Category Archives: Fiber Optic Transceivers

SFP+ MSA: Key Information You Should Be Aware Of

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In data communication, the seamless transfer of high-bandwidth data between network devices is paramount. At the heart of this efficiency lies the Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus Multi-Source Agreement (SFP+ MSA), a standardized framework shaping the design and functionality of optical transceivers. Explore with us the transformative role of SFP+ MSA, a driving force in standardizing interoperability for optical transceivers beyond mere specification.

Navigating the Impact of SFP+ MSA in Optical Transceivers

Definition and Expansion of MSA

MSA, an abbreviation for Multi-Source Agreement, is a protocol that enables different manufacturers to produce optical module products with similar basic functionalities and interoperability. The interface types of optical modules from various manufacturers were once diverse. To address the lack of interoperability, multiple manufacturers joined forces to create an organization dedicated to standardizing specifications for the interface types, installation, and functionalities of optical modules. MSA emerged as a supplement to IEEE standards. For optical modules, the MSA standard not only defines their physical dimensions but also outlines their electrical and optical interfaces, creating a comprehensive standard for optical modules.

Significance of SFP+ MSA in Networking Standards

Due to the MSA standard defining the physical dimensions and interface types of optical modules, suppliers strictly adhere to MSA standards during system design to ensure interoperability and interchangeability between optical modules. For end-users, the MSA standard holds crucial significance for two main reasons:

Firstly, the MSA standard offers users a variety of choices. As long as an optical module complies with the MSA standard and demonstrates good compatibility, customers can choose any optical module needed from any third-party supplier.

Secondly, concerning costs, the MSA standard, to some extent, prevents the optical module market from being monopolized by certain major manufacturers. This situation contributes to lowering the network construction costs for end-users.

Exploring the Key Features of SFP+ MSA

Unlocking the potential of SFP+ MSA involves understanding its key features. This section will explore the small form-factor design, high-speed data transmission capabilities, interoperability across vendors, compatibility with various fiber types, and the importance of compliance and certification. These features collectively contribute to the versatility and efficiency of SFP+ modules, redefining connectivity standards in modern networking environments.

Small Form-Factor Design

The compact form factor of SFP+ modules enables high port density in network equipment, a crucial aspect for contemporary data centers aiming to save rack space and optimize spatial layouts. Additionally, this design also supports hot-swapping, providing flexibility in network management.

High-Speed Data Transmission

SFP+ modules are designed to handle high-speed data transmission, with data rates exceeding 10 Gbps and reaching up to 25 Gbps. This high bandwidth is essential for applications demanding swift and reliable data transfer, such as in high-performance computing and data center interconnects.

Interoperability Across Vendors

The key goal of the SFP+ MSA is to ensure interoperability among modules from different vendors. This standardization allows network administrators to mix and match SFP+ modules from various manufacturers without compatibility concerns, promoting a vendor-neutral environment.

Compatibility with Various Fiber Types

Support various types of optical fibers, including single-mode and multi-mode fibers. This versatility in fiber compatibility enhances the adaptability of SFP+ modules to different networking scenarios and infrastructures.

Compliance and Certification

SFP+ modules undergo rigorous testing to ensure compliance with standards such as MSA, IEEE, GR-xx-CORE, ITU-T, guaranteeing reliable performance and interoperability in various aspects.

Unlocking Excellence in SFP+ MSA Advantages

SFP+ MSA brings several advantages to network infrastructures.

Flexible and Scalable Networks

The standardization provided by SFP+ MSA enhances network flexibility by allowing the deployment of modules from different manufacturers. It also facilitates the scalability of networks. As data demands increase, administrators can easily upgrade network capacities by adding or replacing SFP+ modules, ensuring that the infrastructure can evolve with changing requirements.

Seamless Integration in Diverse Environments

SFP+ modules find applications in diverse environments, ranging from enterprise data centers to telecommunications networks. The standardization ensures these modules integrate seamlessly, providing consistent performance across various settings.

Cost-Efficiency in Network Deployments

The interoperability of SFP+ modules reduces dependence on a single vendor, fostering a competitive market that can lead to cost savings for network infrastructure deployments. Administrators can select modules based on specific requirements. This flexibility is crucial for network administrators seeking cost-effective solutions without compromising performance.

Unleashing the Potential of SFP+ Modules in Applications

In the previous discussion, we covered aspects of SFP+ concerning MSA standards. Now, let’s unveil the applications of SFP+ in various environments. From data centers to telecommunications networks, the presence of SFP+ modules is ubiquitous.

Data Center Connectivity

SFP+ modules are essential for data center connectivity, providing high-speed links that ensure efficient communication among servers, storage devices, and networking equipment.

High-Performance Computing (HPC)

In the realm of high-performance computing, SFP+ modules support the high-speed data transmission required for parallel computing and scientific simulations.

Telecom and Network Infrastructure

SFP+ modules are integral to telecommunications networks and general infrastructure, serving as the foundation for dependable and high-performance data transmission.

Conclusion

In summary, SFP+ MSA serves as a cornerstone in the realm of optical transceivers, providing standardized specifications that ensure interoperability, versatility, and performance. By embracing the standards set by SFP+ MSA, the networking industry can continue to build robust, efficient, and future-ready infrastructures that meet the demands of modern data transmission.

Unleashing Small Business Potential: Demystifying the Applications of 10G Multi-Rate Optical Modules

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In the digital age, small businesses increasingly rely on efficient network infrastructure to support business growth and information transfer. However, as many small business owners have experienced, networking faces its own set of challenges. Next, we will explore suitable optical networking solutions around these issues.

Small Business Networking Challenges

Bandwidth Bottlenecks

It’s a common challenge for small business networks, restricting the speed and efficiency of data transfer. Traditional networks typically provide businesses with only a limited bandwidth, resulting in network slowdowns during peak hours or when handling substantial data loads. This not only affects employee productivity but also has implications for hinders overall business growth.

Performance Limitations

Traditional networks face performance limitations when dealing with business growth and extensive data demands. As an enterprise expands, the rigidity of traditional network architecture becomes evident, rendering it incapable of effectively adapting to new business requirements. This, in turn, can result in network congestion, delays, and instability, thereby affecting the day-to-day operations of a business.

Low Maintenance Efficiency

With a shortage of dedicated IT personnel, small businesses may encounter delays or insufficient monitoring, troubleshooting, and routine maintenance of network equipment. Concurrently, the manual nature of these monitoring and maintenance processes proves time-consuming and error-prone, thereby diminishing the overall efficiency of maintenance tasks.

Waste of Cable Resources

During the process of network transformation, many small business owners opt to abandon traditional cable deployments in favor of adopting fiber optic solutions, thereby rendering the original cables unusable and resulting in cable wastage.

These challenges not only affect employees’ efficiency but also exert a detrimental influence on overall business growth. Addressing these challenges necessitates the implementation of advanced technologies and optical networking solutions, which becomes crucial.

Unraveling the Wonders of the 10G Multi-Rate Optical Module

In this context, the utilization of 10G multi-rate optical modules serves as an effective solution to challenges encountered in small business networks, including bandwidth bottlenecks, performance limitations, low maintenance efficiency, and cable wastage. This adaptive Ethernet module supports rates of 100M, 1G, 2.5G, 5G, and 10G, contributing to the establishment of a more robust and reliable network infrastructure for small enterprises.

Therefore, FS has also introduced 10G multi-rate optical modules, assisting small business owners in better addressing these challenges. The transceiver delivers 10GBase-T throughput for distances of up to 30m over Cat6a/Cat7 copper cables using an RJ-45 connector. It complies with IEEE 802.3-2012, IEEE 802.3ab, and SFP MSA standards. Each SFP transceiver module undergoes individual testing, ensuring compatibility with various switches, routers, servers, network interface cards (NICs), and more. Known for its low power consumption, this easily installable, hot-swappable 10G SFP transceiver is well-suited for enterprise networking in LAN applications and other networking environments utilizing copper connections.

Optimize Your Business Connectivity: Selecting Better Optical Networking Solution

The introduction and implementation of 10G multi-rate optical modules in optical networking solutions can markedly enhance network performance. This application supports larger data transmission capacity and reduces the delay in data transmission. This not only improves network efficiency for enterprises, but also provides scalability for future business growth. The following is the application of this multi-rate module in actual scenarios of small businesses.

File Sharing and Data Storage

The 10G Multi-Rate Optical Module significantly enhances the efficiency of file sharing and data storage by providing a data transfer rate of up to 10Gbps. Employees can swiftly access and transmit large-capacity files, and multiple users can concurrently access the file server. With the growth of business operations, the 10G multi-rate optical module offers scalability to adapt to the escalating demand for data storage, providing an enduring solution for sustainable file sharing in enterprises.

Video Conferencing and Real-Time Collaboration

In video conferencing scenarios, the 10G multi-rate optical module ensures high-definition video transmission, delivering a clear and seamless meeting experience for remote teams. This is crucial for real-time collaboration and communication. The low-latency feature guarantees the timeliness required for video and audio transmission in conferences, enhancing the overall effectiveness and engagement. The reliability of the module ensures stable connections, preventing signal interruptions or quality degradation.

Cloud Service Access and Data Center Connectivity

The 10G multi-rate optical module facilitates swift access to cloud services for small enterprises, enabling rapid uploading and downloading of large volumes of data to the cloud. It supports the demands of cloud computing and storage, providing enterprises with a more efficient experience of cloud services. Moreover, it enhances the data security of cloud services, safeguarding sensitive information for enterprises.

Optical Networking Solutions Tailored for Small Businesses

In order to tackle challenges like low network operational efficiency, cable wastage, and limitations in bandwidth and performance, small businesses require a customized optical networking solution. As a prominent solutions provider in the industry, FS has specifically crafted a 1/10GBASE-T Solution for Campus & Enterprise Network, featuring three key value propositions.

Enhanced Cable Utilization

Optimize the use of existing copper cable resources during network construction, minimizing the deployment of optical cables. This not only ensures the network’s normal development but also significantly reduces investment costs.

High Flexibility and Scalability

The 10G multi-rate optical module supports speeds ranging from 100M to 10G and can operate at different rates based on bandwidth requirements. This provides a high degree of flexibility to accommodate varying needs.

Simplified Maintenance

In contrast to traditional optical modules, these modules lack complex DDM information, simplifying the troubleshooting process. The streamlined operations, coupled with the elimination of the need for optical instruments, enhance overall troubleshooting efficiency.

Conclusion

In summary, small businesses facing network challenges may consider adopting the technology of 10G multi-rate optical modules. By providing greater bandwidth and higher performance, this technology facilitates the establishment of a robust, flexible, and efficient network infrastructure, promoting sustainable business growth. In the digital era, such network upgrades are not only an investment but also a crucial step for small businesses to open up broader development opportunities.

Related resource: Optical Networking Solutions for SMB

SFP-10G-SR vs SFP-10G-LR: How to choose?

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Optical fiber communication technology is crucial for efficient information transmission, significantly enhancing data transmission speeds. Optical modules, a vital component of this technology, play a key role. Among the parameters associated with optical modules, common ones include SFP-10G-SR and SFP-10G-LR. When making a purchase decision, it’s pivotal for you to understand the difference between SFP-10G-SR and SFP-10G-LR before choosing products.

What are the SFP-10G-SR and SFP-10G-LR

SFP refers to hot-pluggable small form factor modules. 10G represents its maximum transmission rate of 10.3 Gbps, which is suitable for 10 Gigabit Ethernet. SR and LR represent the transmission distance of the SFP 10g module.

SFP-10G-SR

SFP-10G-SR is designed for short-distance transmission, typically up to 300 meters over multimode fiber. Using 850 nm wavelength laser and LC bidirectional connector, it is easy to plug and install. The module supports hot-swappable function, which can be safely replaced while the device is running, with stable performance and reliability. In data center networks, SFP-10G-SR is often used for connections between servers to support high-speed data transmission. It is also suitable for enterprise network environments, especially in scenarios with high network performance requirements.

SFP-10G-LR

The SFP-10G-LR is specifically engineered for medium to long-distance transmissions, typically spanning 10 to 40 kilometers over single-mode fiber. Boasting a 1310nm wavelength laser and an LC bidirectional connector, it facilitates effortless and smooth installation. The compatibility of SFP-10G-LR with single-mode optical fiber makes it an ideal solution for fulfilling communication needs in medium to long-distance scenarios, including establishing connections between remote offices. Furthermore, it proves well-suited for constructing network backbones, enabling high-speed data transmission among diverse network devices.

Differences Between SFP-10G-SR and SFP-10G-LR

Transmission Distance: The primary distinction lies in their coverage range, with SFP-10G-SR for short distances and SFP-10G-LR for longer ones.

Fiber Compatibility: SFP-10G-SR works with multimode fiber, while SFP-10G-LR requires single-mode fiber.

Use Cases: SFP-10G-SR is optimal for intra-building connections, while SFP-10G-LR is suitable for inter-building or even metropolitan-area connections.

Wavelength: The SFP-10G-SR uses a laser with a wavelength of 850 nanometers, while the SFP-10G-LR uses a laser with a wavelength of 1310 nanometers.

How to Choose the Right Module

After understanding the difference between SFP-10G-SR and SFP-10G-LR, we will start from typical application scenarios, combining them with your network requirements, to provide guidance on selecting the appropriate SFP 10G optical module for you.

Data Center

When linking servers, storage devices, or network components within the data center, opt for SFP-10G-SR for short-distance connections like in-rack setups. For cross-rack connectivity, SFP-10G-LR is the best choice.

Intra-Enterprise Network

Establishing high-speed connections within the enterprise, such as inter-floor or inter-department links, demands tailored choices. For shorter intra-floor connections, select SFP-10G-SR. Opt for SFP-10G-LR when spanning different floors.

Remote Office/Branch Office

For network connections linking remote or branch offices with the headquarters, SFP-10G-LR is the preferred module due to its suitability for longer distances, ensuring coverage for remote locations.

Inter-City Data Transmission

When establishing high-speed data connections between cities, the preferred choice is SFP-10G-LR, thanks to its compatibility with longer fiber distances, addressing the needs of inter-city connections.

Budget Constraints

If facing budget limitations and the connection distance permits, SFP-10G-SR is generally the more economical option.

Unlocking the Potential of the SFP 10g module with FS Products

The burgeoning era of digitization has spurred a growing demand for optical modules across various sectors, including enterprise networks, data centers, campus networks, and metropolitan area networks. Building on the diverse applications of optical modules, as a premier network solutions provider, FS.COM offers a diverse range of hot-swappable SFP 10G modules designed to maximize uptime and streamline serviceability. Equipped with Digital Optical Monitoring (DDM) capabilities, each unit is meticulously customized and coded for full-function compatibility. FS products undergo rigorous testing and verification to ensure the seamless and reliable operation of your network.

The following table sorts out the products of these two models (SFP-10G-SR and SFP-10G-LR) on the FS. You can choose the most suitable one according to your needs.

ModelSFP-10G-SRSFP-10G-LR
Data Rate (Max)10.3125Gbps10.3125Gbps
Wavelength850nm1310nm
Cable Distance (Max)300m@OM3400m@OM410km
ConnectorDuplex LCDuplex LC
Transmitter TypeVCSELDFB
Cable TypeMMFSMF
TX Power-7.3~-1dBm-8.2~0.5dBm
Receiver Sensitivity< -11.1dBm<-14.4dBm
Power Consumption<1W≤1W
Operating Temperature0 to 70°C (32 to 158°F)0 to 70°C (32 to 158°F)
Application RangeOnly used for short distance connectionsOnly used for long distance connections

Conclusion

In short, which product to choose ultimately depends on your network layout and connectivity needs. The above considerations can help you quickly select the right product to achieve the best performance in your specific network environment. If you would like to learn about other types of SFP 10g modules, you can visit the following resources for more information.

Related resource: Other models of SFP 10g modules

10G DWDM Tunable XFP – Up to 80 km Reach

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With the spread of cloud computing and mobile broadband service, the volume of communications traffic has rapidly increased. In order to enable high-capacity optical networks, using a single optical fiber for optical signals of several different wavelengths in DWDM system is widely used. For this reason, tunable transceiver that enables ROADM functionality in next-generation networks is becoming more and more popular. In today’s market, there are mainly two kinds of tunable DWDM transceivers: tunable XFP and tunable SFP+. This article will take you to explore the DWDM C-band tunable XFP transceiver with 40 / 80 km transmission distance options.

10g-dwdm-tunable-xfp-transceiver

Figure 1: Cisco Compatible Tunable DWDM XFP Transceiver

Tunable XFP Transceiver

Tunable XFP transceiver is an integrated fiber optic transceiver that provides a high-speed serial link at signaling rates from 9.95 Gbps to 11.35 Gbps. It complies with the ITU-T G.698.1 S-D100S1-2D standard with 50GHz channel spacing for SONET/SDH, IEEE DWDM 10GBASE-ZR for 40 or 80 km reach (Ethernet), and DWDM 10G FC (Fibre Channel) for 40 or 80 km reach applications. Tunable DWDM XFP can be tuned from channel C17 (1563.86nm) to C61 (1528.38nm). The maximum distance of this transceiver on a single mode fiber is up to 80 km. As mentioned above, tunable XFP optical transceiver is a full-duplex serial electric, serial optical device with both transmit and receive functions contained in a single module. On the transmit side, the 10 Gbps serial data stream is recovered, retimed, and passed to a modulator driver. The modulator driver biases and modulates a C-band-tunable integrated laser Mach-Zehnder (ILMZ), enabling data transmission over singlemode fiber through an industry-standard LC connector. On the receive side, the 10 Gbps optical data stream is recovered from an APD/transimpedance amplifier, retimed, and passed to an output driver. This module features a hot-pluggable XFI-compliant electrical interface. Here is a simple picture showing its working process.

function diagram of tunable xfp

Figure 2: Working Process of Tunable Transceiver

Tunable XFP Optics Specifications:

  • 50 GHz ITU channel spacing with intergrated wavelength locker
  • Available in all C-Band Wavelengths on the DWDM ITU grid
  • Available distances 40 or 80 km
  • Supports 9.95Gb/s to 11.35Gb/s
  • Built-in Digital Diagnostic Functions
  • Tempereature Range: -5°C to 70°C

Two Transmission Distance Options: 40 km or 80 km

There are two transmission distance options for XFP tunable transceiver: 40 km or 80 km. Tunable XFP DWDM 80 km transceiver is designed for long distance optical communications up to 80 km with signaling rates up to 10Gbps. Obviously, the main difference is transmission distance. On account that 10G tunable DWDM XFP optical transceiver provides digital diagnostic functions via a 2-wire serial interface, which allows real-time access to the following operating parameters: transmitted optical power, received optical power, transceiver temperature, laser bias current and transceiver supply voltage. Therefore, the differences between 40 km tunable XFP and 80 km tunable XFP mainly lie on theses parameters. One thing to note is that 40 km tunable XFP optics is designed with high performance PIN receiver, while the 80 km tunable XFP transceiver is APD receiver. The APD (avalanche photodiode) receiver employed in these extended-reach optical transceivers has an enhanced sensitivity to allow for these extended distance fiber runs. However, it is to be noted that the input power is typically between -7 and -24 dBm. Therefore, the receiver sensitivity between these two distance has a big difference. Generally, the max receive dBm of 40 km tunable XFP transceiver is -15, while the 80 km tunable XFP transceiver is -24. And for power budget, 40 km tunable XFP is 14dB while a distance up to 80 km is up to 22dB power budget. The following table lists the main differences.

40km 80km tunable xfp

Table 1: 40 km Tunable XFP VS. 80 km Tunable XFP

Conclusion

In general, the channel switching of tunable switches can enable the service operators to turn up circuits faster and reduce their sparing costs dramatically in today’s DWDM systems. On the other hand, tunable optics are usually two or four times more expensive than the regular static DWDM optical module, because a special tunable laser is applied in it. Tunable XFP optical transceiver provides a full C-band window covering 1528nm to 1566nm for DWDM optical networks, which meets the need of rapid increase in the volume of communications traffic from telecom carrier and operator. The tunable DWDM XFP module can replace the fixed DWDM channel XFP transceivers that are currently used, while reduce the large stock since all wavelengths can now be covered with one transceiver module.

Model Frequency Wavelength Fiber Type Connector Price on FS.COM
ONS-XC-10G-C 50 GHz 1563.86~1528.3 SMF LC $1,400
XFP-10G-CBAND-T50-ZR 50 GHz 1563.86~1528.3 SMF LC $1,400
NTK583AAE6 50 GHz 1563.86~1528.3 SMF LC $1,400
TDXFP-10GHXXX-80 50 GHz 1563.86~1528.3 SMF LC $1,400
TDXFP-10GHXXX-40 50 GHz 1563.86~1528.3 SMF LC $1,400

Related Article: Wavelength Switching Solution: Tunable XFP Transceiver

Detail Introduction to 10G DWDM Tunable SFP+ Transceiver

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Optical transceivers play a key role in handling all storage, data, voice and video traffic whether linking rack to rack, bottom to top of rack, data center to data center or enterprise networks to network. A range of flexible fiber optic transceiver modules cover all of network needs, such as SFP, SFP+, QSFP, QSFP28, CFP, etc. But for 10G DWDM tunable SFP+, many people might find themselves in the mire. When I first heard about this tunable transceiver, I thought that it would definitely bring revolutionary change to future metro Ethernet and optical transport networks with its important practical value for flexibly selecting working wavelength. So this article will unveil all of the things about tunable SFP+ optical transceiver.

FS DWDM Tunable SFP+

About 10G DWDM Tunable SFP+

As the demand for great traffic capacity keeps growing, more optical transceivers of different wavelengths are needed. So tunable transceivers are recent innovations in DWDM transport systems. DWDM tunable transceivers are within the scope of DWDM transceivers, through which different DWDM wavelengths can be configured and output in the same optical module. But compare with conventional fixed-wavelength DWDM SFP+, the tunable SFP+ uses tunable laser as light sources in DWDM systems, which is tunable across the entire C-band with 96 channels on the ITU-T 50-GHz grid.

Cisco-tunable-SFP+

The tunable laser technology is firstly introduced by Oclaro, a leading supplier and and innovator of tunable laser and transceiver solutions. In 2013, it announced a standards-compliant, multi-rate tunable SFP+, which supports rates between 9.95 and 11.3 Gbps. But the first-generation tunable SFP+ optical transceivers were not widely adopted, because they did not meet the critical requirement of less than 1.5 W of power consumption at high operating temperatures. So in 2014, Oclaro demonstrated a new tunable SFP+ module based on a new Oclaro InP tunable laser platform. With the innovative new chip design and the use of next generation materials, the new module is fully compliant to the SFP MSA form factor and can operate at 1.5W at 70 degrees C with excellent OSNR tolerance. With the breakthrough of technology, the 10G tunable SFP+ transceivers become an important component for next generation data center, metro and regional optical network equipment. They meet the world’s growing bandwidth demands while reducing the size and power consumption for 10G connections.

Key Highlights of Tunable SFP+ Module:

(1) Fully compliant with MSA standard size based on SFF-8432 specification for Improved Pluggable Form Factor, rev. 5.1

(2) Tunable across the full C-band with 96 channels on the ITU-T 50GHz grid

(3) Multi-rate operation: 9.95 Gbit/s to 11.3 Gbit/s

(4) Operates at 1.5W at 70 degrees C with excellent OSNR tolerance

Advantages of Tunable SFP+

The tunable SFP+ transceivers are high-performance optics which can be tuned to the appropriate wavelength. The ability to operate on various wavelengths has set these optics apart from fixed-wavelength DWDM SFP+. Besides, These tunable optics will become popular among DWDM systems due to the several advantages.

  • Flexible network management

A tunable SFP+ transceiver will be remotely configured for a specific wavelength to support bandwidth changes as needed in Enterprise or Metro networks.

  • Reduced network inventory

One tunable SFP+ transceiver will support more than 80 different wavelengths. It will allow network operators to hold one tunable device code as opposed to 80+ fixed wavelength transceivers.

  • Reduced power consumption

It will provide a significant reduction in electrical power dissipation compared to other tunable solutions.

  • Compact and high-density form factor

The new tunable SFP+ transceiver will be about the size of a pack of gum, saving valuable real estate in data centers.

  • Increased network capacity

The tunable SFP+ will double the number of channels supported in this compact transceiver form factor. Upgrading to 50GHz channel spacing doubles the capacity potential in Enterprise and Metro networks.

Conclusion

The advent of 10G DWDM tunable SFP+ transceivers in the market will accelerate the trend for pace-, power-, and cost-efficient network solutions. Because tunability is critical for minimizing inventory and enabling flexible rapid service provisioning. Although now the market share for DWDM tunable SFP+ transceiver is not big enough, the huge potential will be demonstrated in the near future.

Optics Solutions for Netgear ProSAFE XS712T (XS712T-100NES)

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With the growth of virtualization, cloud-based services and applications like VoIP, video streaming and IP surveillance, SMB networks need to extend beyond simple reliability to higher speed and performance. As a leading provider of networking equipment for SMBs, Netgear had launched a variety of cost-effective 10GBASE-T switches including Netgear ProSAFE XS708Ev2, XS716E, XS708T, XS712T, XS716T, XS728T, XS748T and XSM7224. When looking for a lower cost and high capacity 10GBASE-T switch in SMB home/office lab environments, the Netgear ProSAFE XS712T is one of the best options. It comes in at around $1,100 at Amazon which is more budget friendly than the larger data center switches. This article will review the Netgear ProSAFE XS712T (XS712T-100NES) 10GBASE-T switch.

Netgear ProSAFE XS712T (XS712T-100NES): 12-Port 10GBASE-T Switch

Netgear ProSAFE XS712T is a powerful smart managed switch that comes with 10 dedicated 10GBASE-T RJ-45 copper ports supporting 100M/1G/10G speeds and 2 combo copper/SFP+ fiber 10G ports. The 2 combo SFP+ ports can be used as 10GASE-T ports or as SFP+ 10Gb Ethernet ports. This is an awesome feature as it allows an inexpensive SPF+ link via DAC to a 24 or 48 port 1Gb Ethernet switch for non-10Gb networking needs. All ports can automatically negotiate to the highest speed, which makes the switch ideal for environments that have a mix of Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, or 10-Gigabit Ethernet devices. Cat 5e/Cat 6/Cat 6a/Cat 7 can be used to make 10G connections. Cat 6a/Cat 7 cables are recommended if the cable distance is greater than 45 meters. Besides, the smart switch can be freestanding or rack mounted in a wiring closet or equipment room. This 10G smart managed switch is purposely designed as a cost-effective way to provide 10G connections to 10G-capable servers and NAS (Network Attached Storage) systems. It also can be used at the center of a small business network or as an aggregation/access switch in a larger organization.

Netgear ProSAFE XS712T

Figure 1:  Netgear ProSAFE XS712T (Source: www.netgear.com )

Highlights of Netgear ProSAFE XS712T

In order to meet the current and future needs on virtualization, converged network and mobility, the XS712T provides comprehensive L2+/Layer 3 Lite features, such as VLAN, QoS, IGMP and MLD snooping, Static Routing, Link Aggregation, ACL binding. Besides, it has an easy-to-use Web-based management GUI which makes setup and management simple. Some of main features include:

10GBASE-T Connection

The RJ-45 copper ports of XS712T comply with IEEE 10GBASE-T standards. They support low-latency, line-rate 10G copper “Base-T” technology with backward compatibility to Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet. So it allows for a cost effective and simpler upgrade path to 10-Gigabit Ethernet. The existing Cat5/Cat5e is supported for Gigabit speeds up to 100 meters, Cat6 for 10-Gigabit speeds up to 45 meters and Cat6a/Cat7 for 10GBASE-T connection up to 100 meter.

Designed as Core Switch for SMB Network

The powerful L2+/Layer 3 Lite features make XS712T the most cost-effective core switches for SMB and virtualization environment. This switch is also a future-proofing choice with 10G bandwidth, advanced traffic management and comprehensive IPv6 support.

netgear_prosafe_xs712t_l2_10gbe_switch in SMB network

Figure 2: Netgear ProSAFE XS712T in SMB Network (Source: www.netgear.com )

Act as Aggregation Switch for Medium Sized Networks

The XS712T used as a aggregation switch has many useful purposes. It can help to resolve the congestion issue between network edge and core, which is caused by the broader adoption of Gigabit-to-the-desktop. Unlike multiple Gigabit Ethernet links, it provides greater scalability resulting in a simplified and highly efficient network infrastructure. What’s more, it can reduce cabling complexity because it can use existing cabling efficiently.

Optics Solutions for Netgear ProSAFE XS712T (XS712T-100NES)

As mentioned above, The Netgear ProSAFE XS712T smart switch provides 12 twisted-pair ports that support nonstop 100M/1000M/10G networks. The switch also has two built-in SFP+ GBIC combo slots that support 1000M and 10G optical modules. Using these Gigabit slots, 100M/1000M/10G copper and 1000M/10G fiber connectivity can create high-speed connections to a server or network backbone. So 1000BASE-T SFP copper transceiver, 1000BASE SFP and 10G SFP+ transceivers are suitable for this switch. The following table lists the compatible transceivers and optic cables from FS.COM.

MFG PART# Description
AGM734 NETGEAR AGM734 Compatible 1000BASE-T SFP Copper 100m Transceiver, RJ-45 Interface
AGM731F NETGEAR Compatible 1000BASE-SX SFP 850nm 550m DOM Transceiver, LC Interface
AGM732F NETGEAR Compatible 1000BASE-LX SFP 1310nm 10km DOM Transceiver, LC Interface
AXM761 NETGEAR Compatible 10GBASE-SR SFP+ 850nm 300m DOM Transceiver, LC Interface
AXM762 NETGEAR Compatible 10GBASE-LR SFP+ 1310nm 10km DOM Transceiver, LC Interface
AXM763 NETGEAR Compatible 10GBASE-LRM SFP+ 1310nm 220m DOM Transceiver, LC Interface
AXM764 NETGEAR Compatible 10GBASE-LR Lite SFP+ 1310nm 2km DOM Transceiver, LC Interface
AXC761 1m NETGEAR Compatible 10G SFP+ Passive DAC
AXC763 3m NETGEAR Compatible 10G SFP+ Passive DAC
Conclusion

The Netgear XS712T (XS712T-100NES) provides a solid cost-effective solution especially for those with SMB home/ office lab environments. If you are seeking for afforable 10GBASE-T switch for your home lab, the XS712T can be taken into consideration. What’s more, the compatible fiber transceivers and cables can be found in many third party vendors with reasonable prices, such as cablestogo, fluxlight, smartoptics, FS.COM, and etc. You have a lot of choices to save money.

Comparison Between Single Mode Transceiver and Multimode Transceiver

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Fiber optic transceiver is a commonly used device which can send or receive data in optical links. As the growing demand for higher speed and bandwidth, more high-speed optical transceivers like 40G QSFP+, 100G CFP and QSFP28 springs up in the market. And we cannot divide them according to data rate, but also the transmission mode—single mode transceiver and mulitmode transceiver. Then what’s the difference between them? Let’s uncover it.

Overview of Single Mode Transceiver and Multimode Transceiver

It’s known to us that fiber optic cables can be classified into single mode and multimode according to its transmission mode. It’s same to fiber optic transceiver. Single mode fiber is a type of transceiver that allows one mode to propagate. It uses single mode fiber cable to receive and transmit data, which make it suitable for longer transmission. While multimode fiber optic transceiver support multiple mode transmission, and works with multimode fiber cable which has a larger core than single mode fiber cable. It’s transmission distance is less than that of single mode fiber transceiver because of dispersion.

single mode fiber transceiver vs multimode fiber transceiver

Single Mode Transceiver Vs. Multimode Transceiver: What’s the Differences?

Since there are so many types of optical transceivers in the market, choosing which types and cabling systems to install isn’t an easy thing. Therefore, knowing the differences between them is important. Here are the differences between single mode transceiver and multimode transceiver.

Laser sources: multimode optical transceiver often uses VCSEL which offers lower manufacturing package cost when compared with edge-emitting lasers. While single mode fiber has a core diameter of 9µm, which has less tolerance to fiber core misalignment as compared to multimode fiber. Therefore, it has higher requirement and cost for lasers.

Power consumption: multimode transceivers consume less power than a single mode transceivers, which is an important consideration especially when assessing the cost of powering and cooling a data center.

Distance: the reach distance of the two types transceiver is different. The multimode optical transceivers generally have a reach of approximately 550 meters, while the single mode transceivers can get you through 10 km, 40 km, 80 km and even farther.

Speed: in telecom applications where the fiber cost is high due to long-distance data transmission, single mode transceivers can support higher speed rates with fast response time, advanced modulation formats and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology.

Cost: in terms of cost, single mode transceiver are nearly two or three times higher in price when compared to multimode transceiver. Because single mode fiber cables cost more to make and are more “fragile” in nature, which makes them more expensive than multimode fiber cables.

Summary

This post gives a simple comparison between single mode transceiver and multimode transceiver. Both of them have their own advantages in data center applications. Whether you choose the single mode or multimode transceiver, it’s important to note that different optical transceivers aren’t interchangeable due to the differences in fiber core size and wavelengths. FS.COM, as a professional optical products supplier, offers various fiber optic transceiver to meet customers’ diverse needs. If you have any need, please visit www.fs.com for more detailed information.

Getting to Know About QSFP-40G-UNIV Transceiver

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As the switching applications requiring higher bandwidth increased, the need to upgrade from 10G to dense 40 Gigabit Ethernet switching connection also goes on rise. But the optical transceivers widely used at present require to redesign the data center layout if migrating to 40G, for the existing fiber infrastructure cannot satisfy this migration requirement. However, the QSFP-40G-UNIV transceiver can solve this problem perfectly. Why QSFP-40G-UNIV transceiver can resolve the problem successfully? Let’s first to know the basics about it.

Basics of QSFP-40G-UNIV Transceiver

The “UNIV” in item “QSFP-40G-UNIV” means “Universal”. As we all know, common optical transceiver only can operate either on single-mode fiber (SMF) or multimode fiber (MMF), but it can work on both types of fibers. Therefore, QSFP-40G-UNIV transceiver is also called SMF&MMF 40G transceiver or QSFP 40G universal transceiver. This transceiver is a pluggable optical transceiver in an industry standard QSFP+ form factor. It has four channels of 10G multiplexed inside the module to transmit and receive an aggregate 40G signal over a single pair of single-mode or multimode fiber. And it uses a duplex LC connector that makes it work with a wide range of fiber optic cables, including multi-mode OM3 and OM4 and single mode (OS1). Besides, QSFP-40G-UNIV transceiver supports distances up to 150 m over OM3 or OM4 multimode fiber and up to 500 m over single-mode fiber (different vendor may have different specifications).

ariste-qsfp-40g-univ-transceiver-1

Differences and Advantages of QSFP-40G-UNIV Transceiver

There are various types of short reach QSFP transceivers such as QSFP-40G-SR4 and QSFP-40G-XSR4. The longest reach of them on OM3 is 300m. And most of them use MPO-12 connectors and ribbon fiber infrastructure. As a result, if users have to deploy new fiber to upgrade from 10G to 40G or to install MTP/MPO fiber systems, they have to invest more money to change the existing network systems. However, QSFP-40G-UNIV transceiver is different. It has LC connectors and supports several types of cables, allowing for seamless migrations from existing 10 to 40GbE networking without requiring a redesign or expansion of the fiber network.

Here are the advantages of QSFP-40G-UNIV transceiver.

  • Uses existing duplex fiber infrastructure for 40G
  • Identical transceiver for both multi-mode and single-mode fiber for simplified operations and investment protection
  • Support for Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM) and passive network Taps for link quality monitoring and passive data analysis
  • Optically interoperable with IEEE 40GBASE-LR4 and 40G-LRL4 for easy connection to routers and switches in existing networks
  • Supported QSFP+ ports on switches without restrictions
Applications of QSFP-40G-UNIV Transceiver

As have mentioned above, QSFP-40G-UNIV transceiver is a kind of optical transceiver that can be used for both single-mode and multimode fibers. With this unique design, it offers a cost-effective connectivity for data centers’ migration. Here is a simple illustration of the applications using QSFP-40G-UNIV transceivers.

Multimode Direct Connections for Cisco Switches

The following figure shows the simplest and cost-effective way to connect two Cisco Nexus 9396PX switches with Cisco compatible QSFP-40G-UNIV transceivers for multi-mode fiber infrastructure. In this connection, except for the required transceivers, an LC to LC duplex multimode fiber patch cable is also needed to link the two QSFP-40G-UNIV transceivers directly.

ci-qsfp-univ-transceiver

Single-mode 40GbE Interconnection Solution Using QSFP-40G-UNIV Transceivers

With the special characteristic, the use of Cisco compatible QSFP-40G-UNIV transceiver can help network administrators take greatly advantage of reducing deployment and support. The following figure shows a low cost single-mode 40GbE Interconnection solution. These qsfp+ transceivers are connected with LC duplex SMF fiber patch cables. And two fiber enclosures loaded with MTP LGX cassettes and MTP/MPO trunk cables are also needed to realize this connection.

ci-qsfp-univ-transceiver-2

Conclusion

Without having to redesign or change the existing cable infrastructure, qsfp bidi transceivers enable data centers to run at 10G today and to seamlessly upgrade to 40G. It offers a transition path between single-mode and multimode optics with lower cost and more conveniences. FS.COM supplies 40G QSFP transceivers compatible with other major brands including Cisco QSFP-40G-UNIV, Arista QSFP-40G-UNIV, HPE, etc. And those transceivers are 100% tested to provide a satisfying working performance. You can visit FS.COM or contact sales@fs.com for more detailed information.

Overview of BiDi Transceiver Modules

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During optical transmission process, it’s no wonder that using one fiber to receive data from networking equipment, and another one to transmit data to the networking equipment. This kind of transmission mode will increase investment cost certainly. Luckily, here is a type of transceiver can solve this problem. It’s bi-directional transceiver. Today, this article will take you to make sense why BiDi transceiver can make it possible to transmit data over one fiber.

Basics of BiDi Transceiver

BiDi is short for bidirectional. BiDi transceiver is a type of fiber optic transceiver which is used WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) bi-directional transmission technology so that it can achieve the transmission of optical channels on a fiber propagating simultaneously in both directions. BiDi transceiver is only with one port which uses an integral bidirectional coupler to transmit and receive signals over a single fiber optical cable. Thus, it must be employed in pairs.

How Does BiDi Transceiver Work?

The obvious difference between BiDi transceivers and traditional two-fiber fiber optic transceivers is that BiDi transceivers are fitted with Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) couplers, also known as diplexers, which combine and separate data transmitted over a single fiber based on the wavelengths of the light. For this reason, BiDi transceivers are also referred to as WDM transceivers.

To work effectively, BiDi transceivers must be deployed in matched pairs, with their diplexers tuned to match the expected wavelength of the transmitter and receiver that they will be transmitting data from or to.

For example, if paired BiDi transceivers are being used to connect Device A (Upstream) and Device B (Downstream), as shown in the figure below, then:

  • Transceiver A’s diplexer must have a receiving wavelength of 1550nm and a transmit wavelength of 1310nm
  • Transceiver B’s diplexer must have a receiving wavelength of 1310nm and a transmit wavelength of 1550nm

bidi transceiver diagram

Common Types of BiDi Transceiver

BiDi SFP Transceiver

BiDi SFP transceiver is typically applied for the high-performance integrated duplex data link over a single optical fiber. It interfaces a network device mother board (for a switch, router or similar device) to a fiber optic or unshielded twisted pair networking cable. And the most typical wavelength combination is 1310/1490 nm, 1310/1550 nm, 1490/1550 nm and 1510/1570 nm. This BiDi SFP transceiver is used in optical communication for both telecommunication and data bidirectional communications applications.

BiDi SFP+ Transceiver

BiDi SFP+ transceiver is an enhanced SFP transceiver. It is designed for bi-directional 10G serial optical data communications such as IEEE 802.3ae 10GBASE-BX by using 1330/1270nm transmitter and 1270/1330nm receiver. And its transmission distance is up to 20 km.

SFP+ BX

Advantages of BiDi Transceiver

The obvious advantage of utilizing BiDi transceivers, such as BiDi SFP+ and BiDi SFP transceivers, is the reduction in fiber cabling infrastructure costs by reducing the number of fiber patch panel ports, reducing the amount of tray space dedicated to fiber management, and requiring less fiber cable.

While BiDi transceivers (a.k.a. WDM transceivers) cost more to initially purchase than traditional two-fiber transceivers, they utilize half the amount of fiber per unit of distance. For many networks, the cost savings of utilizing less fiber is enough to more than offset the higher purchase price of BiDi transceivers.

Conclusion

In summary, BiDi transceivers can combine and separate data transmitted over a single fiber based on the wavelengths of the light. That is to say, to achieve the same transmitting result, it needs less money. Except for above SFP & SFP+ BiDi transceivers, FS.COM also provides 40G BiDi transceiver. This BiDi transceiver has two 20 Gbps channels, each transmitted and received simultaneously on two wavelengths over a single MMF strand (OM3 or OM4). Any one of the transceivers would meet your different application requirements with high performance.

Related Article: A Brief Introduction of BiDi SFP Transceiver

Transceiver Module Selection Guide for Your Networking Use

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Thanks to the advances made in fiber optical technologies, fiber solutions have been deployed in ever-increasing applications where high-speed and high-performance data transmission is needed. They outweigh the copper solutions in such aspects as higher bandwidth, longer distances and Electromagnetic interference (EMI) immunity. Transceiver module, one of the key components required in such fiber connections for high networking performance, have experienced the never-ceasing industrial designs, from lower port density to higher, from the standard modules to the final hot-pluggable ones, to meet the ever more flexible networking infrastructure.

There is a broad selection of hot-pluggable transceiver modules available for fiber networking use, and you may feel a little confused about how to select the correct transceiver module for your networking transmission. In this article, I will illustrate different aspects of transceivers that need to be known before choosing a transceiver.

Transceiver Module Basics

Before giving guidance to transceiver selection, it’s necessary to know the basics of transceiver. Transceiver is a combination of a transmitter and a receiver in a single package, while they function independently for bidirectional communication. Typically, a fiber optic transceiver converts the incoming optical signal to electrical and the outgoing electrical signal to optical. More specifically, the transmitter takes an electrical input and converts it to an optical output from a laser diode or LED. The light from the transmitter is coupled into the fiber with a connector and is transmitted through the fiber optic cable plant. The light from the end of the fiber is coupled to a receiver where a detector converts the light into an electrical signal which is then conditioned properly for use by the receiving equipment.

Here go the several aspects of transceiver modules that are helpful in your purchasing.

Form-factorseveral MSA transceiver module types

Multi-source agreements (MSAs) between different equipment vendors specify guidelines for electrical and optical interfaces, mechanical dimensions and electro-magnetic specification of a transceiver module. The equipment vendors follow these MSA defined values for designing their systems to ensure interoperability between interface modules. The form-factor or the MSA-type is needed so that the transceiver can mechanically and electrically fit into a given switch, router, etc. Transceiver MSAs define mechanical form factors including electric interface as well as power consumption and cable connector types. There are various MSA types: SFP (eg. MGBSX1), SFP+, XFP, CFP, CFP2, CFP4, QSFP and so on.

Transmission Media

Transceivers can work over single-mode fiber (SMF), multi-mode fiber (MMF), and copper. In different Ethernet applications, media can achieve different link lengths when combined with transceivers. Take Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) applications for example, single mode SFP transceivers can have a transmission distance of 5km to 120km, while multimode SFP transceivers are defined to have the maximum reach of 55om, with copper solution establishing even fewer link length at 25m. Take MGBLX1 for example, this Cisco compatible 1000BASE-LX SFP works through SMF for 10km reach.

Power Budget

The transceiver power budget is the difference between transmitter launch power and receiver sensitivity and has to be 2-3dB larger (Margin) than the measured link loss. If the link loss cannot be measured, it has to be calculated. Therefore transmission distance [km], the number of ODFs, patches and passive optical components (Muxes) have to be known. Common values for power budget are <10, 14, 20, 24, 28, >30dB.

power budget

If you’re seeking high-speed data carrier, transceivers can help accomplish goals. By transmitting data at 10Gbit/s, 40Gbit/s, 100Gbit/s or 12940Gbit/s, they can ensure that data arrives quickly. Transceiver modules that are capable of handling fast speeds can help with downloads and high and low bandwidth video transmission.

Conclusion

Transceiver modules are instrumental in ensuring that the data is transmitted securely, expeditiously, and accurately across the media. Choosing the right type of transceiver for your network is not always easy, but knowing above discussed parameters beforehand helps you narrow it down to a few transceivers. FS.COM offers a sea of transceiver modules which are fully compatible with major brands, like the above mentioned MGBSX1 and MGBLX1, the Cisco compatible transceiver modules.