Why buy 3rd Party GBIC's over OEM

For those of you that don't know, a GBIC (Gigabit Interface Converter) basically allows different types of media to be used in a port. You can swap them in or out depending on what kind of media goes on that port. Say you have a switch with 16 GBIC slots, you connect either copper or some variety of fiber to the port and the GBIC is the middleman. GBICs are also hot-swappable, which adds to the ease of upgrading electro-optical communication networks.

Something we have been noticing is that OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) models are losing their ground due to Third Party devices. These 3rd Party converters are compatible with all of the major manufacturers and meet or exceed the specifications of the OEM provided product.

For Example:

• The GLC-SX-MM has a list OEM list price of $500 and 45% off list would make it $275.
• New 3rd party GLC-SX-MM's are available for 90% off list (or, around $50).

Customer's see the value of switching to 3rd party over OEM because they provide the same performance at a fraction of the price.

Compatible Manufacturers include:

• Cisco
• 3Com
• Adtran
• Alcatel Lucent
• Avaya/Nortel
• Brocade
• HP
• IBM
• Juniper
• NetGear
• Telco Systems

and many more.

Not all GBIC models are compatible with these systems, but we can help you decipher the correct model for your needs. With this knowledge, is there any reason to not buy 3rd party for all your GBIC needs?