HP Aruba 5406R ZL2 Core Switch - Compatible 10G SFP Modules?

[JRA]

Morning all - tearing my hair out over this one.

 

Replaced my core switch over the summer and found the ZL extremely fussy over the SFP modules it wants to work with. Connected up the site but we're slow.

 

Bought a J9150A which I was hoping would do the trick, but just tried it and no dice.

 

Anyone know any J-numbers of any 10G SFP modules that DEFINITELY work at 10G? For J9990A modules specifically.

 

Thanks anyone!!

[cw80]

We use module from fs.com

 

These are the ones we have been running for the last 5 years with our 5406r zl2, 2930f, 2920 and 2540’s

 

https://www.fs.com/uk/products/11559.html

 

Did you set allow-unsupported-transceiver on the switch.

[JRA]

Hi there - thanks hugely for that. I'll get a bunch in.

 

Yep did set that, just can't seem to win on anything out of the "spares box" for 10G. Was CERTAIN that J9150A would work also (a legit, genuine HP one) but wasn't having it, tried in a few ports also.

 

You've saved me thank you again.

Edited September 6, 2025 by JRA

[cw80]

Also worth picking up a fibre cleaner especially if the sfp modules and fibre patch cables have been stored uncapped. Can even help with new patch cables as can have dirt on arrival and can cause connection stability issues.

 

Something like this will over most connector types. https://amzn.eu/d/6mLmhlB

[ChrisC]

The other thing to check is to make sure the send and receive are correct on either end (you might need to swap the pair over on one of the patch leads.

[JRA]

Still getting weirdness from it.

 

Bought those SFP modules (thanks @cw80) but they do the same thing as the legit HP one; put that in the port on the J9990A, light goes green for about 1 second, then light goes off. Get nothing from it in traffic indication/connectivity if I plug the fibre lead in.

 

Seems happy enough running at 1GB but can't for the life of me get 10GB out of this thing.

 

allow-unsupported-transceiver is 100% set on, must admit I've never seen this before they usually "just work"!

 

Haven't check the leads for that @ChrisC but will do so shortly.

[Davit2005]

From a 5406Rzl2

SFP+LR  J9151A

SFP+SR  J9150A

 

The SFP+ module on our 5406 is a 8 port 1/10Gbe J9993A v3 zl2

 

Unfortunately we don't have any J9990A modules to look at but have found them normally quite transferable between different HP/Aruba switches and modules.

 

I bought some ipolex ones for some 2930f switches I had at home, had no issues with them. We don't buy 3rd party SFPs at work. We just have so many of them and so many issues with some 3rd Party SFPs we won't go back. 

 

 

Edited September 9, 2025 by Davit2005

[cw80]

Which firmware is the 5406Rzl2 running?

[cw80]

We are running our 5406Rzl2 with dual J9993A and dual J9990A, the fs.com 10g modules are working in both for us split between all the modules.

 

What is the output of

show interface transceiver

show tech transceiver

show interface transceiver detail

[JRA]

Hi there all - thanks for sticking with me! I'm stumped honestly, just... never ever known this to give hassle in my life.

 

@Davit2005 Cheers for that - yeah same, to the extent I'd not factored this in as a sticking point. No expert at switching at all but just about ok enough to plug a SFP module in, which was all I thought I'd have to do after allowing unsupported transcievers!

 

@cw80 Firmware is KB.16.11.0024

 

show interface transceiver:

 

show tech transciever:

 

 

show interface transceiver detail:

 

 

C21 and C23 are the brand new legit HP one and the brand new FS.com one respectively, no fibre cables in those at the moment but putting them earlier today in I still didn't get any traffic.

 

The 1GB ones it "likes" are in A21 and A23.

 

Seeing a load of low power something-or-others in there. Is this looking like maybe cleaning something down in the J9990A socket maybe?

 

Cheers again for the help all!

 

[3s-gtech]

I saw this on some links when moving to 10G - the fibre itself was the issue (usually the patch leads, but not always). Can you try connecting to another switch that's sitting next to it, with a short patch lead?

 

My 5406 is still running 1Gb links for CCTV only so never got to testing 10G modules.

[StephenPink]

Another recommendation for FS.com - always use their transceivers and cables, without issues. 

The fact the switch is recognising the transceivers, as @3s-gtech has suggested, makes me think more fibre lead/panel issue. Tx/Rx lights can be swapped easier from the inside of the fibre panel (at least if LC, and the ones that I've used!) rather than trying to switch the cables around, that can be pretty fiddly and actually damage the cable.

Cheers

[pete]

We're running J9150D clones from FS.com in J9993A (8x SFP+ module) and the SFP+ slots of J9990A (20xPoE+, 4x SFP+) in a few 5406zl2s without any issues.

 

I'd echo the "check the fibre's not marginal" (rodents, crushing, loose panel connectors, bad patch lead).

 

If you've got a known good fibre patch lead and another 10GB-capable switch I'd check that a 10GB connection can be established over a short patch lead.

[JRA]

2 minutes ago, 3s-gtech said:

I saw this on some links when moving to 10G - the fibre itself was the issue (usually the patch leads, but not always). Can you try connecting to another switch that's sitting next to it, with a short patch lead?

 

My 5406 is still running 1Gb links for CCTV only so never got to testing 10G modules.

 

Now... now... I've tried this and I *DID* get a 10GB connection to a switch 1m away.

 

I'm wondering if the answer is in the filth I dislodged continually re-seating the SFP modules and/or the fibre cable (which I'm suspicious is a tiny bit loose in the panel) is the culprit in fact.

Think this might be a big clue.

 

I'll resume yanking cables in and out this weekend (it's not a "live network" sort of job that) and I'll definitely update.

 

THANK YOU ALL OF YOU for sticking with me!!

[JRA]

Okay, no success to report.

 

I'm now not fully sure I had a 10GB in my hand testing that neighboring switch the other day. I was pretty damn sure, but now I'm second-guessing myself after a long evening on this. I've now tried everything; next switch in the cab to other buildings, different 10GB SFP modules, brand new cables fresh out the bag... nothing.

 

This just will not run at 10GB no matter what I try.

 

Is there anything else I could be missing here? I've never ever known any situation other than just plugging this stuff in and it running I am 100% stumped now. It just will NOT cooperate.

[ChrisC]

Have you checked any sort of misconfiguration like having link aggregation/lacp trunk configured that it's not part of, or it creating a loop and STP taking it down?

 

Have you checked the config on the other end matches exactly on the uplink?

[JRA]

3 minutes ago, JRA said:

Okay, no success to report.

 

I'm now not fully sure I had a 10GB in my hand testing that neighboring switch the other day. I was pretty damn sure, but now I'm second-guessing myself after a long evening on this. I've now tried everything; next switch in the cab to other buildings, different 10GB SFP modules, brand new cables fresh out the bag... nothing.

 

This just will not run at 10GB no matter what I try.

 

Is there anything else I could be missing here? I've never ever known any situation other than just plugging this stuff in and it running I am 100% stumped now. It just will NOT cooperate.

 

Okay, on my way out the door I am ABSOLUTELY getting 10GB between two switches next to each other. Fresh cable, mix of old and new (FS.com) SFP modules.

 

Might be worth mentioning the connections between the two buildings are running over one fibre connection. On the core that's to an LACP trunk which has two ports configured to be in the trunk, but only one of them has got a module in and only one is actually plugged in.

 

Could this be doing it?

[ChrisC]

If one end is configured as an lacp trunk, the other end needs to be as well, otherwise they won't play nicely (even if it's a single link)

[JRA]

8 minutes ago, ChrisC said:

If one end is configured as an lacp trunk, the other end needs to be as well, otherwise they won't play nicely (even if it's a single link)

 

THAT DID IT!!!!

 

It was my cack-handing the trunks then. One port in, came RIGHT up and the "good" lights came on. So, I must have had the 10GB when I checked the other day; I hadn't gotten my mitts on those fresh ports yet so they would have lit up ok.

 

You've no idea how happy I am.

 

Name a charity you like and I'll send them a tenner.