A case against vendor-locking optical modules

Mon Nov 17 18:24:56 UTC 2014

Hello,

TheWorldMainBusinessRule says: "Don't work with morons!!!" Never. In any
way. Even if it seems for the first look they give you prices and offers
times better than normal people. Just don't even think.

:)

On 17.11.14 20:11, Jérôme Nicolle wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I'm having a discussion with Arista, trying to explain to them why I
> _can't_ buy any hardware unable to run with compatible optical modules.
> 
> My points are :
> 
> - I need specific modules, mostly *WDM and BiDi, some still unavailable
> in their product line
> 
> - I run at least two other vendors on every locations and can't stack up
> every spare optics for each of them, neither could remote-hands safely
> re-program optics to match a specific vendor when needed.
> 
> - I have an established relationship with a trusted optics supplier,
> providing support, warranty and re-coding hardware for their entire
> (impressive) lineup. And this supplier is still 2-5x times cheaper than
> any vendor-labeled optics even with NFR-like discounts.
> 
> Based on these points, I discourage every customers of ever using
> locked-in equipments, and forbid them on my own network. Of course,
> Arista can't be pleased because their hardware never stepped chord in my
> customer's networks. But they seem to deliberatly miss my points every
> time the subject comes up.
> 
> What are other arguments against vendor lock-in ? Is there any argument
> FOR such locks (please spare me the support issues, if you can't read
> specs and SNMP, you shouldn't even try networking) ?
> 
> Did you ever experience a shift in a vendor's position regarding the use
> of compatible modules ?
> 
> Thanks !
> 