I always get that weird “unofficial” feeling whenever I buy a third-party product or service in conjunction with a first-party one. But, in fiber optics, that feeling is unfounded. I’ve realized that not going for third-party optics has been holding businesses back.
I always get that weird “unofficial” feeling whenever I buy a third-party product or service in conjunction with a first-party one. But, in fiber optics, that feeling is unfounded. I’ve realized that not going for third-party optics has been holding businesses back.
Third-party optics such as transceivers, DACs and AOCs are almost always more affordable than parts from first-party manufacturers like Cisco. Compatibility might be a concern to you, but you really don’t have to worry about that. Many of these third-party manufacturers make fully compatible parts designed for first-party switches and systems.
Yeah, this isn’t true all the time as some manufacturers have some quality control issues. So, which third-party to go for matters a whole lot too!
What I do recommend is a site that sells reliable transceivers. It’s called Linxit. I think it’s a relatively new site but it works a lot like FS.com. The difference here is that I’ve never had an issue with one of Linxit’s transceivers, whereas FS.com has failed me a couple of times. Maybe Linxit is too new to judge vs. FS.com for now, but good start so far.
In conclusion, if you find yourself the right third-party provider for your fiber optic needs, you’re going to save a lot of time and money which will lead to many new opportunities.