Watch this thread in progress:
http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.network/218069
It apears that Intel is locking SFP+ modules
http://www.intel.com/support/network/adapter/pro100/sb/CS-030612.htm
Jury is still out on whether this is just bullshit forcing customers to buy OEM branded optics, or whether there is a real hardware issue with the NIC.
There is a driver patch to disable the lockout,
+ adapter = hw->back; /* used by e_dev_err macro*/
+ e_dev_err(
+ "SFP+ module not supported by Intel\n");
+ if (allow_any_sfp) { /* modul param override */
+ e_dev_err(
+ "Continue WITHOUT support, SFP+ module "
+ "vendor OUI:0x%06X (enum phy.type:%d)\n",
+ vendor_oui >> 8, hw->phy.type);
+ status = 0;
+ } else {
+ hw->phy.type = ixgbe_phy_sfp_unsupported;
+ status = IXGBE_ERR_SFP_NOT_SUPPORTED;
but it's use at your own risk ...
Really!