Wired Intelligent Edge

Hi,

Does anyone here have tried using the SFP+ side of the 721076-B21 (HPE BLc QSFP+ to 4x10G SFP+ AOC 15m Op) cable in a 2930F (JL256A) or 2920 (J9729A)? Is there a chance that the "allow-unsupported-transceiver" command will make it work?

Thanks!

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Juan Perez Avila
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Hello Juan, not really tried but the "Aruba AOS-Switch and AOS-CX Transceiver (Reference) Guide" Edition 10 (January 2021) highlights this interesting note:

"10G 7m DACs require a PHY behind the SFP⁠+ port to support >5m DAC technology. Switches with a note "or any type of 7m DAC is not supported" cannot support any type of 10G 7m DAC (even under Unsupported Transceiver mode). 5m DACs may work with Allow-Unsupported-Transceiver enabled."

Looking at the "(AOS-Switch) Compatibility for the SFP⁠+ DACs (and specifics for HPE Server cables)" table at page 63 on the very same guide, the Aruba 2930F Switch Series has this note: "J9285B/J9285D or any type of 7m DAC is not supported in any of these series." so there is very little chance it will work and the same could be said about Aruba 2920 Switch Series (add to that that I believe that front SFP+ ports available on some models of those series are PHYless so directly connected to the ASIC).

Another good reference is the HPE COMPUTE TRANSCEIVER AND CABLE HARDWARE MATRIX (Revision 18 - 11 November 2021).

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Davide Poletto
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Hi Davide,

I saw that same restriction however I assumed it applies to DAC cables only, the one I am tryin to use in this case is an AOC cable, not sure if the same applies for it. I think we will go with MPO transceivers, breakout cables and SFP+ transceivers in the 2930f/2920 switches.

Thanks for the help.

------------------------------
Juan Perez Avila
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Nov 18, 2021 04:47 PM
From: Davide Poletto
Subject: Aruba 2930F & 2920 connecting the SFP+ side of 721076-B21

Hello Juan, not really tried but the "Aruba AOS-Switch and AOS-CX Transceiver (Reference) Guide" Edition 10 (January 2021) highlights this interesting note:

"10G 7m DACs require a PHY behind the SFP⁠+ port to support >5m DAC technology. Switches with a note "or any type of 7m DAC is not supported" cannot support any type of 10G 7m DAC (even under Unsupported Transceiver mode). 5m DACs may work with Allow-Unsupported-Transceiver enabled."

Looking at the "(AOS-Switch) Compatibility for the SFP⁠+ DACs (and specifics for HPE Server cables)" table at page 63 on the very same guide, the Aruba 2930F Switch Series has this note: "J9285B/J9285D or any type of 7m DAC is not supported in any of these series." so there is very little chance it will work and the same could be said about Aruba 2920 Switch Series (add to that that I believe that front SFP+ ports available on some models of those series are PHYless so directly connected to the ASIC).

Another good reference is the HPE COMPUTE TRANSCEIVER AND CABLE HARDWARE MATRIX (Revision 18 - 11 November 2021).

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Davide Poletto
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Hi Juan, IMHO Active Optical cables require more characteristic to be fulfilled in order for them to be supported by a particular Switch series than Passive DAC (indeed you see AOC less often used and only supported on particular ToR/Core DC Switch series).

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Davide Poletto
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Original Message:
Sent: Nov 18, 2021 08:33 PM
From: Juan Perez Avila
Subject: Aruba 2930F & 2920 connecting the SFP+ side of 721076-B21

Hi Davide,

I saw that same restriction however I assumed it applies to DAC cables only, the one I am tryin to use in this case is an AOC cable, not sure if the same applies for it. I think we will go with MPO transceivers, breakout cables and SFP+ transceivers in the 2930f/2920 switches.

Thanks for the help.

------------------------------
Juan Perez Avila
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: Nov 18, 2021 04:47 PM
From: Davide Poletto
Subject: Aruba 2930F & 2920 connecting the SFP+ side of 721076-B21

Hello Juan, not really tried but the "Aruba AOS-Switch and AOS-CX Transceiver (Reference) Guide" Edition 10 (January 2021) highlights this interesting note:

"10G 7m DACs require a PHY behind the SFP⁠+ port to support >5m DAC technology. Switches with a note "or any type of 7m DAC is not supported" cannot support any type of 10G 7m DAC (even under Unsupported Transceiver mode). 5m DACs may work with Allow-Unsupported-Transceiver enabled."

Looking at the "(AOS-Switch) Compatibility for the SFP⁠+ DACs (and specifics for HPE Server cables)" table at page 63 on the very same guide, the Aruba 2930F Switch Series has this note: "J9285B/J9285D or any type of 7m DAC is not supported in any of these series." so there is very little chance it will work and the same could be said about Aruba 2920 Switch Series (add to that that I believe that front SFP+ ports available on some models of those series are PHYless so directly connected to the ASIC).

Another good reference is the HPE COMPUTE TRANSCEIVER AND CABLE HARDWARE MATRIX (Revision 18 - 11 November 2021).

------------------------------
Davide Poletto