Great Compatible Cisco 10G SFP+ Modules

The enhanced small form-factor pluggable (SFP+) is an enhanced version of the SFP that supports data rates up to 16 Gbit/s. Since SFP+ is mostly used for 10G, we usually call it 10G SFP. It is a popular industry format supported by many network component vendors. In terms of the SFP+ transceivers, there are various major brands, such as Cisco, HP, Juniper etc. In the current market, the Cisco's SFP+ transceivers are very popular with the customers, especially the Cisco SFP-10G-SR and SFP-10G-LR. However, these original transceiver modules are really expensive. To save cost, we usually use 3rd-party transceiver modules instead of the original brand. In this text, two kinds of compatible SFP+ modules that can severally replace the Cisco SFP-10G-SR and SFP-10G-LR will be introduced. These two kinds of compatible modules are all from the Fiberstore, the leading manufacturer and supplier of optical transceiver modules in China.

SFP+ is the Most Popular 10G Transceiver Module

Since there are many different 10GbE physical layer standards, many interfaces consist of a standard socket into which different PHY modules may be plugged. On the market, the common 10G transceiver modules are XENPAK, XPAK, X2, XFP and SFP+. XENPAK was the first MSA for 10GbE and had the largest form factor. X2 and XPAK were later competing standards with smaller form factors. XFP came after X2 and XPAK and it is also smaller. The newest module standard is SFP+. In comparison to earlier XENPAK or XFP modules, SFP+ modules leave more circuitry to be implemented on the host board instead of inside the module. Now SFP+ has become the most popular socket on 10GbE systems.

Common 10GbE Standards for SFP+

10 Gigabit Ethernet is a group of computer networking technologies for transmitting Ethernet frames at a rate of 10 gigabits per second. It was first defined by the IEEE 802.3ae-2002 standard. Some common 10GbE standards for SFP+ are shown in the table below:

Cisco compatible SFP+	Cable Type	Wavelength	Max Range
10GBASE-SR SFP	MMF	850nm	OM3:300m/OM4:400m
10GBASE-LR SFP	SMF	1310nm	10km
10GBASE-LRM SFP	MMF	1310nm	220m
10GBASE-ER SFP	SMF	1550nm	40km
10GBASE-ZR SFP	SMF	1550nm	80km

Two Kinds of Compatible Cisco SFP+ Transceivers from Fiberstore

For 3rd-party transceiver modules are much cheaper than the original brand (Cisco. HP, etc), they are become more and more popular in the market. As a result, suppliers to offer these effective modules are also become more than before. But in my opinion, the Fiberstore does the best among them. They provide all kinds of compatible transceivers, especially the SFP-10G85-3M-CO and SFP-10G31-10-CO, which can entirely replace the Cisco SFP-10G-SR and SFP-10G-LR.

• SFP-10G85-3M-CO

  The SFP-10G85-3M-CO series multi-mode transceiver is a SFP+ module for duplex optical data communications such as 10GBASE-SR and 10GBASE-SW. This transceiver offers the same function with Cisco SFP-10G-SR and is fully compatible with Cisco devices. It is a hot-swappable input/output device, which means no need to power down if installing or replacing. Its transmission distance can up to 300m with duplex LC multi-mode Fiber cable.

• SFP-10G31-10-CO

  The SFP-10G31-10-CO single mode transceiver is a small form factor pluggable module for serial optical data communications such as IEEE 802.3ae 10GBASE-LR/LW. This transceiver offers the same function with Cisco SFP-10G-LR and is fully compatible with Cisco devices. This module is designed for single mode fiber and operates at a nominal wavelength of 1310 nm. Its transmission distance can up to 10km with duplex LC single-mode fiber.

All these products offered by Fiberstore are tested in-house prior to shipping to ensure that they will arrive in perfect physical and working condition. Fiberstore can guarantee these 10G SFP+ transceivers to work in your system and all of their 10G SFP+ transceivers come with a lifetime advance replacement warranty. Now they have many SFP-10G85-3M-CO and SFP-10G31-10-CO transceiver modules in stock. Therefore, Same-Day Delivery is available. If you want to know more about their products or services, please feel free to contact them at sales@fiberstore.com.

Originally published at: www.cables-solutions.com

Do you really know “1000BASE-LX/LH SFP”?

1000BASE-LX/LH SFP, one of the commonly used fiber optic transceivers, is now widely used in optical transmission systems. With the development of 40/100G Ethernet, even 400G Ethernet, this kind of transceiver module is nothing new to the module users. However, few people can deliver a clear answer to the question of what "1000BASE-LX/LH" infers. Well, if you know what it means, congratulations! you are the one of the few. You can skip today's contents or share your experience to us in the comment. Actually, this post is a simple reference source for the beginners in this field or those who are lack of knowledge with fiber optic transceiver but have a strong interest in it.

To begin with, I'd like to make a brief introduction of 1000BASE-LX/LH SFP transceiver. This kind of SFP is similar with the other SFPs in basic working principle and size. But it is compatible with the IEEE 802.3z 1000BASE-LX standard, operating on standard single-mode fiber-optic link spans of up to 10 km and up to 550 m on any multimode fibers. In addition, when used over legacy multimode fiber type, the transmitter should be coupled through a mode conditioning patch cable.

As we know, an optical transceiver module is generally either made for single mode (long distance) or multimode (short distance). But 1000BASE-LX/LH SFP can be used for both singlemode and multimode. In fact, the Ethernet standard defines this optical interface specification as 1000BASE-LX10. However, many vendors as a proprietary extension called either 1000BASE-LX/LH or 1000BASE-LH before it was standardized. Thus, we often see 1000BASE-LX/LH rather than 1000BASE-LX10.

In a word, 1000BASE-LX/LH SFP has two identities. It is single mode by design, but when it gets together with its friend "mode conditioning patch cable", it can also be used for multimode application. This patch cable inserts a single to multi splice on the transmit path, to "fill" the multimode fiber with light. It is more expensive than normal patch cables, but is necessary if using these on multimode fiber. At present, 1000BASE-LX/LH SFP is the only one kind of fiber optic transceivers which can be used for both singlemode and multimode applications. And these applications are depending on what fiber you use.

Originally published at: www.fiber-optic-transceiver-module.com/do-you-really-know-1000base-lxlh-sfp.html