The Development Of The SFP Optical Module

First of all, let me introduce the development of GBIC and SFF.

A Gigabit Interface Converter is a hot-swappable transceiver for networking equipment. It could connect a Gigabit Ethernet, fibre channel as well as other direct attach cable to a compatible network card. It is usually found in computer networks that depend upon flexibility in the kinds of connections they could accommodate.

Also known from the acronym GBIC, a Gigabit Interface Converter can be quickly replaced without powering down the server it is attached with. A GBIC-compatible network card can be linked to any of the supported high-speed media. A GBIC is available for every of several fibre channel cable types and also Gigabit Ethernet. This provides network designers and maintainers the pliability to increase and reconfigure their networks when needed.

The Small Form Factor (SFF) Committee, an ad hoc industry group, developed a Gigabit Interface Converter specification in the late 1990s. Called SFF-8053, it establishes a standard electronic interface and a mechanical form factor for these devices. Originally written for a fibre channel converter design, the spec now includes Gigabit Ethernet-specific information too. It also details algorithms that can be used for GBIC management and error recovery.

A Gigabit Ethernet GBIC generally carries a microcontroller and a 1000Base-T SFP Transceiver. They are able to make contact with each other over the Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) bus. Signals to and from the network card connector can also travel over this serial bus. On the network side, a transformer couples the transceiver signals to a Registered Jack 45 (RJ45) connector. 

The form factor of a Gigabit Interface Converter was originally designed for a fibre channel connection. A physically smaller variety known as a Small Form Factor Pluggable transceiver (SFP Transceiver) also exists. Sometimes called a mini-GBIC, it offers a similar flexibility as a standard GBIC in a smaller package. A 10 Gigabit SFP transceiver, specially designed for the higher-speed network technology, is slightly larger.

The development of the SFP optical module

SFF and GBIC module in the process of development have very special history, with the rapid development of network, they are gradually replaced by the SFP optical module.

SFP optical module, the development of SFF and module GBIC light because of SFF and module GBIC is 1 x9 light after two direction of products, have their own advantages: miniaturization and hot plug.

Inherited the SFP optical module GBIC hotplug characteristics, also draw lessons from the SFF miniaturization advantage.By LC, the volume is only 1/2 to 1/3 of the GBIC module, greatly increased the port density of network equipments, conform to the trend of rapid development of network, so has been the most widely fan used, the main equipment manufacturers, with no exception to discard the GBIC products, only USES the SFP optical module products.Due to adopt a unified standard, each manufacturer of SFP product can be compatible, SFP products can be used as a single network equipment procurement.

Although currently there has been many higher technology, update of light module products, however the SFP module is constantly exist for a long time.After the SFP optical module development mainly toward a higher rate of development, now has 10g, 40g to 100g optical module, etc.After the SFP + light module believe SFP is widely used a generation of products.

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