StarTech.com Cisco SFP-10G-ZR Compatible SFP+ Module - 10GBASE-ZR - 10GbE Single Mode Fiber SMF Optic Transceiver - 10GE Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ - LC 80km - 1550nm - DDM Cisco ASR9000, ASR1000, NCS5500

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

At £99.70 ex-VAT, this is the kind of SFP+ you buy when you just need a reliable 10GbE link over single-mode fibre at long-ish reach without paying Cisco-brand pricing. The “Cisco compatible” angle matters in the real world: for ASR/NCS style kit, you generally want something that behaves predictably with power/DOM monitoring, and this one is positioned squarely for that. If you’ve got a pair of networks that already run standard 10GBASE-ZR optics and you don’t want drama during installation, it’s a sensible, cost-conscious option.

That said, I wouldn’t buy this blindly for a mixed-gear environment. The biggest risk with third-party optics isn’t performance—it’s compatibility quirks (warnings, compatibility restrictions, or DOM behaving differently) and return hassle when you’re not sure the switch/router will take it cleanly. Also, make sure your fibre plants are actually up to the distance and spec you’re assuming; “80km” is only as good as the link budget in your specific scenario. If you’re running long-haul ZR links on compatible Cisco hardware and you’ve verified it’s supported/accepted in your chassis, it’s good value. If you’re experimenting, have multiple vendors, or you’re not confident about optics acceptance, spend the extra time checking compatibility first—otherwise you may end up paying for troubleshooting instead of savings.