Error message
%PHY-4-UNSUPPORTED_TRANSCEIVER: Unsupported transceiver found in Gi1/0/0
%GBIC_SECURITY_CRYPT-4-VN_DATA_CRC_ERROR: GBIC in port 65538 has bad crc
When you see this error, it means that your Cisco Catalyst switch has just disabled the GBIC port. Why? When a
SFP is inserted into a switch's GBIC port, the switch immediately reads a number of values from the SFP and if it
doesn't like what it sees, it throws the above error message and disables the port. Simple to understand, your Cisco
Catalyst switches are configured by default not to work with the 3rd party (non-Cisco) SFPs.
As we know, all SFP modules contain a number of recorded values in their EEPROM that include:
Vendor Name
Vendor ID
Serial Number
Security Code
CRC
How To Solve This Issue & Successfully Use 3rd Party SFPs On Your Cisco Switch
When the errors displayed, many users will be very nervous and even begin to regret using the 3rd party SFPs. Is
there no hope for a solution when facing such situation? Just be relax, the following content will give you some
tips on it.
There are two undocumented commands which can be used to force the Cisco Catalyst switch to enable the GBIC
port and use the 3rd party SFP.
3750G-Stack(config)# service unsupported-transceiver
Warning: When Cisco determines that a fault or defect can be traced to the use of third-party transceivers
installed by a customer or reseller, then, at Cisco's discretion, Cisco may withhold support under warranty or a
Cisco support program. In the course of providing support for a Cisco networking product Cisco may require that
the end user install Cisco transceivers if Cisco determines that removing third-party parts will assist Cisco in
diagnosing the cause of a support issue.
3750G-Stack(config)# no errdisable detect cause gbic-invalid
When entering the "service unsupported-transceiver" command, the switch (eg. 3750G) will automatically throw a
warning message as a last hope to prevent the usage of a 3rd party SFP. The "no errdisable detect cause gbicinvalid" command will help ensure the GBIC port is not disabled when inserting an invalid GIBC. In addition,
since the service unsupported-transceiver is undocumented, if you try searching for the command with the usual
method "service ?", you won't find it.
According to the test, Cisco 2960G, 3560G, 3750G, 4507R and 4507R-E Catalyst switches all accept both "service
unsupported-transceiver" & "no errdisable detect cause gbic-invalid commands" commands without a problem. In
fact, if the Catalyst switch is running IOS 12.2(25)SE and above, the undocumented commands are available.
Some common types of SFPs supported on Cisco Catalyst 3750 Series Switches
1000BASE-LX/LH SFP (GLC-LH-SM=)
1000BASE-SX SFP (GLC-SX-SM=)
1000BASE-ZX SFP (GLC-ZX-SM=)
1000BASE-T SFP (GLC-T=)
1000BASE-BX SFP 1490nm (GLC-BX-D=) (12.2(25)SEB and later)
1000BASE-BX SFP 1310nm (GLC-BX-U=) (12.2(25)SEB and later)