CWDM equipment (current favorites)

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1

A few years ago, NANOG had a discussion regarding various CWDM vendors. Repeatedly MRV was brought up as a good option for metro-area LAN type applications.

Since then, I have actually touched some of the MRV product line personally and found it (and their customer support)... less than ideal. (not comparing to anyone else, and no one is really ideal).

The bigger problem was that the devices seem to be less than intuitive, but rock solid once they are working. (which is what everyone praised them for).

We need to place a new order for some new fiber builds and were considering some other vendors. Especially in the nx2.5G and nx10G (are CWDM x-cievers even available in 10G yet?) range. Anyone have any new favorites?

I'll be glad to summarize/commiserate. :slight_smile:

Thanks in advance,

DJ

2

I have recommended Transmode (www.transmode.com) to several people and not been flamed yet, so I think people are resonable satisfied with them.

3

A few years ago, NANOG had a discussion regarding various CWDM vendors.
Repeatedly MRV was brought up as a good option for metro-area LAN type
applications.

There's been some discussions more recently, such as (coauthored by yours
truly):
http://www.nanog.org/mtg-0606/pdf/lightning-talks/4-pilosov.pdf
http://www.nanog.org/mtg-0610/presenter-pdfs/pilosov.pdf

Since then, I have actually touched some of the MRV product line
personally and found it (and their customer support)... less than ideal.
(not comparing to anyone else, and no one is really ideal).

The bigger problem was that the devices seem to be less than intuitive,
but rock solid once they are working. (which is what everyone praised
them for).

Passive CWDM gear is pretty much all created equal as far as intuitiveness
in how to connect it (assuming gear is non-broken). You have muxes, you
have SFPs/GBICs, and you plug GBIC output into the mux input. :slight_smile:

As far as the SFP/GBIC quality, I think MRV is very good. At one point,
(maybe even still) Cisco OEM'd MRV gbics under their brand (and with
attendant 1000% markup). You can also look at cubo and infineon optics,
good quality at reasonable price.

Be wary about chiwanese vendors - quality is questionable: high DOA rate,
output light level and input sensitivity vary from one module to another.

Pricewise, you might find that cubo isn't *that* much more expensive than
chiwanese gear. Also, there's market (like, again, from yours truly) of
the new-in-box MRV gear, which may also be an option.

We need to place a new order for some new fiber builds and were
considering some other vendors. Especially in the nx2.5G and nx10G (are
CWDM x-cievers even available in 10G yet?) range. Anyone have any new
favorites?

2.5G are only slightly more expensive than 1G - if you have OC48 gear that
is SFP-capable, by all means, use that.

10G CWDM is *rumoured* to exist, but I don't think there are any
production ones yet. Feel free to correct me. 10G is all DWDM, and so far
very pricy.

4

Are we talking about the same vendor? Who only only provides Web
interface for management of the system?

But maybe others are likewise less than ideal..

5

Since then, I have actually touched some of the MRV product line personally and found it (and their customer support)... less than ideal. (not comparing to anyone else, and no one is really ideal).

We're lucky enough that they have a helpful/clueful distributor here in the UK.

The bigger problem was that the devices seem to be less than intuitive, but rock solid once they are working. (which is what everyone praised them for).

Agreed, though the poor UI meant that debugging a cable problem on a span was much harder than it needed to be.

I really wish they had syslog implemented, but look at it this way, it could be worse. At least you don't have to talk TL1 to them ;-).

Cheers,
Mike

6

> > We need to place a new order for some new fiber builds and were considering
> > some other vendors. Especially in the nx2.5G and nx10G (are CWDM x-cievers
> > even available in 10G yet?) range. Anyone have any new favorites?
>
> I have recommended Transmode (www.transmode.com) to several people and not
> been flamed yet, so I think people are resonable satisfied with them.

We use transmode as well (TS series), their service has been great and
the price is right.

Are we talking about the same vendor? Who only only provides Web
interface for management of the system?

Hah, considering that the configuration of the equipment is fixed based on
how you connect your fiber patch cables, monitoring it via SNMP is more
than sufficient. You can look at the web interface to see a pretty
picture of your equipment, which I guess could come in handy if you forgot
what you have.

They do have more than one line of equipment. They have some more
expensive stuff that has OADM like capabilities.

But maybe others are likewise less than ideal..

Transmode has been rock solid. Once it is plugged in and you connect the
patch cables you are done. Mentally you have to get used to the idea the
chasis is just there for power and SNMP (which just reports "I'm alive"
and what type of cards). Reconfiguration is pulling out SFPs (GE and C48
waves) or XFPs (10G waves) and changing patch cables, or
inserting/removing cards.

Mike.

--
Pekka Savola "You each name yourselves king, yet the
Netcore Oy kingdom bleeds."
Systems. Networks. Security. -- George R.R. Martin: A Clash of Kings

+----------------- H U R R I C A N E - E L E C T R I C -----------------+

7

Unfortunately it's not enough -- the SNMP process seems to stop
responding now and then, and you'll have to use the web gui to log on
and reset the system :frowning: