SFP module or transceiver tips

Outline

SFP package - hot-plug small package module, the highest rate of up to 10G, the use of the LC interface. SFP is an abbreviation of the SMALL FORM PLUGGABLE, can be simply understood as the upgrade version of GBIC. SFP module volume ratio is reduced by half than GBIC module.Other features of the SFP modules are same with GBIC. So sfp transceiver also be called  MINI-GBIC.

SFP transceiver ’s Category

By  the rate : 155M/622M/1.25G/2.125G/4.25G/8G/10G,most used in the market are :155M and 1.25G .The 10g sfp module ‘s demand is rising now.

By the wavelength:850nm/1310nm/1550nm/1490nm/1530nm/1610nm

The difference between single-and multimode

Multimode: almost all of the multimode fiber dimensions are50/125μm or 62.5/125μm, and bandwidth (fiber information transmission amount) is usually 200MHz to 2GHz. Multimode Opticalmulti-mode fiber transmission of up to 5 km. Light emitting diode orlaser light source. The ring-pull, or in vitro color is black.

Single-mode: the size of the single-mode fiber for 9-10/125μmunlimited amount of bandwidth and low loss characteristics, andcompared to the multi-mode fiber. Single-mode optical transceiver used for long distance transmission, and can sometimes reach 150-200 km. LD or narrow spectral line of the LED as a light source. Thering-pull, or in vitro color is blue, yellow or purple.

The difference and connection: single-mode fiber is cheap, but thesingle-mode device was expensive compared to similar multi-modedevices. Single-mode devices can usually run on a single-mode fiber, can also be run on a multi-mode fiber, multimode devices is limited to running on a multimode fiber.

10G module experience from the development of 300Pin, XENPAK, X2, XFP, and ultimately can transmit 10G signal with the same size of SFP  , which is called SFP +. SFP With miniaturization cost advantages to meet the demand for high-density equipment, optical module and pushed from the 2002 standard, 2010 has been 10G market mainstream replacing the XFP .

The advantages of SFP + optical module :
1, the SFP + has a more compact form factor than X2 and XFPpackages (SFP size);
2, the same type of XFP, X2, XENPAK direct connection;
3  low cost than the XFP, X2, XENPAK products.

The difference between the SFP + and SFP:
1, SFP and SFP + and the appearance of the same size;
2, SFP protocol specification: IEEE802.3, SFF-8472;

The difference between the SFP + and XFP:
1, the SFP + and XFP are 10G optical modules, and other types of 10G modules can communicate with each other;
2, the SFP + and XFP Dimensions;
3, because the smaller the SFP + signal modulation function, serial/ deserializer, the MAC, clock and data recovery (CDR) and electronic dispersion compensation (EDC) function from the module to the motherboard on the card;
4, the XFP compliance agreement: XFP MSA;
5, the SFP + compliance with the Protocol: IEEE 802.3ae, the SFF-8431 SFF-8432;
6, the SFP + is a more mainstream design.
3, SFP + protocol specification: IEEE 802.3ae, the SFF-8431, SFF-8432.