TwinGig Convertor configuration

These Cisco convertors are pretty handy I must say. It's an X2 Convertor module that is able to take 2 SFP modules; Allowing you to convert an X2 slot to twin SFP slots. Anyway, when you insert a TwinGig to a switch without first doing the pre-configuration, you're most likely to get an error like this:

%C4K_GLMMAN-3-X2PLUGGABLESEEPROMREADFAILED: Failed to read seeprom on port Te2/8. Reinsert X2 module or configure GigabitEthernet port group if TwinGigConverter is installed.

It's because the X2 slot you used is configured as a TenGig slot. It should be set to Gigabit for the TwinGig to be detected. The way it's done on an 4900M is:

hw-module module 2 port-group 4 select gigabitethernet

The catch is that the 8 port TenGig module used on the 4900M is over-subscribed and you will have to set a "port-group" which represents 2 ports, as "gigabit" to get the TwinGig to work.

After setting our port-group, the log will show the TwinGig is detected:

Nov 23 10:32:06.501: Port Te2/8: TwinGig Converter inserted: vendor: CISCO SYSTEMS, p/n: 800-27645-02, s/n: FDO14290SE5


Here are some references for more info:
Installation Notes for the Cisco TwinGig and OneX Converter Modules
Selecting X2/TwinGig Convertor Mode
SFP Interfaces of X2/Twin Gigabit Converter Do Not Come Up

Using 3rd Party SFP modules in Cisco Devices

All SFP modules contain in their EEPROM, a Serial Number, Vendor Name & ID, Security code and a CRC. The Switch checks this information, if it can't verify it might give messages like the following:

%PHY-4-UNSUPPORTED_TRANSCEIVER: Unsupported transceiver found in Gi1/0/1
%GBIC_SECURITY_CRYPT-4-VN_DATA_CRC_ERROR: GBIC in port 65538 has bad crc

There are two undocumented cisco commands to get 3rd party SFP modules to work:

switch(config)# service unsupported-transceiver
switch(config)# no errdisable detect cause gbic-invalid