SFP validation failed error message

The "SFP validation failed" error message occurs.

Possible Cause

This error message might occur when a 1-Gigabit SFP transceiver is inserted into a port without configuring the interface speed to 1000 mb.

By default, all ports of a Cisco Nexus 5000 switch have an interface speed of 10 Gigabits.

Solution

Set the interface speed to 1000 mb.

Possible Cause

This error message might occur when a Fabric Extender Transceiver (FET) SFP is inserted into a non-fex-fabric mode port.

Solution

FETs are only supported on fex-fabric port connections when connecting a Cisco Nexus 2000 FEX to it's parent Cisco Nexus 5000 switch. The switch port on the parent switch must be enabled for fex-fabric mode with the switchport mode fex-fabric command.