Digging Deeper into Pluggable SFP Module

A compact hot plug fiber optic transceiver, the Small Form-Factor pluggable SFP module is used in fiber optic communications for telecommunication and data communications applications. SFP is the interface between a network device mother board and a fiber optic or copper cable network cable.

sfp module

The SFP module is able to support Gigabit Ethernet, fiber channel, SONET, and a number of other communications standards. For your information that in the near future, SFP will expand to the SFP+. At the time, the data rate in 10 Gbit/s is a chievable, including 8 billion fiber channel. Compared to Xenpack or XFP type of modules, all of their circuitry inside, an SFP+ module leaves some of its circuitry to be implemented on the host board.

There is a huge change in the optical transciever is a vailable, each with different transmitter or receiver. This allows the user configure and customize the transceiver to get the proper optical reach with either a multimode fiber or single mode fiber type. In addition, the optical SFP module comes in four categories -SX, which is 850nm, LX, which is 1310nm, ZX, which is 1550nm and DWDM. All of them have an interface of a copper cable which permits a mother board to communicate via USTP (unshielded twisted-pair) cable network. There are also a coarse wavelength division multiplexing and two-way optical fiber cable, single mode 1310/1490 nm upsteam and downstream.

Actually available, the SFP module has the capability transfer rates of up to 4.25 Gbit/s. XFP, a form factor which is virtually identical to the SFP type, increases this amount by nearly three times, at 10Gbit/s. The SFP transceiver is specified and made compatible via a multi-source agreement (MSA) between manufacturers, so that different users who may use equipment from different manufacturers and provides can work effectively and smoothly without worrying about errors and inconveniences.

The GBIC interface is the precursor to the SFP, hence it’s nicknamed as mini gbic. However, the SFP module allows greater port density (number of transceivers per inch along the edge of a mother board) than the GBIC. Also exist the identical Small Form-Factor (SFF) transceiver which is about similar size as the SFP. Rather than plugged into an edge-card socket, it is directly attached to the mother board as a pin through-hole device.

Digital optical monitoring (DOM) or digital diagnostics monitoring (DOM) funcations are supported by the modern optical SFP transceiver according to the industry specifications of the SFP-8472 MSA. The user has the ability to constantly monitor real-time parameters of the SFP, such as optical input/outp power, supply voltage and laser bias current because of this feature.

That have been said, I’m very glad to know that optical transceiver is a very popular format, it is recommended to use a considerable amount of fiber optic component suppliers. These companies carry SFP transceivers for all Cisco devices together with transceiver modules for many other manufacturers. So, if you need technology solutions for your networking applications, you now know what to look for.

How To Save Your Money On SFP Transceivers

Outfitting servers, all new SFP transceiver can be wind up costing a company a few thousand dollars, but investment is necessary, becaused these products provided by the reliability and effective means of communication. Most companies in the market for new modules tend to search online or call a businessman help equip their computer products. Rather than call a dealer or visit a random middlemen, you should check your buying process, where you can save the replacement equipment outside of the OEM or custom objects in order to save cost.

Choose SFP Transceiver Compatible Alternative

Purchasing SFP transceiver from an OEM can cost 50-100 dollars more than you would like, but manufacturers that sell similar items tend to cost much less and manage to come with the same type of facets. Instead of SFP transceivers to help save a ton of money, because they can do everything, why wouldn’t you want to buy these items? For a company looking to lessen its bottom line, why not think about these alternatives to help minimize the costs and go around dealing with the OEM for the product you need.

Buy Used SFP Transceiver

Some individuals cringe when they hear the products is “used” and believe that an old module tends to not have as much value and life as a new module, but ignore this common myth. For instance, you might buy a Cisco GLC-T module at a used price, but the Cisco brand is regarded for its reliability and features that will not break down after a few months of use. With suppliers provide extended warranties on these items and left the orginal cost discount interest rate 50%, than looks diffcult, anyone want to refuse to bargain, are provided here.

Buy a Warranty

Well, so the theme of the article is to help people find ways to save money on modules, but the warranty is to invest later road will also clearly the dividend to investors. Okay, so say you end up with the newest Cisco compatible sfp transceiver for your systems, but some of them break down after a year because of a ruined lens.

You’ve gone past your manufacturer warranty and now you have to spend an extra 300-500 dollars for a replacement. Now, if you would have spent the extra money on a warranty, you could have been spared the hassle of throwing away those three hundred dollars. A warranty is only insrance, but it is always an extra motivation, help you save a large sum of cash if one day, you need it.

FiberStore focus on providing high quality fiber optic cable, Cisco GLC-T, Cisco compatible SFP modules, mini gbic, and related products for local and wide area networking products. We stock optical transceivers from top suppliers. FiberStore is convinced the path to success is through excellence and customer service. Our customers are our number one priority. We know you have many choice of where to buy so we do our best to provide the best sfp and gbic products, at the best prices with the best possible support.

Source: fiberstore.com

The Data Center Infrastructure of 40G and 100G

Once the server upgrade, top of rack switch uplink require a higher speed. However, during the transition from 1G to 10G full of frustrations. In the past, server vendors comes 1GbE RJ-45 LAN-on-motherboard is free of charge. But now a dual-port 10GBASE-T expensive. Cat5e is almost free, Interconnect never in the past is not a serious cost problem, and now it is. The server companies sale 10G ports, can be mounted on pluggable “daughter card”, cut off the posterior of the subsequent market competitiors and monopoly high prices. Daughter card can and 1G 10GBASE-T, 2-4 SFP+ port and dual-port QSFP combination. With 100G CXP and CFP /2 will be collocation is used. Due to server company in 10G/40G upgrades made a large sums of money, we will ask such a question: “server company will return to the LOM mode, buyers will not need to pay?” Our answer: Yes. But just before the transition to 40G! 10GBASE-T has a problem in high power consumption, size and cost, therefore, when the market of the 10GBASE-T in the development of 28-nm version, so that the SFP+ DAC take advantage. This makes the entire industry landscape has changed greatly. DAC also has its problems. Because it is electrically connected to two different systems, not all of the SFP+ port is the same.

The server-switch link update from 1G to 10G, and the switch uplink increased to 40G, TOR (Top of Rack) switch to connect to the EOR (End of Row) switch until the aggregation switching layer. Data center operators just the economic gloom stood up, still tight budget. “Incremental upgrade” is the investment strategy of the operators. Increase “necessary” 10G/40G link is the current investment. 100G seems to be the exhibition and media attention, but 40G is to make money in the next 2-3 years. Data center began to need 4 ~ 6g, not even to 10G. Therefore, many data center is still in excess, will need to upgrade “. Google, Facebook, Microsoft and other so-called $ 1 billion super data center so that people stare, but they do not represent the mainstream of the data center.

To chase fiber transceiver opportunities, multiple transceiver suppliers is the first to provide less than 50 meters transmission distance of 40G QSFP SR transceiver and Ethernet AOC. 40G QSFP MSA blessed with multi-mode fiber can support short-range (SR) – 100 meters, with the dual-core single-mode fiber with 10km-all in the same QSFP switch port can support. QSFP can plug 36-44 ports per line card, while the CFP can only be inserted 2 in 32W. Although it is very popular in the telecommunications, but not in data communication! OEM prices ranging from $2000 to $3000, it depending on the needs of the data center or telecommunications.

The urgent need for the data center to support tens of thousands of 100G medium transmission link length from the information explosion in demand. Industry conference clamoring. These flow requirements from server virtualization, big data, smart phones, tablet PCs and even software defined network (SDN). Large core switch companies mainly 10-Channel CXP for multi-mode, working together with the transceiver and the AOC. In 4x25G the 25G transmission, multi-mode noise spikes may pose a threat to the multimode transceiver down to 25-50 meters FEC and / or equalization may be required to reach 125 meters. This will make 25-125 meters away from the transceiver higher prices. With 2km Single mode Fiber Optic Transceiverprices narrowed.

At present, the transmission distance of 100m – 600m, there is no economically feasible 100G solutions (unless it can be described with two 40G and 10G transceivers). When the data center becomes greater, which is a hot spot, the IEEE focus of debate. Each additional add 1m, causes the transceiver OEM Price from CXP $ 1,000 he went to the telecentres CFP $ 16,000! Usually claimed transmission 2 km, in fact, can only transmit 400-600 meters, in a loss of data center environments, patch panel and dirty connector can only get 4-5 dB, 10 km link you need to 6dB. Next-generation lasers and instead of SiGe CMOS electronic devices are being developed, but, CMOS electronic harder to develop.

The 40G and 100G are two main data center “form”. Short-range transceiver (SR4), the use of multimode optical fiber can transmit about 100 meters. Using single-mode fiber can transmit 100 meters to 10 kilometers long range transceiver (LR4). This so-called, no formal terminology NR4 aspirations 2km 4dB. SR transceivers typically used to connect a computer cluster and switch layer in the data center. SR transceiver and OM4 fiber combination, can transmit about 300 meters. 125-200 meters, the conversion using single-mode fiber, transceivers and fiber can bring benefit return; even in 25G transmission, also can bring benefits.

The 40G usually in the QSFP or QSFP MSA, usually in four of the 10G channels laying. SR transceiver uses eight multimode fiber (corresponding to one direction), VCSEL lasers and QSFP MSA. LR transceiver uses edge-emitting lasers, multiplex four 10G channels to two single-mode fiber, the single-mode fiber in the transmission of the CFP module MSA 10km, soon also be reached in 28 CFP / 2 and QSFP MSA on this distance. 40G, SR4 and LR4 can be used for the same QSFP switch interface, no problem – just plug in, you can run – you can reach one meter -10 km without any problems. (But still does not work in the 100G)

The 100G SR10 use 20 multimode fiber, VCSELs and CXP MSA. 100G LR4 CFP and two single-mode fiber. Though he promised transmission 100 meters, but the SR10 CXP transceiver typically used to connect large-scale aggregation and core switches from less than 50 meters, when the distance becomes longer, the more than 20-mode fiber will be very expensive, because the multi-mode the optical fiber is about 3 times more expensive than the single-mode fiber. Only in 2012, a number of transceiver companies have announced the development of the CXP 100G SR transceiver. The the 40G QSFP transceiver and the AOCs since 2008 come out. Later on, 4x25G QSFP SR transceiver may to appear CXP transceiver market 10x10G.

Source: fiberstore.com

Digital Optical Video Fiber Optical Transceiver in Highway Monitoring System

Nowadays there are 3 grades in highway toll stations, toll station, sub-center and center. It seems a separation structure, but it is high efficient centralized management. All the charge stations are far away from monitoring center, and the monitor and control system need to upload images, so point to point fiber transceiver for image transmission is not an ideal, the highway toll station applied the multi-channel video image transmission in the form of transport nodes machine cascade that both N toll station through the video matrix switch out of 2 (or 3, 4) video images through video nodes by 1 core fiber optical transceiver cascade transmitted to the monitoring center. At the same time, the toll station monitoring (holder, lens, matrix switch, etc.) reverse control data transmission by the charging station to provide a data channel.

Highway video transmission system’s main purpose is to put the front end of the video signal and control signal transmission adopts optical transceiver system to road management center. For example, XFP and X2 module.

The section of monitor sub-center monitoring information on a particular road, video signals including road surface monitoring, the monitoring and controlling of the tunnel. Road surface monitoring mainly in entrances and exits, road crowded area and accident-prone area.Tunnel monitoring object is inside the tunnel and the driveway, portal, sidetracked and channel distribution.

And the character of the image inside the tunnel is very scattered and concentrated, Image is dispersion and concentration, perhaps only every a few hundreds of meters will come out tunnel road images, and a few kilometers of tunnels can be up to hundreds of images, each image distance between 120 meters to 150 meters or so.

Road surface monitoring image is more complexed. To fully monitor sections are at intervals of about 2 km image all the way, what the characteristic of this is more scattered.

Because these images will directly reflect each point on the road of actual traffic conditions, monitoring sections of sub-center was required to put forward the fiber optic transceiver system. Generally we should use digital real-time image compression, and optical transmission of optical transceiver become our first choice.

The application of digital video optical transceiver has improved the efficiency of the toll booths, convenient for different toll station business data transmission, and the centralized management of different data.

The world in the future is a digital world. On the way to the digital world, Digital video optical transceiver in the security industry is already very mature. There are more than one hundred optical terminal vendors in the world to provide optical transceivers. FS.COM is a professional optical transceivers company, provide high quality service. We avoid vicious competition, build and manage our own brand, providing customers with better products and services, let the light end factory can better development. For more information about us, please visit our website or contact with our customer service.

The Principle of Buying Fiber Optic Transceiver

In the actual purchase, the enterprise considered an important factor is the price, especially small and medium-sized enterprises and SOHO office. We believe that a few hundred dollars, sufficient to meet the general needs of enterprises, except for special industries, such as telecommunications, military. Of course, in addition to price, but also must consider the compatibility of the product with the surrounding environment in line with and the product itself, stability, reliability, otherwise the low price and then bought useless. In order to be able to pick a good fiber optic transceiver to purchase points listed below:

1. Take a look at itself whether to support full-duplex and half-duplex, because some chips on the market, only to use full-duplex environment, can not support half-duplex, if then switch to other brands (N-Way Switch) or HUB, using a half-duplex mode, will cause a serious colision and packet loos.

2. Take a look at the connection test whether it be done with other fiber optic connectors, fiber transceiver currently on the market is more and more, such as the mutual compatibility of different brands transceiver test did not do it in advance will also have packet loss, transmission time is too long, unsteadiness.

3. Take a look at whether it is to prevent the loos of safety devices, because many manufacturers in the production of fiber optic transceivers, in order to reduce costs, often using the data transfer mode register, the biggest drawback of this way, the data transfer will be unstable, resulting in the loss, and the best way is to use a buffer circuit design, safe to avoid data loss.

4. To see whether the product has to do temperature tests because fiber optic transceivers will produce high fever, coupled with its installation environment usually outdoors, so the temperature is too high (can not be greater than 50°C), fiber optic transceivers whether normal operation, the user is very important factor to consider! The maximum allowable working temperature is how much? Equipment for one to need long-term running this very worthy of our attention!

5. To see whether the product in accordance with IEEE802.3 standard? The fiber-optic transceivers, such as to comply with the IEEE802.3 standard, if you do not meet the standards, then certainly there is a compatibility problem.

6. Weigh the manufacturer’s service Imagine, if your equipment is broken, the factory a few days did not solve the problem, your loss is much ah? Therefore, in order to make the after-sales service timely early response, suggest that you select when the region with superb strong technical force, reputable professional company. Only rich experience in troubleshooting professional technical engineers, more advanced tools of detection failure!

7. The purchase carefully observe the appearance of the product, and the fiber module housing has old, whether shiny or has signs of wear. In today’s market, many vendors in order to reap huge profits, used in fiber optic transceiver, optical switches and other equipment used or old fiber module used fiber optic module, caused a great deal of hidden network transmission, such as: optical fiber the optical path of the module to be contaminated on the signal transmission must be affected by a decline in the quality of transmission. The transmission quality drops, on the reception sensitivity also cause reduced, can also cause data loss phenomenon. Plus the fiber module used in the service life will be compromised at any time parts failure.

Fiber Optic Transceiver Notes

Fiber optic transceivers have a variety of different classification, while most of the actual use note the distinction between the categories according to different fiber optic connectors: SC connector fiber optic transceivers and FC / ST connector fiber optic transceiver.

Connect different devices using fiber optic transceivers, must pay attention to the use of the port.

1. Fiber optic transceiver connection to 100BASE-TX devices (switches, hubs):

Verify that the maximum length of twisted pair does not exceed 100 meters;

To the fiber-optic transceiver connected to one end of the twisted pair RJ-45 port (Uplink port), the other end of the RJ-45 port 100BASE-TX set (switches, hubs) (general population).

2. Fiber optic transceiver connection to 100BASE-TX device (NIC):

Verify that the maximum length of twisted pair does not exceed 100 meters;

Connect one end of the twisted pair to fiber optic transceiver RJ-45 port (100BASE-TX port), and the other end to the RJ-45 port of the network card.

3. Fiber optic transceiver connected to 100BASE-FX:

Recognized that the fiber does not exceed the length of the distance range of the equipment can provide;

SC / ST connector 100BASE-FX fiber connect one end of the fiber optic transceivers SC / FC / ST connector, connect the other end equipment.

Also need to add a lot of users in the use of optical transceivers that: as long as the length of the optical fiber in the single-mode fiber or multimode fiber can support a maximum distance you can normally use. In fact, this is a wrong perception, this understanding is correct only when connected devices are full-duplex devices, when there are half-duplex devices, optical fiber transmission distance there is a certain limit.

The Features And Remarks With Gigabit Interface Converter(GBIC)

GBIC transceiver is short name for the Gigabit Interface Converter, it is a media conversion device between Gigabit Ethernet and fiber optic networks, From this single device, connections can be made using single- or multi-mode fiber optic ports as well as copper wiring. It is possible to benefit from it in many point-to-point communications applications that involve interconnecting components and exchanging data between Ethernet and fiber optic networks. Via the GBIC transceiver, Gigabit network equipment can directly connect to copper wires, single mode fiber ports or multimode fiber ports.

Features:

The GBIC design can be used for hot-swap. GBIC is interchangeable products meet international standards. Gigabit switch with GBIC interface designed interchangeable flexible, account for a large market share in the market.GBIC Series product specifications are complete, including 850nm, 1310nm, 1550nm ,1470-1610nm four series. Requirements, all products have been rigorously tested, fully meet the IEEE 802.3z and GBIC-rev-5.5 standard, the performance targets were met or exceeded standards compatible with Gigabit Switch companies can use the Cisco whole series of switches and 3COM, INTEL, ALCATEL, AVAYA, EXTREME brand switches and other switches comply with GBIC specification.

GBIC transceiver as a function of the input / output transceivers. Its one end is inserted into the Gigabit Ethernet ports, such as port network switching equipment. On the other end, connected to said transceiver to the optical fiber network, usually through an optical fiber jumper. The apparatus characterized by the features, such as wavelength, it can be processed, and how quickly and efficiently transmit data, the power needs to operate, and the distance it can transmit data. These are the main factors to consider when purchasing a GBIC transceivers, to ensure that it meets the requirements of network performance.

The GBIC has become a standard form factor optical transceivers, and can support a variety of physical media, from traditional copper long-wave single-mode optical fiber length of several hundred kilometers. GBIC is an attractive, because of its flexibility, the standard network equipment. The various optical technology deployed in the network, IT personnel can purchase gbic module requires a specific type of link. The GBIC standard drive flexibility to reduce costs and provide greater flexibility for IT administrators. The GBIC standard non-proprietary and SFF-8053i files defined by the SFF Committee.

Remarks:

When install the GBIC modules, please note at the alignment groove at the side of the transceiver, and make sure it fit for the Ethernet interface slot and try the insertion, sometimes you may need to turn it 180 degree to fit for the interface.

Although GBIC fiber optic transceiver modules are plug and play, we strongly suggest you disconnect all the fiber optic patch cords connected to it before you install or remove it.

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The Laser Safety And Warning With Cisco SFP Modules

Cisco SFP is also hot plugable, this make it easy to change and easy for maintenance compared with traditional modules. SFP fiber transceiver modules make the fiber optic network or fiber-Ethernet network easier to upgrade or maintain, users can replace a single SFP module during the process instead of replace the whole board with many modules on it.

SFP(Small form-factor pluggable) is a compact optical transceiver used in optical communications for both telecommunication and data communications applications. Cisco Transceiver Modules support Ethernet, Sonet/SDH and Fibre Channel applications across all Cisco switching and routing platforms. Cisco pluggable transceivers offer a convenient and cost effective solution for the adoption in data center, campus, metropolitan area access and ring networks, and storage area networks. Cisco portfolio of hot pluggable interfaces offers a rich set of choices in terms of speeds, protocols, reaches and supported transmission media.

Cisco SFP can be regarded as the upgrade version gbic module, SFP is short for Small Form-factor Pluggables, unlike GBIC with SC fiber optic interfaces is with LC interface and the main body size of SFP is only about half of GBIC, which makes SFP space saving. Signal transmitting rate of these modules range from 100Mbps up to 4Gbps or more, working distance of these SFP transceiver modules can be from 500 meters to 100 kilo meters, working wavelength of different SFP modules are typically 850nm, 1310nm and 1550nm, there are also CWDM type SFP transceivers available.

Laser Safety

Before you install SFP modules in a Cisco device or attempt to operate or service a Cisco device equipped with SFP modules, you must read and observe the important safety information in this article. Refer to the Regulatory Compliance and Safety Information publication or the Site Preparation and Safety Guide that supports your Cisco device for the complete list of translated safety warnings and agency approvals that apply to your Cisco device.

The Cisco SFP Transceiver Modules are equipped with a Class 1 Laser, which emits invisible radiation. Do not stare into open optical ports. These warnings apply to the cisco sfp modules.

Warning
  • 1,Class 1 laser product.
  • 2,Because invisible laser radiation can be emitted from the aperture of the port when no fiber is connected, avoid exposure to laser radiation and do not stare into open apertures.
  • 3,Laser radiation is present when the system is open and interlocks bypassed.
  • 4,Only trained and qualified personnel should be allowed to install, replace, or service this equipment.

FS.COM offers various kinds of SFP modules compatible cisco SFP Transceivers. As a 3rd party OEM manufacturer, our Cisco SFP transceiver is delivered to worldwide from our factory directly. All of our Cisco SFP module are tested in-house prior to shipment to guarantee that they will arrive in perfect physical and working condition.Welcome to Fiberstore.com buy your fiber optic products.We are the leading fiber transceivers supplier.