Category Archives: Fiber Optic Transceivers

400G ZR & ZR+ – New Generation of Solutions for Longer-reach Optical Communications

400G

400G ZR and ZR+ coherent pluggable optics have become new solutions for high-density networks with data rates from 100G to 400G featuring low power and small space. Let’s see how the latest generation of 400G ZR and 400G ZR+ optics extends the economic benefits to meet the requirements of network operators, maximizes fiber utilization, and reduces the cost of data transport.

400G ZR & ZR+: Definitions

What Is 400G ZR?

400G ZR coherent optical modules are compliant with the OIF-400ZR standard, ensuring industry-wide interoperability. They provide 400Gbps of optical bandwidth over a single optical wavelength using DWDM (dense wavelength division multiplexing) and higher-order modulation such as 16 QAM. Implemented predominantly in the QSFP-DD form factor, 400G ZR will serve the specific requirement for massively parallel data center interconnect of 400GbE with distances of 80-120km. To learn more about 400G transceivers: How Many 400G Transceiver Types Are in the Market?

Overview of 400G ZR+

ZR+ is a range of coherent pluggable solutions with line capacities up to 400Gbps and reaches well beyond 80km supporting various application requirements. The specific operational and performance requirements of different applications will determine what types of 400G ZR+ coherent plugs will be used in networks. Some applications will take advantage of interoperable, multi-vendor ecosystems defined by standards body or MSA specifications and others will rely on the maximum performance achievable in the constraints of a pluggable module package. Four categories of 400G ZR+ applications will be explained in the following part.

400G ZR & ZR+: Applications

400G ZR – Application Scenario

The arrival of 400G ZR modules has ushered in a new era of DWDM technology marked by open, standards based, and pluggable DWDM optics, enabling true IP-over-DWDM. 400G ZR is often applied for point-to-point DCI (up to 80km), making the task of interconnecting data centers as simple as connecting switches inside a data center (as shown below).

Figure 1: 400G ZR Applied in Single-span DCI

Four Primary Deployment Applications for 400G ZR+

Extended-reach P2P Packet

One definition of ZR+ is a straightforward extension of 400G ZR transcoded mappings of Ethernet with a higher performance FEC to support longer reaches. In this case, 400G ZR+ modules are narrowly defined as supporting a single-carrier 400Gbps optical line rate and transporting 400GbE, 2x 200GbE or 4x 100GbE client signals for point-to-point reaches (up to around 500km). This solution is specifically dedicated to packet transport applications and destined for router platforms.

Multi-span Metro OTN

Another definition of ZR+ is the inclusion of support for OTN, such as client mapping and multiplexing into FlexO interfaces. This coherent pluggable solution is intended to support the additional requirements of OTN networks, carry both Ethernet and OTN clients, and address transport in multi-span ROADM networks. This category of 400G ZR+ is required where demarcation is important to operators, and is destined primarily for multi-span metro ROADM networks.

Figure 2: 400G ZR+ Applied in Multi-span Metro OTN

Multi-span Metro Packet

The third definition of ZR+ is support for extended reach Ethernet or packet transcoded solution that is further optimized for critical performance such as latency. This 400G ZR+ coherent pluggable with high performance FEC and sophisticated coding algorithms supports the longest reach over 1000km multi-span metro packet transport.

Figure 3: 400G ZR+ Applied in Multi-span Metro Packet

Multi-span Metro Regional OTN

The fourth definition of ZR+ supports both Ethernet and OTN clients. This coherent pluggable also leverages high performance FEC and PCS, along with tunable optical filters and amplifiers for maximum reach. It supports a rich feature set of OTN network functions for deployment over both fixed and flex-grid line systems. This category of 400G ZR+ provides solutions with higher performance to address a much wider range of metro/regional packet networking requirements.

400G ZR & ZR+: What Makes Them Suitable for Longer-reach Transmission in Data Center?

Coherent Technology Adopted by 400G ZR & ZR+

Coherent technology uses the three degrees of freedom (amplitude, phase and polarization of light) to focus more data on the wave that is being transmitted. In this way, coherent optics can transport more data over a single fiber for greater distances using higher order modulation techniques, which results in better spectral efficiency. 400G ZR and ZR+ is a leap forward in the application of coherent technology. With higher-order modulation and DWDM unlocking high bandwidth, 400G ZR and ZR+ modules can reduce cost and complexity for high-level data center interconnects.

Importance of 400G ZR & ZR+

400G ZR and 400G ZR+ coherent pluggable optics take implementation challenges to the next level by adding some of the elements for high-performance solutions while pushing component design for low-power, pluggability, and modularity.

Conclusion

Although there are still many challenges to making 400G ZR and 400G ZR+ transceiver modules that fit into the small size and power budget of OSFP or QSFP-DD packages and also achieving interoperation as well the costs and volume targets. With 400Gbps high optical bandwidth and low power consumption, 400G ZR & ZR+ may very well be the new generation in longer-reach optical communications.

Original Source: 400G ZR & ZR+ – New Generation of Solutions for Longer-reach Optical Communications

400G OSFP Transceiver Types Overview

400G

OSFP stands for Octal Small Form-factor Pluggable, which consists of 8 electrical lanes, running at 50Gb/s each, for a total of the bandwidth of 400Gb/s. This post will give an introduction of 400G OSFP transceiver types, the fiber connections, and some QAs about OSFP.

400G OSFP Transceiver Types

Below lists some current main 400G OSFP transceiver types: OSFP SR8, OSFP DR4, OSFP DR4+, OSFP FR4, OSFP 2*FR4, and OSFP LR4, which summarize OSFP transceiver according to the two transmission types (over multimode fiber and single-mode fiber) they support.

Fibers Connections for 400G OSFP Transceivers

400G OSFP SR8

Figure 1 OSFP SR8 to OSFP SR8.jpg
  • 400G OSFP SR8 to 2× 200G SR4 over MTP-16 to 2× MPO-8 breakout cable.
Figure 2 OSFP SR8 to 2 200G SR4.jpg
  • 400G OSFP SR8 to 8× 50G SFP via MTP-16 to 8× LC duplex breakout cable with up to 100m.
Figure 3 OSFP SR8 to 8 50G SFP.jpg

400G OSFP DR4

  • 400G OSFP DR4 to 400G OSFP DR4 over an MTP-12/MPO-12 cable.Figure 1 OSFP SR8 to OSFP SR8.jpg
  • 400G OSFP DR4 to 4× 100G DR4 over MTP-12/MPO-12 to 4× LC duplex breakout cable.
Figure 4 OSFP DR4 to 4 100G DR.jpg

400G OSFP XDR4/DR4+

  • 400G OSFP DR4+ to 400G OSFP DR4+ over an MTP-12/MPO-12 cable.
  • 400G OSFP DR4+ to 4× 100G DR over MTP-12/MPO-12 to 4× LC duplex breakout cable.
Figure 5 OSFP DR4+ to 4 100G DR.jpg

400G OSFP FR4

400G OSFP FR4 to 400G OSFP FR4 over duplex LC cable.

Figure 6 OSFP FR4 to OSFP FR4.jpg

400G OSFP 2FR4

OSFP 2FR4 can break out to 2× 200G and interop with 2× 200G-FR4 QSFP transceivers via 2× CS to 2× LC duplex cable.

400G OSFP Transceivers: Q&A

Q: What does “SR8”, “DR4”, “XDR4”, “FR4”, and “LR4” mean?

A: “SR” refers to short range, and “8” implies there are 8 optical channels. “DR” refers to 500m reach using single-mode fiber, and “4” implies there are 4 optical channels. “XDR4” is short for “eXtended reach DR4”. And “LR” refers to 10km reach using single-mode fiber.

Q: Can I plug an OSFP transceiver module into a QSFP-DD port?

A: No. QSFP-DD and OSFP are totally different form factors. For more information about QSFP-DD transceivers, you can refer to 400G QSFP-DD Transceiver Types Overview. You can use only one kind of form factor in the corresponding system. E.g., if you have an OSFP system, OSFP transceivers and cables must be used.

Q: Can I plug a 100G QSFP28 module into an OSFP port?

A: Yes. A QSFP28 module can be inserted into an OSFP port but with an adapter. When using a QSFP28 module in an OSFP port, the OSFP port must be configured for a data rate of 100G instead of 400G.

Q: What other breakout options are possible apart from using OSFP modules mentioned above?

A: OSFP 400G DACs & AOCs are possible for breakout 400G connections. See 400G Direct Attach Cables (DAC & AOC) Overview for more information about 400G DACs & AOCs.

Original Source: 400G OSFP Transceiver Types Overview

Cisco GLC-SX-MMD Compatibility Explained

Gigabit Ethernet, a significant breakthrough of telecommunication, stands for various technologies of transmitting signals in the speed up to 1000Mbp/s. GLC-SX-MMD module is the hot-pluggable input/output transceiver with small form-factor used in the transmission with the speed of 1000Mbp/s. GLC-SX-MMD transceiver modules can be used on many Cisco switches, such as Cisco Catalyst 2960-P switch, Catalyst 3560-CX and Catalyst 9400. So it’s necessary to know Cisco GLC-SX-MMD transceiver module, Cisco GLC-SX-MMD compatibility and clarify how to choose Cisco GLC-SX-MMD compatible 1000BASE-SX SFP transceiver.

What is Cisco GLC-SX-MMD Compatibility?

Cisco GLC-SX-MMD, one of the most commonly used standard Cisco SFP, is a hot-swappable input/output device which plugs into a Gigabit Ethernet port. It is popular for intra-building links in co-location facilities and large office buildings. The following chart shows the detail of GLC-SX-MMD module.

Wavelength
850nm
Max Data Rate
1000Mbps
Interface
LC duplex
Max Cable Distance
550m over OM2 MMF
Cable Type
MMF
Protocols
MSA Compliant, IEEE 802.3z
TX Power
-9.5 ~ – 3dBm
Commercial Temperature Range
0 to 70°C (32 to 158°F)

GLC-SX-MMD Compatible 1000BASE-SX: Why Do We Need It?

1000BASE-SX SFP is a standard of fibre optic Gigabit Ethernet which operates over multi-mode fibre using a 770 to 860 nanometre, near infrared (NIR) light wavelength. Cisco GLC-SX-MMD is one kind of 1000BASE-SX SFP transceiver module. Besides, Cisco GLC-SX-MMD is compatible with 1000BASE-SX SFP that operates on multimode fibres for the length of 550m.There are many third party vendors supply Cisco GLC-SX-MMD compatible transceiver modules with the same good quality as Cisco SFP modules. The core difference between original brand transceiver module and third-party ones is on the manufacture instead of the module itself. Third-party transceiver modules cost about 90% less than Cisco even though they comply the same MSA. The principle reason for the huge price margin is markups. Third-party 1GbE SX SFP transceivers have as good quality as Cisco SFP transceivers but with low cost and are compatible with Cisco SFP,  that is why so many people choose the third-party ones.

How to Choose GLC-SX-MMD Compatible 1000BASE-SX Module?

There are numerous third party vendors who produce Cisco GLC-SX-MMD compatible 1000BASE-SX SFP transceiver modules. However, there is another confusing problem, how to choose a third party vendor on the market to buy 1000BASE-SX SFP transceiver modules? With so many choices, it’s important to consider the following factors: lifetime warranty, customer support and guaranteed compatibility.

Life Time Warranty

When your SFP modules come to a problem, the warranty of your SFP determines whether you need to buy a new SFP or not. Different vendors offer different warranty for customers. All the SFP transceiver modules in FS.COM are fully warranted against defects in material and workmanship with a lifetime guarantee. So FS.COM is a wise choice for customers.

Customer Support

For many customers, it’s confusing and challenging to make sure what they exactly need for their network. If a third party vendor can offer customised solution and give professional suggestions to customers, that will be very helpful. FS.COM is recommended for providing professional 24/7 customer service and free technical support.

Guaranteed Compatibility

GLC-SX-MMD Compatibility is the core factor of compatible 1000BASE-SX SFP transceiver modules. So you need to make sure with the third party vendor that the compatibility of their SFP transceiver modules are tested. FS.COM provides various kinds of optical transceivers compatible with major brands on the market, such as Cisco single mode SFP. Every SFP transceiver module is tested strictly on original brand switches in FS factory before shipping, so the brand compatibility is guaranteed.

1000BASE-SX SFP GLC-SX-MMD Compatibility

Conclusion

Cisco GLC-SX-MMD compatibility and 1000BASE-SX SFP are introduced in the above passage. Besides, this article gives you some suggestions about how to choose a third party vendor to buy 1000BASE-SX SFP with Cisco SFP compatibility. It’s necessary to tell you that FS.COM is a recommended transceiver module supplier, when your budget is not enough to buy original brand modules. For purchasing more high quality transceiver modules with low cost or for more products’ information, please contact us at sales@fs.com.

What Is QSFP Connector, QSFP+ Connector and QSFP28 Connector?

Nowadays, fibre optic technology shows its unsurpassable advantage in telecommunication. Hence, optical transceiver modules are widely used in data centre and other situations. When it comes to various types of data rate and interface of optical transceivers, there are lots of abbreviations to clarify. This article focuses on the introduction of QSFP connector, QSFP+ connector and QSFP28 connector. They share the same small form factor, but differ in supporting data rate and breakout connection.

QSFP Connector

QSFP is the abbreviation of Quad (4 channel) Small Form Factor Pluggable. Supporting Fibre Channel, Infiniband, Ethernet, Sonet/SDH and other proprietary interconnects, QSFP connector is a hot-pluggable, compact transceiver available for use in singlemode and multimode applications. QSFP transceiver can also support 4 independent channels which can transmit individually at the data rate up to 1.25Gbp/s and the aggregate speed of the 4 channels up to 4.3Gbp/s. For using 4x1G lanes, QSFP connector was only found in some FC/IB contexts.

QSFP+ Connector

Short for Quad Small Form Factor Pluggable Plus, QSFP+ connector is regarded as the enhanced generation of QSFP connector. Why do we call QSFP+ the plus one? Because it can support Infiniband, Fibre Channel and Ethernet at 10Gbp/s per channel, thus the combined data rate of the 4 channels can reach 40Gbp/s, which is a distinct improvement in data transmission speed. Besides, like QSFP connector, 40G QSFP+ interface can support transmission and network link over both singlemode and multimode infrastructures. To enable 40G QSFP+ connector to be splitted into 4 independent data streams for different network equipment, AOC breakout cable, DAC breakout cable and other types of breakout cables are used. Besides, the main types of QSFP+ connector include QSFP+ SR4, QSFP+ PLRL4, QSFP+ LR4 and OTU3, QSFP+ CSR4, QSFP+ UNIV, QSFP+ LR4L, QSFP+ SR Bi-Directional, QSFP+ PLR4, QSFP+ER4 and OTU3.

qsfp connector

QSFP28 Connector

With the same quad based interface as QSFP and QSFP+ connector, QSFP28 fibre optic transceiver can transmit optical signals at 100Gbp/s. Each channel of QSFP28 connector can transmit individually at the data rate up to 28Gbp/s. Outstripping CFP, CFP2 and CFP4 connectors, QSFP28 connector has become the preferred solution of 100G network upgrade for its high flexibility and smaller form type. The flexibility of QSFP28 allows it to be used in several kinds of combination, including 100Gbp/s, 2x50Gbp/s and 4x25Gbp/s. Like QSFP+ connector, depending on the application, there are different options of breakout cable to consider, such as AOC breakout cable, DAC breakout cable and other types of breakout cables. Besides, there is an important note, that a QSFP28 connector can’t be broken down into 10Gbp/s channels. However, QSFP28 is backward compatible, so when it is used in a QSFP+ port , it would allow a breakdown into 4x10Gbp/s SFP+ channels. Lastly, there are several types of QSFP28 connector: QSFP28 SR4, QSFP28 PSM4, QSFP28 CWDM4 and QSFP28 LR4.

qsfp28

Conclusion

QSFP, QSFP+ and QSFP28 connectors are introduced in this article from the aspects of form factor, supporting data rate, breakout connection and types. With the above information, it would be easier for you to choose QSFP, QSFP+ and QSFP28 connectors. QSFP connectors are often used in 4x1G lane. While QSFP+ connectors are mostly used in 40G lane, and QSFP28 connectors are mainly used in 100G lane. Besides, QSFP+ and QSFP28 can be splitted into several streams by using breakout cables. ALL in all, your choice need to depend on your network situation and requirement. If you need a little more help and advice with any of QSFP optics or fibre connectivity cables, then please do not hesitate to let us know. For purchasing high quality QSFP, QSFP+, QSFP28 connectors and QSFP cables with low cost or for more products’ information, please contact us at sales@fs.com.

What Does CFP Stand For?

The thriving of 100G network makes the popularization of 100G optical transceiver modules, such as CFP modules, which provide a cost-effective solution for 100G network. What does CFP stand for? How many types of CFP? This article will offer you the CFP wiki.

What Does CFP Stand For?

CFP (C form-factor pluggable) transceiver module’s form factor is specified by the industry standard Multi-Source Agreement (MSA). MSA was designed for optical communication applications and formally launched at OFC/NFOEC 2009 in March. The C stands for the Latin letter C used to express the number 100 (centum), for the standard was firstly developed for 100 Gigabit Ethernet systems. CFP modules are designed to meet the challenge of extreme temperature, humidity and operating conditions. They are suited to 40G and 100G Ethernet data centre applications from the bottom to the top of rack or between racks. CFP was invented after SFP, but is much larger in size to support 100G Ethernet. CFP transceiver modules support both single mode and multimode fibre and a variety of data rates, protocols, and link lengths.

CFP Module Types

what does CFP stand for? CFP, CFP2, CFP4, CFP8
CFP Module for 40/100G

CFP module is regarded as a new ultra high speed pluggable I/O interface. It can support 4x10Gbps, 10x10Gbps and 4x25Gbps variants. There are mainly three types of 40G CFP modules, 40GBASE-SR4 CFP for 150m on OM4 MMF, 40GBASE-LR4 CFP for 10km on SMF and 40GBASE-FR CFP for 2km on SMF. CFP modules provide Ethernet users another option for 40 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity except 40G QSFP+. 100G CFP modules include 100GBASE-SR10 CFP for 100m on MMF, 100GBASE-LR10 CFP and 100GBASE-LR4 CFP for 10km on SMF,  100GBASE-ER10 CFP and 100GBASE-ER4 CFP for 40km on SMF.

CFP2 Module for 40/100G

CFP MSA defines the CFP2 form factor of an optical transceiver which can support 10Gbit/s, 40Gbit/s, 100Gbit/s and 400Gbit/s interfaces for Ethernet and other applications. CFP2, with half the size of CFP module, can accommodate a wide range of power dissipations and applications. The module electrical interface of CFP2 has been generically specified to allow for supplier-specific customisation around various 4x25Gbit/s interfaces, but it can support 8x25Gbit/s, 10x10Gbit/s, and 8x50Gbit/s.

CFP4 Module for 40/100G

CFP MSA specifies the CFP4 form factor of an optical transceiver which can support 40Gbit/s and 100Gbit/s interfaces for Ethernet and other applications. CFP4 module electrical interface has been generically specified to allow for supplier-specific customisation around various 4x25Gbit/s and 4x10Gbit/s interfaces. Designed to support SMF and MMF, it is half the size of CFP2 transceiver module.

CFP8 Module for 400G

CFP MSA defines the CFP8 form factor of an optical transceiver to support 400 Gbit/s interfaces for Ethernet, Telecommunication and other applications. CFP8 has the size a little bit smaller than CFP2. Its module electrical interface allows for supplier-specific customisation around various 16x25Gbit/s and 8x50Gbit/s interfaces. Nowadays, 400G is considered to be the next major Ethernet speed for data centres after 100G, thus CFP8 transceiver module has a promising future on the market.

Conclusion

With the above-mentioned info, I believe you get a general idea about what does CFP stand for and the 4 types of CFP modules, including CFP, CFP2, CFP4 and CFP8 and their features. If you need to choose and buy CFP transceiver modules, FS is recommended. FS provides quality CFP modules with different data rates, which are compatible with major brands on the market. FS also provides other transceiver modules. For purchasing more high quality CFP modules with low cost or for more products’ information, please contact us at sales@fs.com.

Types of Twinax Connector

Although optical transceiver and fibre patch lead keep their leading position in connecting switches and servers of data centre, DAC twinax cable still takes a place in intra-rack connection because of its unique advantages of convenience and low price. What is twinax connector? It is a “transceiver-shaped” plug equipped at each end of the DAC twinax cable. This article will mainly introduce DAC twinax cable, the types of twinax connector and try to help you choose DAC twinax cable.

Brief Introduction of DAC Twinax Cable

What is DAC twinax cable? It’s a kind of direct attach cable (DAC) used to connect switches to servers or routers. DAC twinax cable consists of fixed length of copper cable and twinax connectors on each end. Twinax cable is widely used in local area network, data centre, and high-performance computing connectivity and etc. It’s a cost-effective, low power consumption and low latency solution which is ideal for high-density network. Besides, DAC twinax cable is flexible for the connection within racks. Two kinds of DAC twinax cable, passive DAC and active DAC differ in their components. Active twinax cable contains electrical components while passive twinax cable doesn’t has electrical parts. Not only that, with different connectors, DAC twinax cable can support different data rate.

QSFP28 twinax connector

Twinax Connector Types of DAC Cable

Why do we need different types of twinax connector? Because DAC twinax cables with different connectors can support different data rate applications. Various types of twinax connector of DAC have covered the main data transmission needs in data centres. For example, twinax SFP+ is designed to work with equipment that have 10G SFP+ interface. There are DAC twinax cables with the same connectors at each end such as 10G twinax SFP+ to SFP+, and DAC breakout cables for 10G to 40G or 25G to 100G connection designed to meet the requirement of migration.

Twinax Connector Types
Description
Cable Length
10G SFP+ to SFP+
10G SFP+ Passive Direct Attach Copper Twinax Cable
0.5m~7m
25G SFP28 to SFP28
25G SFP28 Passive Direct Attach Copper Twinax Cable
1m~5m
40G QSFP+ to QSFP+
40G QSFP+ Passive Direct Attach Copper Cable
0.5m~7m
40G QSFP+ to 4xSFP+
40G QSFP+ to 4x10G SFP+ Passive Direct Attach Copper Breakout Cable
0.5m~7m
56G QSFP+ to QSFP+
56G QSFP+ Passive Direct Attach Copper Cable
0.5m~5m
100G QSFP28 to QSFP28 DAC
100G QSFP28 Passive Direct Attach Copper Twinax Cable
1m~5m
100G QSFP28 to 4xSFP28 DAC
100G QSFP28 to 4x25G SFP28 Passive Direct Attach Copper Breakout Cable
1m~5m

Make an Informed Choice

twinax connector

When you choose DAC twinax cable, max data rate and cable length are important factors to consider. As you can see in the previous part, there are many types of twinax cables designed to meet the interconnection requirements of different speed networks. So, It’s important to choose the right twinax cable according to your network requirements. FS provides quality twinax cables with different data rates, which are compatible with major brands on the market, including Cisco twinax cables. Every DAC is tested strictly in FS factory before shipping, so the brand compatibility is guaranteed. Besides, FS provides customised service of producing DAC and AOC cable with different brand connector at each end. For purchasing more high quality DAC with low cost or for more products’ information, please contact us at sales@fs.com.

What is Optical Transceiver Module?

The speed and stability of the network is making a great leap forward thanks to the high bandwidth and low attenuation brought by fibre optics. Optical transceiver module is the major building block in fibre optic network, which conveys the information across communication channels for your optical systems. This article offers some rudiments about optical transceiver module and suggestions of choosing fibre patch lead for your transceiver module.

Working Principle of Optical Transceiver Module

An optical transceiver module is a device that uses fibre optical technology to send and receive data. The transceiver module has electronic components to encode or decode data into light pulses and then send them to the other end as electrical signals. To send data as light, it makes use of a light source, which is controlled by the electronic parts, and to receive light pulses, it makes use of a photodiode semiconductor.

Types of Optical Transceiver Module

Optical transceiver module is evolving rapidly to meet the escalating demand for speed and capacity. The tendency is that fibre optic transceiver module is evolving to have smaller size and higher data rate. The common types of optical transceiver module include GBIC, SFP, 10G SFP+, 40G QSFP+, CXP, CFP, CFP2, CFP4, CPAK and QSFP28.

The emergence of GBIC (Gigabit Interface Converter) is a milestone of transceiver module development, and it’s of epoch-making significance. As time went on, the size of transceiver was becoming smaller, so SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) transceiver module came into being. It is half the size of GBIC, and it increases the port density of the same line card by two times. But this is not enough to meet the growing need of higher speed network connectivity. So 10G SFP+ (Small Form-factor Pluggable Plus) and 40G QSFP+ (Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable Plus) becomes new market favorites, for they have distinctly higher data rate and the same mini size as SFP. Besides, 100G optical transceiver module is also popular at present, with the types of CXP, CFP, CFP2, CFP4, CPAK and QSFP28. Various types of optical transceiver module can meet all kinds of customer’s requirements.

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Optical Transceiver Module Parameters

Optical transceiver module has three main parameters which shows it’s capacity of connectivity. They are wavelength, data rate and cable distance.

Wavelength

Wavelength is the band of light used in the transmission of optical signals. The main wavelength of optical transceiver module is typically around 850, 1300 and 1550 nm, for the attenuation of the fibre is much less at those wavelengths. Besides, multi-mode fibre is designed to operate at 850 nm and 1300 nm, while single-mode fibre is optimised for 1310 nm and 1550 nm.

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Data Rate

Data rate refers to how many bits of data the optic fibre carries per second. The widely applied data rates are 155Mbps, 1.25Gbps, 2.5Gbps and 10Gbps. The data rate of optical transceiver can provide backwards compatibility. So 155M optical transceiver module is also called FE transceiver, and 1.25G optical transceiver module is called GE transceiver.

Transmission Distance

Transmission distance is the distance an optical signal can be transmitted directly without amplification. The optical transceiver with the transmission distance shorter than 2km is classified to multi-mode optical transceiver module, while the optical transceiver with the transmission distance over 2km is classified to single-mode optical transceiver.

Except the above three parameters, optical transceiver module has other parameters, which are output power, receiving sensitivity, bias current, extinction ratio, saturated optical power and working temperature.

How to Choose Fibre Patch Lead for Transceiver Module

Optic transceiver modules are correspondingly connected with different fibre patch lead according to the type of their interface. When you choose a fiber patch cable, you need to consider the following factors: fiber type, transmission distance, data rate and transceiver interface.

We suppose that you need to choose a right patch cable used between fibre optic transceiver SFP-10G-SR and X2-10GB-SR. You know that SFP-10G-SR is 10GBASE-SR SFP+ transceiver module for MMF, 850-nm wavelength, LC duplex connector. And X2-10GB-SR is 10GBASE-SR X2 transceiver module for MMF, 850-nm wavelength, SC duplex connector. It’s easy to find that X2-10GB-SR needs SC connector, and SFP-10G-SR requires LC connector. So we should choose patch cable with SC-LC connector with MMF, 850-nm wavelength. In the same way, you can choose the proper fibre patch lead for your transceiver modules.

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Conclusion

I believe that you get more familiar with optical transceiver module after knowing its’ types, parameters and how to choose fibre patch lead for it. You also need to know that, the chief advantage of optical technology is its high data transfer rate, which can in practice be several thousand times as fast as a cable modem Internet connection. And fibre optic transceiver plays an important role in fibre optical transmission. For purchasing more high quality optical transceiver modules with low cost or for more products’ information, please contact us at sales@fs.com.

Comparison of 10GBASE-T and 10G SFP+ Transceiver

With the growing need of higher capacity network connectivity, 10G network transmission is becoming increasingly popular. 10G SFP+ optical transceiver and 10GBASE-T copper transceiver are the two main options of 10G network. It becomes a challenge to choose the appropriate 10G connectivity for every IT worker. This article will compare 10GBASE-T with 10G SFP+ transceiver from the perspectives of power, latency, cost and interoperability. And try to give you some suggestions to choose between them.

Brief Introduction of 10GBASE-T and 10G SFP+ Transceiver Module

10GBASE-T transceiver module and SFP+ optical transceiver are two of the most widely used 10G network connectivity.

10GBASE-T Copper Transceiver

Applied initially in the data centre and the horizontal cabling system, 10GBASE-T transceiver module is a new 10GE PHY using the existing MAC (Media Access Controller). It preserves the 802.3/Ethernet frame format at the MAC Client service interface. 10GBase-T works at 100 meters for Cat6a cable and up to 50 meters for Cat6 cable. It offers flexibility, low cost transmission media, and is backward-compatible with existing 1GbE networks.

10gbase-t
10G SFP+ Optical Transceiver

10G SFP+ transceiver is an enhanced version of the SFP transceiver that supports data rates up to 16 Gbit/s. It supports 8 Gbit/s Fibre Channel, 10 Gigabit Ethernet and Optical Transport Network standard OTU2. SFP+ optical transceiver’s connector is duplex LC, and it operates on LC fibre patch leads. SFP+ transceiver is classified in different types, such as SR, LR, ER and ZR. They need to be used with appropriate fibre patch lead, like SR used with multimode fibre patch cable for short distance transmission, while LR, ER and ZR used with single mode fibre patch cable for relatively long links.

10g sfp+

10GBASE-T vs SFP+ Transceiver

After the brief introduction of the two transceiver modules, we will compare them from following perspectives.

Power and Latency

Recent advancements greatly lowered the power consumption of 10GBASE-T server and switch ports. Early versions of 10GBASE-T switches needed up to 12 Watts per port, switch vendors now offer a range of 1.5 to 4 Watts per port depending on distance. In spite of the reduced power consumption of 10GBASE-T transceiver, 10G SFP+ interface uses less power—typically less than 1 Watt per port.

With simplified electronics, 10G SFP+ transceiver also has lower latency—typically about 0.3 microseconds per link. 10GBASE-T transceiver latency is about 2.6 microseconds per link due to more complex encoding schemes within the equipment.

With lower power consumption and lower latency, 10G SFP+ optical transceiver is well suited for large high-speed data centres.

Cost and Interoperability

10GBASE-T switches has been available since 2008, the shipment of 10GBASE-T transceiver module has been increasing over the past years. This proliferation helps to drive down the cost of 10GBASE-T technology. With 10GBASE-T technology’s wide application, the use of 10G SFP+ transceiver module means additional cost for the servers equipped with 10GBASE-T NIC card. Comparing one of the latest 10G SFP+ and 10GBASE-T switches, the cost of 10GBASE-T transceiver ranges from 20% to 40% less.

10GBASE-T copper transceiver also has the advantage of being interoperable for using the familiar RJ45 connector and providing backwards compatibility with legacy networks. So it can be deployed in existing 1GbE switch infrastructures in data centres, enabling IT to keep costs down while offering an easy migration path to 10GbE. While 10GSFP+ optical transceiver are limited with little or no backwards compatibility.

Make an Informed Decision

When you choose between 10GSFP+ optical transceiver and 10GBASE-T copper transceiver, consider your needs carefully. If lower power consumption and lower latency are significant, 10GSFP+ transceiver might be the better choice for you. If lower cost and better Interoperability are important, 10GBASE-T transceiver might be more suitable for you. FS provides an extensive selection of 10GBASE-T, 10G SFP+ transceiver and transceiver module of other data rate, such as 1G, 25G, 40G, 100G and so on. For more details about FS 10GBASE-T transceiver module and 10G SFP+ optical transceiver, please contact us at sales@fs.com.

GLC-SX-MM VS GLC-SX-MMD VS GLC-SX-MM-RGD VS SFP-GE-S

Cisco is a worldwide leader in the telecommunication industry whose routers, switches are very welcome among the users. To work well with those Cisco networking applications, Cisco SFP transceivers are the best choice. GLC-SX-MM, GLC-SX-MMD, GLC-SX-MM-RGD and SFP-GE-S are different types of Cisco 1000BASE SFP transceiver module. All these transceiver modules comply with IEEE 802.3z 1000BASE standard. And since there are similar specifications for these four transceiver modules, users may be confused when they need to choose one SFP module for their Cisco switches. Here we’ll make a comparison of GLC-SX-MM, GLC-SX-MMD, GLC-SX-MM-RGD and SFP-GE-S transceiver modules to help you choose the suitable one.

GLC-SX-MM VS GLC-SX-MMD VS GLC-SX-MM-RGD VS SFP-GE-S

Which transceiver module will you choose?

Cisco Transceiver Datasheet

Here are the datasheets of these four different Cisco SFP transceiver modules.

GLC-SX-MM Datasheet

The GLC-SX-MM is programmed to be fully compatible and functional with all intended Cisco 1GB switching devices. This transceiver module operates on ordinary multimode fibre optic link spans of up to 550 meters in length.

Transceiver Module
GLC-SX-MM
Interface
LC duplex
Wavelength
850nm
Tx Power
-9.5 ~ – 3dBm
Receiver Sensitivity
< -17dBm
DOM Support
No
Temperature Range
0 to 70°C (32 to 158°F)
Cable Type
MMF
Price(US dollars)
6.00
GLC-SX-MMD Datasheet

The GLC-SX-MMD 1000BASE transceiver module is made for multimode fibre only. It’s the replacement of GLC-SX-MM which features an enhanced DOM interface. And this SFP fibre transceiver module operates on legacy 50 µm multimode fibre links up to 550 meters.

Transceiver Module
GLC-SX-MMD
Interface
LC duplex
Wavelength
850nm
Tx Power
-9.5 ~ – 3dBm
Receiver Sensitivity
< -17dBm
DOM Support
Yes
Temperature Range
0 to 70°C (32 to 158°F)
Cable Type
MMF
Price(US dollars)
6.00
GLC-SX-MM-RGD Datasheet

The GLC-SX-MM-RGD transceiver module is designed for Industrial Ethernet applications, including factory automation, intelligent transportation system and other deployments in hash environment. Compared with the ordinary transceivers which can endure the temperature ranging from 0 to 70°C,CLC-SX-MM-RGD can survive in the temperature from -40 to 85°C. It can support up to 550 meters of cabling.

Transceiver Module
GLC-SX-MM-RGD
Interface
LC duplex
Wavelength
850nm
Tx Power
-9.5 ~ – 3dBm
Receiver Sensitivity
< -17dBm
DOM Support
Yes
Temperature Range
-40 to 85°C (-40 to 185°F)
Cable Type
MMF
Price(US dollars)
6.00
SFP-GE-S Datasheet

The Cisco SFP-GE-S transceiver provides a high performance and cost-effective small form factor pluggable module for 1000BASE-SX Gigabit Ethernet and 1G Fibre Channel application. It’s designed for short wavelength applications. The max distance for this transceiver module is 550 meters. Besides, it also supports DOM.

Transceiver Module
SFP-GE-S
Interface
LC duplex
Wavelength
850nm
Tx Power
-9.5 ~ – 3dBm
Receiver Sensitivity
< -17dBm
DOM Support
Yes
Temperature Range
0 to 70°C (32 to 158°F)
Cable Type
MMF
Price(US dollars)
6.00

Differences of GLC-SX-MM VS GLC-SX-MMD VS GLC-SX-MM-RGD VS SFP-GE-S

From the above Cisco transceiver datasheet, we have learned that these Cisco transceiver modules share many similarities. All of them can support up to 550 meters over multimode fibres. And they are designed with the same 850m wavelength, Tx power and LC duplex interface. The main difference is the DOM (Digital Optical Monitoring) function and operating temperature.

·DOM function

Except GLC-SX-MM, all the others support DOM. With this function, users can monitor the transceiver module’s parameters in real time like optical input and output power, temperature and so on.

·Operating Temperature

GLC-SX-MM, GLC-SX-MMD and SFP-GE-S can work at the same temperature ranging from 0 to 70°C. But GLC-SX-MM-RGD SFP transceiver can work in a wider operating temperature of -40 to 85°, which is especially suitable for industrial Ethernet switches.

Conclusion

According to the above discussion, we can say GLC-SX-MM, GLC-SX-MMD, GLC-SX-MM-RGD and SFP-GE-S transceivers share many similarities. However, please note that the differences still exist, and ensure the transceiver module you choose will be compatible with the existing networking equipment. FS.COM is the one-stop shop to help you get these Cisco transceivers and other networking products that are compatible with the Cisco transceivers. If you have any questions in buying guide, please contact us via sales@fs.com.

Things About Cisco SFP Compatibility Matrix That Wiki Can’t Tell You

Transceiver module is the essential device of a network architecture. As a famous manufacturer of optical products, Cisco published a set of copper SFP transceiver modules to support copper networking. Here focus on Cisco SFP compatibility matrix to present a comprehensive Cisco SFP datasheet for you.

Overview of Cisco Copper SFP Transceiver Module

SFP stands for small form factor pluggable. Copper SFP transceiver is a hot-pluggable transceiver with RJ45 port, so it’s also called SFP RJ45 transceiver. SFP RJ45 transceiver supports 10/100/1000 BASE rate over Cat5 cables. In addition, RJ45 copper transceiver is usually used for transmitting data in a short distance, due to its transmission distance ranging from 10 to 30 metres or from 80 to 100 metres. And Cisco 1G SFP, copper and RJ45 Ethernet cables are much cheaper than the fibre ones, so it’s wise to choose a copper SFP transceiver to make use of the existing cabling system to optimise your network instead of using the fibre cables.

How to Choose A Cisco Copper SFP Transceiver Module

When you decide to buy a copper SFP transceiver, the quality and price matter a lot. But the price between OEM and the third party suppliers varies greatly. If you have plenty of money, you can order one directly from Cisco. If you search for a cost-effective solution, then the third party is a good choice. As for the quality, there are not many differences between Cisco and the third party’s products, because all products must meet the strict standards or MSA (Multisource Agreement). So it’s a wise decision to buy a copper SFP transceiver from a third party. Here I recommend you some copper SFP transceivers from FS.COM, whose transceivers are all tested before shipping.

SFP of Cisco SFP Compatibility Matrix

Figure: Choose a suitable copper SFP transceiver for your network

Cisco GLC-T Compatible 1000BASE-T SFP Transceiver

This GLC-T transceiver is a typical RJ45 transceiver, which is used for Cat5 wiring. The max data rate is 1000Mbps and the max cable distance is 100 metres, which is suitable to connect different switches or routers in a data centre. It’s compatible with most Cisco switches and some FS switches like S5800-48F4S Gigabit SFP switch.

Cisco GLC-TA Compatible 10/100/1000BASE-T SFP Transceiver

Similar with GLC-T SFP, but this copper transceiver supports 10/100/1000 auto negotiation. And the operating temperature is different. It is an extended temperature range from -5 to 85°C, while GLC-T is from 0 to 70°C. Furthermore, it also operates on standard Cat5 unshielded twisted-pair copper cabling of link lengths up to 100 metres.

Cisco SFP Compatibility Matrix for GLC-T and GLC-TA

Both GLC-T and GLC-TA are supported on a wide range of Cisco equipment. Here lists some of Cisco network switches compatible with GLC-T and GLC-TA Cisco SFP compatibility matrix.

Switches Support GLC-T and GLC-TA
Cisco ME-2400-24TS-A
Cisco WS-C2940-8TF-S
Cisco ME-3400G-12CS-A
Cisco WS-C2960-24PC-L
Cisco ME-3400G-2CS-A
Cisco WS-C2960-48PST-L
Cisco ME-3400-24FS-A
Cisco WS-C2960G-48TC-L
Cisco 3750 ME-C3750-24TE-M
Cisco WS-C2960S-24TS-S
Cisco ME-3600X-24FS-M (SFP ports)
Cisco 2960S-F48TS-S
Cisco ME-3800X-24FS-M (client ports)
Cisco WS-C2970G-24TS-E
Cisco 4900 ME-4924-10GE
Cisco WS-C2975GS-48PS-L
Cisco 6500 ME-C6524GS-8S
Cisco WS-C3560-24PS
Cisco 2900 WS-C2948G-GE-TX
Cisco WS-C3560G-48TS
More supportable switches, please check Cisco Transceiver Compatibility Matrix.

Besides Cisco switches, GLC-T and GLC-TA can also be used on FS.COM S5800-48F4S switch which is a 48 port SFP L2/L3 MPLS switch with 4 10G SFP+ ports. It is a very cost-effective solution for traditional or fully virtualised data centre.

Conclusion

Knowing Cisco SFP compatibility matrix can help us to choose the suitable transceiver and switch quickly. Cisco copper SFP transceiver modules produced by FS.COM can work well with Cisco switches and FS switches. Besides, our Cisco compatible SFPs are the most reliable quality products without high price, and supported by a long time warranty to offer you a great after-sales service. Know more about Cisco copper SFP modules, please visit FS.COM.