Re: Finisar SFP/SFP+

[Jared Mauch <jared () puck nether net>]

On Jun 24, 2014, at 4:37 PM, Chuck Anderson <cra () WPI EDU> wrote:

> Cheap DIY SFP programmer using a Raspberry Pi:
>
> http://eoinpk.blogspot.com/2014/05/raspberry-pi-and-programming-eeproms-on.html
>
> Software:
>
> https://code.google.com/p/sfppi/
>
> Now we just need some code to brute-force the OEM passwords...  How
> fast is the 2-wire bus on SFPs?


This seems like overkill.  I have been asking my vendors for the ability to deal with the SFF-MSA data properly and to 
not break their own optics in their own devices.  (Yes, I've seen this).

I prefer my XFP/CFP/SFP/SFP+ ports unlocked properly from the factory and the ability to display all the SFF-MSA 
fields.  So far everyone is making high quality CFP parts so I've not seen anything "odd" there aside from some vendors 
don't realize that 100G-LR4 should display all 4 lanes light levels.

If you are buying cheap SFPs you get what you pay for.  We have had good luck with Finisar and Finisar OEM, which are 
available broadly in the market for a fair price.  The best way to discourage the locking is to stop buying the optics 
from those that do engage in the locking activities.

It would also be helpful to list those optics that are poor in quality as well.  This also may provide an incentive to 
those in the marketplace to improve them.  (eg: I have no problem with a vendor blocking the same S/N from appearing 
multiple times in a chassis from a "cloned" optic, but if they are putting that effort into the driver, they also need 
to support their own optics in the chassis as well).

If nobody is aware of a SFP/XFP/CFP/whatnot database out there, perhaps we can crowdsource one as a community?  This 
seems to be something that may provide value.

- jared