RE: GBIC's - Cisco and otherwise [7:51148]
When I was learning a bit about SAN's and Fibre Channel, one of my instructors mentioned that there were only 3 manufacturers of GBICs (couple years ago, may have changed by now). I have put GBICs (no long haul stuff) obtained from Nortel, IBM, Compaq, Brocade, Cisco, and "unknown" into a 3500, a 2950, a Nortel 420, Dell and a couple others just to see if they would work. They did. Fibre Channel GBICs, GigE GBICs, all seemed to work just fine. I'll try it in a 3550 later this month, and it will probably seem to work just fine also. SEEMED to work just fine. I wouldn't do that on a production network, but on a 'oh s$!%' or a giggles and grin basis, yea - no worries. YMMV, VWPBL, OSTCAAT... TTFN, Bill Pearch, Anchorage -Original Message- From: Chuck's Long Road [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Saturday, August 10, 2002 9:27 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: OT: GBIC's - Cisco and otherwise [7:51148] I took a bit of a risk, and purchased some GBIC;s off That Auction Site. Of the four, three are Cisco branded, and the fourth is labeled "Agilent" ( used to be HP ) I had done a bit of investigation prior to purchase. I see that the Auction Site has listings for Agilent, IBM, and Extreme GBIC's, as well as Cisco. However, I was unable to find any direct and clearly stated indication that all GBIC's are interchangeable. IBM and Agilent GBIC's cost few pretty pennies less than Cisco BTW, although I suspect now that the same source OEM's for all these manufacturers. So I paid my money, took my chance, and have an Agilent GBIC on one switch connected to a Cisco GBIC on another. No connectivity problems. Came right up. Is passing traffic even as I write. Thinking logically, why should GBIC's be any different that NIC's or patch cables, transceivers of various sorts and brands, or CSU/DSU's? They are all build to industry specifications and industry standards. They all do the same thing. Just thought I'd pass that along to those trying to stretch their practice lab or network upgrade dollars. [GroupStudy.com removed an attachment of type application/x-pkcs7-signature which had a name of smime.p7s] Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=51285&t=51148 -- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: GBIC's - Cisco and otherwise [7:51148]
I've bought over 100 of these from Cisco, and the simple fact was that there was no one Cisco model. I saw at least three different versions from Cisco and some definitely did not have the Cisco name on them. It is possible the Agilent unit did come from Cisco. My advice is that if it works, it probably is fine. If I understand correctly, a GBIC is built to the GMII Gigabit Media Independent Interface standard so interchange should be implied. Don ""Chuck's Long Road"" wrote in message [EMAIL PROTECTED]">news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]... > I took a bit of a risk, and purchased some GBIC;s off That Auction Site. Of > the four, three are Cisco branded, and the fourth is labeled "Agilent" ( > used to be HP ) > > I had done a bit of investigation prior to purchase. I see that the Auction > Site has listings for Agilent, IBM, and Extreme GBIC's, as well as Cisco. > However, I was unable to find any direct and clearly stated indication that > all GBIC's are interchangeable. > > IBM and Agilent GBIC's cost few pretty pennies less than Cisco BTW, although > I suspect now that the same source OEM's for all these manufacturers. > > So I paid my money, took my chance, and have an Agilent GBIC on one switch > connected to a Cisco GBIC on another. No connectivity problems. Came right > up. Is passing traffic even as I write. > > Thinking logically, why should GBIC's be any different that NIC's or patch > cables, transceivers of various sorts and brands, or CSU/DSU's? They are all > build to industry specifications and industry standards. They all do the > same thing. > > Just thought I'd pass that along to those trying to stretch their practice > lab or network upgrade dollars. Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=54930&t=51148 -- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: GBIC's - Cisco and otherwise [7:51148]
If they're all built to the standard, why does Cisco require different OS versions to support different GBICs? I have a 1000TX GBIC Cisco says isn't supported in a 5500. Maybe I'm just not meant to understand things like this... :-) >>> "seadon" 10/05/02 09:38AM >>> I've bought over 100 of these from Cisco, and the simple fact was that there was no one Cisco model. I saw at least three different versions from Cisco and some definitely did not have the Cisco name on them. It is possible the Agilent unit did come from Cisco. My advice is that if it works, it probably is fine. If I understand correctly, a GBIC is built to the GMII Gigabit Media Independent Interface standard so interchange should be implied. Don ""Chuck's Long Road"" wrote in message [EMAIL PROTECTED]">news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]... > I took a bit of a risk, and purchased some GBIC;s off That Auction Site. Of > the four, three are Cisco branded, and the fourth is labeled "Agilent" ( > used to be HP ) > > I had done a bit of investigation prior to purchase. I see that the Auction > Site has listings for Agilent, IBM, and Extreme GBIC's, as well as Cisco. > However, I was unable to find any direct and clearly stated indication that > all GBIC's are interchangeable. > > IBM and Agilent GBIC's cost few pretty pennies less than Cisco BTW, although > I suspect now that the same source OEM's for all these manufacturers. > > So I paid my money, took my chance, and have an Agilent GBIC on one switch > connected to a Cisco GBIC on another. No connectivity problems. Came right > up. Is passing traffic even as I write. > > Thinking logically, why should GBIC's be any different that NIC's or patch > cables, transceivers of various sorts and brands, or CSU/DSU's? They are all > build to industry specifications and industry standards. They all do the > same thing. > > Just thought I'd pass that along to those trying to stretch their practice > lab or network upgrade dollars. Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=54934&t=51148 -- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: GBIC's - Cisco and otherwise [7:51148]
""Ken Diliberto"" wrote in message [EMAIL PROTECTED]">news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]... > If they're all built to the standard, why does Cisco require different > OS versions to support different GBICs? I have a 1000TX GBIC Cisco says > isn't supported in a 5500. CL: think of GBIC's in the same way you think about NIC's. You can pop any old NIC into your PC or server, but it won't help you until the proper drivers are installed and loaded. CL: with the 5xxx boxes essentially EOL, it may be that Cisco doesn't want to devote resources to adding the hardware support. So get out your checkbook and help out the old economy by springing for some 65xx's ;-> > > Maybe I'm just not meant to understand things like this... :-) > > >>> "seadon" 10/05/02 09:38AM >>> > I've bought over 100 of these from Cisco, and the simple fact was that > there > was no one Cisco model. I saw at least three different versions from > Cisco > and some definitely did not have the Cisco name on them. It is > possible the > Agilent unit did come from Cisco. My advice is that if it works, it > probably is fine. If I understand correctly, a GBIC is built to the > GMII > Gigabit Media Independent Interface standard so interchange should be > implied. > Don > > > ""Chuck's Long Road"" wrote in message > [EMAIL PROTECTED]">news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]... > > I took a bit of a risk, and purchased some GBIC;s off That Auction > Site. > Of > > the four, three are Cisco branded, and the fourth is labeled > "Agilent" ( > > used to be HP ) > > > > I had done a bit of investigation prior to purchase. I see that the > Auction > > Site has listings for Agilent, IBM, and Extreme GBIC's, as well as > Cisco. > > However, I was unable to find any direct and clearly stated > indication > that > > all GBIC's are interchangeable. > > > > IBM and Agilent GBIC's cost few pretty pennies less than Cisco BTW, > although > > I suspect now that the same source OEM's for all these > manufacturers. > > > > So I paid my money, took my chance, and have an Agilent GBIC on one > switch > > connected to a Cisco GBIC on another. No connectivity problems. Came > right > > up. Is passing traffic even as I write. > > > > Thinking logically, why should GBIC's be any different that NIC's or > patch > > cables, transceivers of various sorts and brands, or CSU/DSU's? They > are > all > > build to industry specifications and industry standards. They all do > the > > same thing. > > > > Just thought I'd pass that along to those trying to stretch their > practice > > lab or network upgrade dollars. Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=54943&t=51148 -- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: GBIC's - Cisco and otherwise [7:51148]
OK. That makes more sense. I thought the GBIC had more guts, kinda like an IDE drive having the controller on the drive. Don't worry about our contribution to the economy... we're buying 15-20 of those pesky 65xx's. >>> "Chuck's Long Road" 10/05/02 03:25PM >>> ""Ken Diliberto"" wrote in message [EMAIL PROTECTED]">news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]... > If they're all built to the standard, why does Cisco require different > OS versions to support different GBICs? I have a 1000TX GBIC Cisco says > isn't supported in a 5500. CL: think of GBIC's in the same way you think about NIC's. You can pop any old NIC into your PC or server, but it won't help you until the proper drivers are installed and loaded. CL: with the 5xxx boxes essentially EOL, it may be that Cisco doesn't want to devote resources to adding the hardware support. So get out your checkbook and help out the old economy by springing for some 65xx's ;-> > > Maybe I'm just not meant to understand things like this... :-) > > >>> "seadon" 10/05/02 09:38AM >>> > I've bought over 100 of these from Cisco, and the simple fact was that > there > was no one Cisco model. I saw at least three different versions from > Cisco > and some definitely did not have the Cisco name on them. It is > possible the > Agilent unit did come from Cisco. My advice is that if it works, it > probably is fine. If I understand correctly, a GBIC is built to the > GMII > Gigabit Media Independent Interface standard so interchange should be > implied. > Don > > > ""Chuck's Long Road"" wrote in message > [EMAIL PROTECTED]">news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]... > > I took a bit of a risk, and purchased some GBIC;s off That Auction > Site. > Of > > the four, three are Cisco branded, and the fourth is labeled > "Agilent" ( > > used to be HP ) > > > > I had done a bit of investigation prior to purchase. I see that the > Auction > > Site has listings for Agilent, IBM, and Extreme GBIC's, as well as > Cisco. > > However, I was unable to find any direct and clearly stated > indication > that > > all GBIC's are interchangeable. > > > > IBM and Agilent GBIC's cost few pretty pennies less than Cisco BTW, > although > > I suspect now that the same source OEM's for all these > manufacturers. > > > > So I paid my money, took my chance, and have an Agilent GBIC on one > switch > > connected to a Cisco GBIC on another. No connectivity problems. Came > right > > up. Is passing traffic even as I write. > > > > Thinking logically, why should GBIC's be any different that NIC's or > patch > > cables, transceivers of various sorts and brands, or CSU/DSU's? They > are > all > > build to industry specifications and industry standards. They all do > the > > same thing. > > > > Just thought I'd pass that along to those trying to stretch their > practice > > lab or network upgrade dollars. Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=54945&t=51148 -- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
