Exploring the Use of Multicode Optical Transceivers

Transceivers and cables are designed in accordance with multi source agreements (or MSA). The objective of such agreements is to ensure that cables can be utilized on platforms built as per the same standards. The MSA standards ensure that there is some sort of interoperability between the various cables and host platforms as far as the mechanical, electrical and SW interfaces (that involve EEPROM programming) are concerned.

Now, most OEMs use non-standard EEPROM code in their products, the goal being to get customers to buy more accessories, exclusively from them. As a result, many OEM original devices are priced very high. If you use a generic device or one that was uncoded, concerns are raised and many of the features are disabled. For example, low level commands are often used to disable the protections. But that would necessitate the use of repetitive manual operations, which have to be repeated whenever the machine is restarted or when there is a software upgrade.

This is not so say that generic cables are worthless – they do work well on most occasions, but can often result in irritating alarms. A number of manufacturers program the cables only for certain product families or categories which can work with them on various switch models. This could require them to manage inventory, installation and spare parts more effectively. If the cables and transceivers are compatible, that could help eliminate the so-called “OEM tax”, but even in this case specific devices for each of the vendors are needed. However, under with multi source agreement, compliant devices can be used on any compliant platform.

Benefits of Multicode Optical Transceivers

Using multicode optical transceivers has many advantages. There will be fewer spare parts needed. You can have one device that would suffice for 4 or 5 different OEMs, which spares you from having to have one device per OEM. This means a drastic reduction of SKUs needed to be managed, faster and easier forecasting and reduction on TCO and OPEX.

1000 GIG Multicode Optical Transceiver Features

• These devices work with different OEM platforms without requiring any extra configuration commands.

• Error messages on the EEPROM software are not allowed at the point of transceiver hot insertion.

• You don’t have to worry about any alarms related to the inventory and there is no mismatch of devices, no invalid interfaces or such like.

• The port configuration procedure, or for that matter any action undertaken to put the port into work, is the same between the compatible transceivers and the OEM original devices.

• You can very easily replace any specifically coded or original device that has been inserted into a port that has already been configured and carries live traffic with one that is multicoded, without requiring any other type of intervention in order to restart traffic.

• The device is reported in the platform inventory with features that are similar to those of the original OEM devices or those that are specifically coded.

The device reports the Digital Optical Monitoring data according to the SFF-8472 MSA. You don’t need any extra command for enabling this, and the accuracy is the same that you would get with that of OEM devices.

The 1000 GIG Advantage

All Multiple Optical Transceivers from 1000 GIG are tested on each specific target platform. The 1000 GIG tests are based on the following 3 areas.

Inventory

The device is reported as specifically coded only, with very little tolerance for differences.

Traffic

The traffic configuration procedure is the same as that of the specifically coded device.

Digital optical monitoring

Parameters such as the temperature and transmit and receive power have to be reported accurately in accordance with the mandated standards.

Only devices that pass the 3 tests are considered by 1000 GIG. The company provides all needed evidence of these tests if asked by customers. The related logs and snapshots of the management GUI will be provided. That’s why you cannot go wrong with compatible transceivers and cables from 1000 GIG.