No, the optic has to match the device you're inserting it into. If you've got an Intel 10G card, you probably need an Intel optic in it. If you've got a Cisco switch, you probably need a Cisco optic in it. This is mostly an issue of vendors trying to screw users out of dollars because they charge big bucks for their own special optics.
See, the optics have electronics in them, for diagnostic purposes. In a larger deployment where you're shining light a long distance through several distribution frames, sometimes you'll need to be able to tell if the received light is within usable levels, or if you have to have the fiber guys fix their crap. So you ask the switch:
Code:
#show idprom interface tengigabitethernet 1/0/24
Type.............................. SFP+
Media............................. 10GBASE-SR
Serial Number..................... AJQ0W4M
Dell Qualified.................... Yes
#show fiber-ports optical-transceiver tengigabitethernet 1/0/24
Output Input
Port Temp Voltage Current Power Power TX LOS
[C] [Volt] [mA] [dBm] [dBm] Fault
--------- ---- ------- ------- ------- ------- ----- ---
Te1/0/24 31.0 3.312 6.8 -2.532 -1.981 No No
Temp - Internally measured transceiver temperatures.
Voltage - Internally measured supply voltage.
Current - Measured TX bias current.
Output Power - Measured optical output power relative to 1mW.
Input Power - Measured optical power received relative to 1mW.
TX Fault - Transmitter fault.
LOS - Loss of signal.
So this is useful stuff to know, but you'll note in there that there's also "Dell Qualified". In the case of Dell, they don't actually require that the module be a Dell qualified module, but you may not get warranty support if it isn't. The generic Finisars work with the Dell gear. However, you can usually obtain the Dell qualified SR's for about the same price as Finisars if you shop on eBay, and, really, why not do that. But it is possible for vendors to lock you out of being able to use generic optics on their gear, because the optics do have the ability to provide this information to the card or switch as diagnostic information. The smart move is to make sure that if you buy a Foobar device, you put Foobar optics into it.
But that's it. That's all there is to this. Once you're past the optic itself, 10G ethernet is 10G ethernet, and you should be able to run a fiber between your Intel card with its Intel optic and your Cisco switch and its Cisco optic without any further trouble. What goes over the fiber is just pure 10G, and that is very well standardized. Going with SR fiber is the most flexible and compatible way to make sure you can hook up any two devices, as the technology has been out there for a dozen years. The details are admittedly a bit finicky, but you can follow conservative rules and guarantee things will work:
1) Use OM3 fiber everywhere
2) Use the hardware vendor's suggested/required optics
3) Follow all best practices for handling fiber (i.e. no sharp bends)
Got it now?
