This documents the use of an unsupported, third-party, non-standard transceiver as part of a VSF link between two 2930F switches. In this case, an 8Gb Qlogic fibre channel transceiver.
Whilst it is technically possible, it is strongly recommended that this is NOT done - the VSF link is too important to leave to chance, and the appropriate AOS-S transceivers (optics or DACs) should always be used.
However, I can think of two scenarios where this may be useful, and the best thing is, we give you the choice!
- Lab/test environment where there is nothing else available (my situation)
- A specific niche optic for a particular connection use-case (eg CWDM) that is not sold by HPE.
Unsupported Transceivers
The use of unsupported transceivers is allowed on certain ArubaOS-Switch models using this command (for at least some transceivers, a reboot may be required):
allow-unsupported-transceiver
However, as is evident in the name and the specific warning that is displayed, third-party transceivers are not supported, and any damage caused by them may not be covered by the switch warranty. Note that the possibility of damage is real; for instance some transceivers available draw more power than is permitted by the spec, and can cause heat-related damage and failure.
Additional information available in Rob Haviland's post.
VSF
Configuring VSF is pretty straightforward:
- configure member 1
- reset member 2
- connect VSF links
This will not work with unsupported transceivers in member 2, because the reset will remove the "allow-unsupported-transceiver" command.
On the member 2 switch, you may see errors like this:
I 01/01/90 00:01:10 00076 ports: port 9 is now on-line
W 01/01/90 00:01:08 00533 FFI: port 10 is not a Aruba transceiver. Please go to:
https://www.hpe.com/us/en/networking.html for more info.On the member 1 commander, you may see errors like this:
I 01/01/90 00:08:17 04988 vsf: ST1-CMDR: VSF link 1 port 1/9 up: Peer validated
I 01/01/90 00:06:39 04992 vsf: ST1-CMDR: VSF port 1/9 is down
I 01/01/90 00:06:39 04992 vsf: ST1-CMDR: VSF port 1/10 is down
I 01/01/90 00:04:34 04992 vsf: ST1-CMDR: VSF port 1/10 is in error state
W 01/01/90 00:04:34 04982 vsf: ST1-CMDR: VSF port failure on link 1 port 1/10:
Peer port 10 is not VSF enabledWith just one unsupported transceiver (port 2/10), this is the VSF output:
groupn# sh vsf link detail
VSF Member: 1 Link: 1
Port State
-------- ------------
1/9 Up: Connected to port 2/9
1/10 Error: No response from peer
VSF Member: 2 Link: 1
Port State
-------- ------------
2/9 Up: Connected to port 1/9
Suggested Process
- Have the switches next to each other for the initial setup
- Configure member 1
- Include the "allow-unsupported-transceiver" command in the config
- Use at least one supported transceiver (optic pair/DAC) to complete the VSF stack with member 2
- Both switches should now have the shared config that includes "allow-unsupported-transceiver"
- Introduce the third-party transceivers
- Relocate the switches if required
Output from working system
groupn# sh vsf
VSF Domain ID : 123
MAC Address : 94f128-8bf925
VSF Topology : Chain
VSF Status : Active
Uptime : 0d 0h 14m
VSF MAD : None
VSF Port Speed : 10G
Software Version : WC.16.07.0002
Mbr
ID MAC Address Model Pri Status
--- ----------------- ------------------------------------- --- ---------------
*1 94f128-8bf920 Aruba JL258A 2930F-8G-PoE+-2SFP+ S... 255 Commander
2 b05ada-9843d0 Aruba JL258A 2930F-8G-PoE+-2SFP+ S... 128 Standby
groupn# sh int br
Status and Counters - Port Status
| Intrusion MDI Flow Bcast
Port Type | Alert Enabled Status Mode Mode Ctrl Limit
------------ ---------- + --------- ------- ------ ---------- ---- ---- -----
1/1 100/1000T | No Yes Down 1000FDx Auto off 0
1/2 100/1000T | No Yes Down 1000FDx Auto off 0
1/3 100/1000T | No Yes Down 1000FDx Auto off 0
1/4 100/1000T | No Yes Down 1000FDx Auto off 0
1/5 100/1000T | No Yes Down 1000FDx Auto off 0
1/6 100/1000T | No Yes Down 1000FDx Auto off 0
1/7 100/1000T | No Yes Down 1000FDx Auto off 0
1/8 100/1000T | No Yes Down 1000FDx Auto off 0
1/9 SFP+DA1 | No Yes Up 10GigFD NA off 0
1/10 SFP+SR | No Yes Up 10GigFD NA off 0
2/1 100/1000T | No Yes Down 1000FDx Auto off 0
2/2 100/1000T | No Yes Down 1000FDx Auto off 0
2/3 100/1000T | No Yes Down 1000FDx Auto off 0
2/4 100/1000T | No Yes Down 1000FDx Auto off 0
2/5 100/1000T | No Yes Down 1000FDx Auto off 0
2/6 100/1000T | No Yes Down 1000FDx Auto off 0
2/7 100/1000T | No Yes Down 1000FDx Auto off 0
2/8 100/1000T | No Yes Down 1000FDx Auto off 0
2/9 SFP+DA1 | No Yes Up 10GigFD NA off 0
2/10* SFP+SR | No Yes Up 10GigFD NA off 0
* third-party transceiver
groupn(config)# sh vsf link detail
VSF Member: 1 Link: 1
Port State
-------- ------------
1/9 Up: Connected to port 2/9
1/10 Up: Connected to port 2/10
VSF Member: 2 Link: 1
Port State
-------- ------------
2/9 Up: Connected to port 1/9
2/10 Up: Connected to port 1/10
groupn# sh tech transceivers
Cmd Info : show tech transceivers
transceivers
Transceiver Technical Information:
Port # | Type | Prod # | Serial # | Part #
-------+-----------+------------+------------------+----------
1/9 | SFP+DA1 | J9281D | CN91KBZF06 | 8121-1300
1/10 | SFP+SR | J9150A | CN69G622L2 | 1990-4391
2/9 | SFP+DA1 | J9281D | CN91KBZF06 | 8121-1300
2/10 *| SFP+SR | | |
* third-party transceivershow time
Mon Jan 1 00:17:39 1990Current Config
; hpStack_WC Configuration Editor; Created on release #WC.16.07.0002
; Ver #14:01.4f.f8.1d.9b.3f.bf.bb.ef.7c.59.fc.6b.fb.9f.fc.ff.ff.37.ef:02
hostname "groupn"
vsf
enable domain 123
member 1
type "JL258A" mac-address 94f128-8bf920
priority 255
link 1 1/9-1/10
link 1 name "I-Link1_1"
link 2 name "I-Link1_2"
exit
member 2
type "JL258A" mac-address b05ada-9843d0
priority 128
link 1 2/9-2/10
link 1 name "I-Link2_1"
link 2 name "I-Link2_2"
exit
port-speed 10g
exit
snmp-server community "public" unrestricted
vlan 1
name "DEFAULT_VLAN"
untagged 1/1-1/8,2/1-2/8
ip address dhcp-bootp
ipv6 enable
ipv6 address dhcp full
exit
allow-unsupported-transceiver