Switch – Do HP switches lock their SFP Ports

Ok here's another data point for you from a PowerConnect 5324. Which is a few generations behind the models you're looking at. So take it for what it's worth.

So the ping command below was sending 1 ping per second to you can see from the output below that it took 108 seconds from the point where it went down from the reload command to the point that it started replying again.

PowerConnect 5324 reboot 108 seconds

date && ping 192.168.0.2 && date
Thu Apr 15 00:06:45 EDT 2010
PING 192.168.0.2 (192.168.0.2) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from 192.168.0.2: icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=2.53 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.0.2: icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=2.54 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.0.2: icmp_seq=3 ttl=64 time=2.55 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.0.2: icmp_seq=4 ttl=64 time=2.60 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.0.2: icmp_seq=5 ttl=64 time=2.55 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.0.2: icmp_seq=6 ttl=64 time=2.76 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.0.2: icmp_seq=7 ttl=64 time=2.50 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.0.2: icmp_seq=8 ttl=64 time=2.63 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.0.2: icmp_seq=9 ttl=64 time=3.51 ms
....
64 bytes from 192.168.0.2: icmp_seq=117 ttl=64 time=2026 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.0.2: icmp_seq=118 ttl=64 time=1028 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.0.2: icmp_seq=119 ttl=64 time=30.1 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.0.2: icmp_seq=120 ttl=64 time=3.80 ms
^C
--- 192.168.0.2 ping statistics ---
120 packets transmitted, 13 received, +45 errors, 89% packet loss, time 119202ms
rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 2.502/239.520/2026.970/583.213 ms, pipe 4
Thu Apr 15 00:08:45 EDT 2010

I don't have any direct experience with arista SFP and cisco switches but the SFP interface is standardized such that it is supposed to work.

For instance, I use an Avici SFP module in a Linksys switch. I have used Juniper SFP modules in enterasys switches and Extreme branded modules in Juniper firewalls.

I have also seen weird things with copper sfp 1g modules (generic modules from CDW and Juniper branded) not working in an enterasys sfp+ interface, so it isn't 100% certain, but for something like a cisco 2960, cisco would have to have gone out of their way to break SFP compatibility, and they're big enough that I suspect they'd avoid doing that to avoid scrutiny from regulators.

Now, if it works or doesn't work, it won't be supported. It won't void your warranty or anything, but if you have weird problems related to that link, I wouldn't advertise that you're using a non-cisco branded module.