If you need to access information about Cisco’s optics quickly and easily, we have good news for you.
A couple of months ago we highlighted two online tools that make life easier when choosing optics for your Cisco switches, routers, and servers. We have received a wealth of positive feedback, which we appreciate.
We’re pleased to announce a third tool that has the same look and feel as the first two. They all look similar to an e-commerce site, with an intelligent search engine at the top and category filters on the left side panel. It’s called the Cisco Optics Product Information (COPI) tool and it lets you view and refine technical information about Cisco Optics products.
COPI saves you time
Previously, you had only our static datasheets to go to. While these are accurate and useful, there are 26 of them as of today. COPI lets you avoid having to read through them and gives you the same optics information. You can imagine how much time and effort you can save with this consolidated dynamic user interface.
COPI collects all the Cisco Optics data that you want into a readable table format. Like the other two tools, the optic-to-device compatibility matrix and the optic-to-optic interoperability matrix, you can export your results to an Excel sheet or PDF file.
Use URLs
Also like the other two tools, COPI is browser-based and the URL captures the search parameters. Therefore, you can shared it via email or embed it as a link. For instance, this URL shows you datasheet information about our single-lambda 100G QSFP28 LR optic: https://copi.cisco.com/?pid=QSFP-100G-LR-S.
The search function doesn’t restrict you to just one product, though. Let’s say you want to see all Cisco Optics which can transmit and receive over multi-mode fiber (MMF). Without COPI, you would have to go through all the static datasheets, and find each MMF optic in each one (they’re separated by data rate and form factor). You would then have to assemble all this information, which is time-consuming and tedious. COPI aggregates the results for you. Here’s that exact search: https://copi.cisco.com/?ttp=MMF.
What’s next
As you would expect, we will add new optics to COPI as we release them. We have a few other improvements in the works too. Stay tuned!
For a video introduction of the Cisco Optics Compatibility Matrix, please click here.
For a video introduction of the Cisco Optics Interoperability Matrix, please click here.
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And don’t forget to watch the Cisco Optics YouTube playlist.
Excellent tool, this will save some time.
I wonder if the backend holds information that would allow you to add some advanced buttons, for example if the transceiver architecture is limiting or linear, or if it’s compliant to EMC standards – or you could link through to the product in the Cisco Product Approvals Database.
Great work already though – thanks Pat.
Hi Frank, great suggestions. Some of this is already in the works. Stay tuned, as Peter is constantly working on improvements!