Connect 2 switches with SFP port?

[gus6464]

Cisco's don't share SFP ports. Now Brocade on the other hand...

 

[alkemyst]

Moral of the story: read the manual. Agree?

I agree.

 

[alkemyst]

100 Mb/s, FDDI and stuff, you're right.

However, the gigabit ethernet specification is explicit: lasers only. This isn't surprising, as because LEDs can't achieve the restricted mode launch, the achievable length-bandwidth-product is too low to be useful at gigabit speeds and above.

Well, true for optical. There are gigabit copper modules.

However, I should have clarified more like higher end laser tech vs lower end LED tech.

There is some volume differences I agree, but with stack technology and the like even the lower end SFP's are selling less.

 

[alkemyst]

Cisco's don't share SFP ports. Now Brocade on the other hand...

I know this is an older thread, but I didn't see this originally. Cisco does have devices that will share SFP vs RJ45 ports. It's really never their enterprise level stuff, but it does happen.

AFAIK they never split off access ports though to do this. For example, a 24 port switch may have ports 25/26 both be SFP or RJ45, but you will still have 24 ports of access ability. Sometimes you even have to put in an interface statement if you are using non-fiber in the SFP so the switch knows what media is present.

I hope this doesn't count as a necro as it's simply correcting info that may be helpful as "connecting two switches with SFP" is probably a popular search.

 

[RobD2021]

Similar issue
when Im connecting a Cisco 250 series switch to DLink switch via SFP ports it doesn't work ,however if I use a copper link it works fine.
I know the GBics work as I can connect multiple DLink switches using them and can connect multiple cisco switches together using GBics .By doing this Ive proved the GBics and also the LC patchleads

It looks as if theres a protocol issue but not sure

Any Ideas

 

[aigomorla]

Similar issue
when Im connecting a Cisco 250 series switch to DLink switch via SFP ports it doesn't work ,however if I use a copper link it works fine.
I know the GBics work as I can connect multiple DLink switches using them and can connect multiple cisco switches together using GBics .By doing this Ive proved the GBics and also the LC patchleads

It looks as if theres a protocol issue but not sure

Any Ideas

hi welcome to the forum.

I Also noticed this when cross mixing switchs.
Using the fiber cable especially on Cisco's can get tricky as there are cables they don't like even.
If you absolutely want to use that SFP, i suggest you using a rj-45 transciever on that port and then using a rj-45 on it...
They look something like this.

Amazon.com: Gigabit SFP to RJ45 Copper Module GLC-T 1000Base-T Mini GBIC SFP Transceiver, 1.25G SFP-T, for Cisco GLC-T/SFP-GE-T, Meraki MA-SFP-1GB-TX, Ubiquiti, Netgear, D-Link, Broadcom, Supermicro (CAT5e, 100m) : Electronics

Buy Gigabit SFP to RJ45 Copper Module GLC-T 1000Base-T Mini GBIC SFP Transceiver, 1.25G SFP-T, for Cisco GLC-T/SFP-GE-T, Meraki MA-SFP-1GB-TX, Ubiquiti, Netgear, D-Link, Broadcom, Supermicro (CAT5e, 100m): Network Transceivers - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

i suggest you look on ebay tho as you can pick these guys up used for less then 10 dollars each.
Search for rj-45 to SFP.

You will need 2, one for each switch, and it should work.

 

[RobD2021]

hi welcome to the forum.

I Also noticed this when cross mixing switchs.
Using the fiber cable especially on Cisco's can get tricky as there are cables they don't like even.
If you absolutely want to use that SFP, i suggest you using a rj-45 transciever on that port and then using a rj-45 on it...
They look something like this.

Amazon.com: Gigabit SFP to RJ45 Copper Module GLC-T 1000Base-T Mini GBIC SFP Transceiver, 1.25G SFP-T, for Cisco GLC-T/SFP-GE-T, Meraki MA-SFP-1GB-TX, Ubiquiti, Netgear, D-Link, Broadcom, Supermicro (CAT5e, 100m) : Electronics

Buy Gigabit SFP to RJ45 Copper Module GLC-T 1000Base-T Mini GBIC SFP Transceiver, 1.25G SFP-T, for Cisco GLC-T/SFP-GE-T, Meraki MA-SFP-1GB-TX, Ubiquiti, Netgear, D-Link, Broadcom, Supermicro (CAT5e, 100m): Network Transceivers - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

i suggest you look on ebay tho as you can pick these guys up used for less then 10 dollars each.
Search for rj-45 to SFP.

You will need 2, one for each switch, and it should work.

Thanks for reply

unfortunately the fibre cable is already in place so need to go down that route

 

[aigomorla]

Thanks for reply

unfortunately the fibre cable is already in place so need to go down that route

then im guessing the problem maybe with the actual transceivers you are using, or is it running though a DAC cable?

 

[RobD2021]

then im guessing the problem maybe with the actual transceivers you are using, or is it running though a DAC cable?

I can connect multiple dlink switches with the gbics and also multiple Cisco switches but just can’t link them together via fibre
If it’s put an RJ45 cable between the 2 switches trunk ports then all works
This is ok for testing on workbench but need to use the fibre links in real situation

 

[aigomorla]

The problem im seeing from your issue is the compatibility with the transceivers.
Are these SFP+ ports or SFP and are you crossing SFP+ with a regular SFP?

 

[RobD2021]

The problem im seeing from your issue is the compatibility with the transceivers.
Are these SFP+ ports or SFP and are you crossing SFP+ with a regular SFP?

Ok having checked the specs of the switches I see what your getting at
The dlink switches have 2 SFP ports at 1000M
But the Cisco ones appear to be SFP+
The chimera gbics are 10G
So I’m guessing that’s why they work dlink to d link or Cisco to Cisco but not dlink to Cisco
I will get a couple of 1G gbics as they are cheap enough and give that a try

thanks again for help