mike Hale
You also run into some quality issues on third party ones, so be aware
and plan for it.  I've had maybe one Cisco-branded SFP go bad that I
can think, but I've got a crap ton of Axiom branded ones that were
bad.  Twinax ones were even worse...I got maybe two or three inserts
out of a significant fraction of them before they broke.  I've had
great luck with Curvature SFPs.

On Sat, Mar 12, 2016 at 11:38 AM, Jörg Kost  wrote:
> Its all about support under warranty.
>
> CDW is selling the original Brocade SFP. The amazon links only shows a
> compatible one. In most cases it will work, but if that tiny metal piece
> will break your freshly installed 20-x2 linecard, Brocade may not replace
> it. Also some of the cheaper optics may not support monitoring or diagnostic
> options.
>
> You can also check the second market for an used original optic, if you want
> to save some budget.
>
> Jörg
>
>
> On 9 Mar 2016, at 19:59, Nicholas Warren wrote:
>
>> Quick question for the experts.
>>
>> Why when looking at SFPs, some sites list them as $800 when the same part
>> number can be found on places like amazon for $30-$40. What is the
>> difference in them? Why would I buy them from a place like CDW with what
>> appears to be a 2,000% markup.
>>
>>
>> https://www.cdw.com/shop/products/Brocade-SFP-mini-GBIC-transceiver-module-G
>> igabit-Ethernet/1411743.aspx
>>
>> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0076Q1CTY
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Nich



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Re: SFP Cost Variation

2016-03-12 Thread Jörg Kost

Its all about support under warranty.

CDW is selling the original Brocade SFP. The amazon links only shows a 
compatible one. In most cases it will work, but if that tiny metal piece 
will break your freshly installed 20-x2 linecard, Brocade may not 
replace it. Also some of the cheaper optics may not support monitoring 
or diagnostic options.


You can also check the second market for an used original optic, if you 
want to save some budget.


Jörg

On 9 Mar 2016, at 19:59, Nicholas Warren wrote:


Quick question for the experts.

Why when looking at SFPs, some sites list them as $800 when the same 
part

number can be found on places like amazon for $30-$40. What is the
difference in them? Why would I buy them from a place like CDW with 
what

appears to be a 2,000% markup.

https://www.cdw.com/shop/products/Brocade-SFP-mini-GBIC-transceiver-module-G
igabit-Ethernet/1411743.aspx

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0076Q1CTY

Thanks,
Nich


Re: SFP Cost Variation

2016-03-12 Thread Edward Dore

> On 9 Mar 2016, at 18:59, Nicholas Warren  wrote:
> 
> Quick question for the experts.
> 
> Why when looking at SFPs, some sites list them as $800 when the same part
> number can be found on places like amazon for $30-$40. What is the
> difference in them? Why would I buy them from a place like CDW with what
> appears to be a 2,000% markup.
> 
> https://www.cdw.com/shop/products/Brocade-SFP-mini-GBIC-transceiver-module-G
> igabit-Ethernet/1411743.aspx
> 
> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0076Q1CTY
> 
> Thanks,
> Nich

The Amazon link almost certainly isn't the exact same part - it's more than 
likely a "compatible" module from a third party which has been coded to 
identify itself in the same way as the official part.

But yes, "official" optics are generally extremely expensive and third party 
ones are much, much cheaper (LightReading published an article many years ago 
reporting that at the time 25% of Cisco's profits were coming from the 
transceivers that they were selling as a huge markup!). You can get compatible 
transceivers for lots of popular vendors from the likes of Fiberstore, 
flexOptix and Solid Optics.

It's worth noting that the likes of Cisco, Juniper, Brocade etc. don't make the 
transceivers that they sell at these huge markups either - they just buy them 
from the likes of Finsar and code them with their own part numbers and 
guarantee them as compatible.

Depending on the vendor, product and software version, you may find that third 
party transceivers are disabled, have reduced functionality such as no DOM/DDM 
or generate warnings about being unsupported. This is why you can buy third 
party optics that are coded to identify themselves as legitimate parts.

Edward Dore
Freethought Internet


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Re: SFP Cost Variation

2016-03-12 Thread Josh Reynolds
http://packetpushers.net/overpriced-optics-by-oems/
On Mar 12, 2016 1:16 PM, "Nicholas Warren" 
wrote:

> Quick question for the experts.
>
> Why when looking at SFPs, some sites list them as $800 when the same part
> number can be found on places like amazon for $30-$40. What is the
> difference in them? Why would I buy them from a place like CDW with what
> appears to be a 2,000% markup.
>
>
> https://www.cdw.com/shop/products/Brocade-SFP-mini-GBIC-transceiver-module-G
> igabit-Ethernet/1411743.aspx
>
> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0076Q1CTY
>
> Thanks,
> Nich
>


SFP Cost Variation

2016-03-12 Thread Nicholas Warren
Quick question for the experts.

Why when looking at SFPs, some sites list them as $800 when the same part
number can be found on places like amazon for $30-$40. What is the
difference in them? Why would I buy them from a place like CDW with what
appears to be a 2,000% markup.

https://www.cdw.com/shop/products/Brocade-SFP-mini-GBIC-transceiver-module-G
igabit-Ethernet/1411743.aspx

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0076Q1CTY

Thanks,
Nich


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