Common Types of Fiber Optic Transceivers

Fiber optic transceivers are devices that both transmit and receive data. Fiber optic transceiver is typically used in computer networks to translate signals between optical and electric networks. In other words, the sending side of it transfers the electrical signals into optical signals, and then transmitted by the fiber, the receiving side transfers the optical signals into electrical signals. This article will introduce the common types of fiber optic transceivers on the market.

SFP Transceiver Module

SFP is short for Small Form-factor Pluggables, unlike GBIC transceiver 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. SFP transceiver module is a compact, hot-pluggable transceiver used for both telecommunication and data communications applications. SFP modules are commonly available in several different categories:850nm 550m multi-mode fiber (SX), 1310nm 10km single-mode fiber (LX), 1490nm 10km single-mode fiber (BS-D), 1550nm 40km (XD), 80 km (ZX), 120 km (EX or EZX), 1490nm 1310nm (BX), single fiber bi-directional gigabit SFP transceivers, copper SFP with RJ45 connector, CWDM SFPs, DWDM SFPs, SGMII SFPs, etc. The following Cisco GLC-LH-SMD compatible 1000BASE-LX/LH SFP transceiver provided by Fiberstore is high performance and cost-effective module operating at the wavelength of 1310nm and supporting 10km transmission distance over single-mode fiber.

SFP + Transceiver Module

As its name suggests, SFP+ transceiver module (small form-factor pluggable plus) is an upgraded version of the SFP transceiver module that supports data rates up to 10Gbit/s. SFP+ transceiver modules are with lower power consumption for less than 1W and it is even cost effective. These optical transceivers are with managed digital optical monitoring and superior high temperature performance. SFP+ supports 8 Gbit/s Fiber Channel, 10 Gigabit Ethernet and Optical Transport Network standard OTU2. It is a popular industry format supported by many network component vendors. In comparison to earlier XENPAK or XFP module, SFP+ module is with more compact size and measurement, leave more circuitry to be implemented on the host board instead of inside the module. Consideration has to be given to whether the module is linear or limiting. Linear SFP+ modules are most appropriate for 10GBASE-LRM; otherwise, limiting modules are preferred.

XFP Transceiver Module

XFP are standardized 10GBASE hot-swappable and protocol-independent modules. They typically operate at optical wavelengths of 850 nm, 1310 nm or 1550 nm. Principal applications include 10 Gigabit Ethernet, 10 Gbit/s Fiber Channel, Synchronous optical networking (SONET) at OC-192 rates, Synchronous optical networking STM-64, 10 Gbit/s Optical Transport Network (OTN) OTU-2, and parallel optics links. They can operate over a single wavelength or use DWDM techniques. XFP modules use an LC fiber connector type to achieve high density. XFP modules are commonly available in several different categories: SR - 850 nm, for a maximum of 300 m, LR - 1310 nm, for distances up to 10 km, ER - 1550 nm, for distances up to 40 km, ZR - 1550 nm, for distances up to 80 km. The XFP packaging was smaller than the XENPAK form-factor.

QSFP+ Transceiver Module

QSFP+ interfaces a network device motherboard (for a switch, router, media converter or similar device) to a fiber optic cable. It is an industry format jointly developed and supported by many network component vendors, supporting data rates from 4x10 Gbit/s. The QSFP+ transceiver supports Ethernet, Fiber Channel, InfiniBand and SONET/SDH standards with different data rate options. For example, HP JG709A compatible QSFP+ transceiver from Fiberstore supports link lengths of 300m over multimode fibers, at a wavelength of 850nm. It primarily enables high-bandwidth 40G optical links over 12-fiber parallel fiber terminated with MPO multifiber connectors and can also be used in a 4x10G module for interoperability with 10GBASE-SR interfaces.

CFP Transceiver Module

CFP is a multi-source agreement to produce a common form-factor for the transmission of high-speed digital signals. The "C" stands for the Latin letter C used to express the number 100 (centum), since the standard was primarily developed for 100 Gigabit Ethernet systems. The CFP was designed after the SFP interface, but is significantly larger to support 100 Gbit/s. CFP transceiver supports a wide range of 40 and 100 Gb/s applications such as 40G and 100G Ethernet, OC-768/STM-256, OTU3, and OTU4. Different versions of CFP modules can support various link distances over either multimode or single mode fiber optics. The CFP module includes numerous innovative features like advanced thermal management, EMI management and enhanced signal integrity design, as well as an MDIO-based management interface.

Fiberstore provides a full range of optical transceivers, such as SFP+ (SFP Plus) transceiver, X2 transceiver, XENPAK transceiver, XFP transceiver, SFP (Mini GBIC) transceiver, GBIC transceiver, CWDM/DWDM transceiver, 40G QSFP+ & CFP, 3G-SDI video SFP, WDM Bi-Directional transceiver and PON transceiver. All these fiber optic transceivers are 100% compatible with major brands like Cisco, HP, Juniper, Nortel, Force10, D-link, 3Com. They are backed by a lifetime warranty, and you can buy with confidence. We also can customize optical transceivers to fit your specific requirements.

40GBASE-SR4 QSFP + Transceiver Overview

QSFP+ interfaces a network device motherboard (for a switch, router, media converter or similar device) to a fiber optic cable. It is an industry format jointly developed and supported by many network component vendors, supporting data rates from 4x10 Gbit/s. The 40GBASE QSFP+ modules offer customers a wide variety of high-density 40 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity options for data center, high-performance computing networks, enterprise core and distribution layers, and service provider transport applications.

The IEEE 802.3ba committee ratified the 40 Gigabit Ethernet standard and along with the general specification, defined a number of fiber optic interfaces. The 40G QSFP+ standard interfaces include QSFP-40G-SR4, QSFP-40G-CSR4, QSFP-40GE-LR4, etc. The following part will mainly introduce the 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP+ transceiver.

Specifications of 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP + Transceiver

The 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP+ transceiver modules support link lengths of 100m and 150m respectively on laser-optimized OM3 and OM4 multimode fibers. It primarily enables high-bandwidth 40G optical links over 12-fiber parallel fiber terminated with MPO/MTP multifiber connectors. And also, it can be used in a 4 x 10G mode for interoperability with 10GBASE-SR interfaces up to 100m and 150m on OM3 and OM4 fibers respectively. The worry-free 4 x 10G mode operation is enabled by the optimization of the transmit and receive optical characteristics of the QSFP-40G-SR4 to prevent receiver overload or unnecessary triggering of alarm thresholds on the 10GBASE-SR receiver, at the same time being fully interoperable with all standard 40GBASE-SR4 interfaces. The 4 x 10G connectivity is achieved by using an external 12-fiber parallel to 2-fiber duplex breakout cable, which connects the 40GBASE-SR4 module to four 10GBASE-SR optical interfaces. Below is a picture of 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP+ transceiver.

Comparison Between QSFP-40G-SR4 and QSFP-40G-CSR4

40GBASE-CSR4 QSFP modules extend the reach of the IEEE 40GBASE-SR4 interface to 300 and 400 meters on laser-optimized OM3 and OM4 multimode parallel fiber, respectively. Each 10-gigabit lane of this module is compliant to IEEE 10GBASE-SR specifications. This module can be used for native 40G optical links over 12-fiber parallel cables with MPO/MTP female connectors or in a 4x10G mode with parallel to duplex fiber breakout cables for connectivity to four 10GBASE-SR interfaces. Cisco compatible QSFP-40G-CSR4 transceiver from Fiberstore is optimized to guarantee interoperability over the complete specification range of 10GBASE-SR.

Fiberstore 40G QSFP + Solutions

As the leading and professional supplier in the optical communication industry, Fiberstore offers high quality 40G QSFP+ transceivers including 40GB-LR4-QSFP, QSFP-40G-CSR4, QSFP-40G-PLR4, QSFP-40G-SR4, etc. All these transceivers are 100% compatible with major brands like Cisco, HP, Juniper, Nortel, Force10, D-link, 3Com. If you’re connecting an optical jumper cable from the 40G QSFP+ transceiver module in a switch port straight to a server interface, you’ll need a brief cable using the correct cable connectors on each side. If you’re connecting a 40G QSFP+ transceiver module in a switch port to an optical connector termination for your data center or cabling closet, it will require a cable with different types of optical connectors on both ends.

QSFP Transceiver Overview

In order to find a cost effective way to increase date rate, multiple communications companies announced the release of a quad small form-factor pluggable (QSFP) optical module specification in its final form in December 4, 2006. The QSFP specification defines a highly integrated four-channel optical transceiver to provide increased port density and total system cost savings when replacing four standard SFP transceiver modules. Since then, the 40GBASE QSFP module has become a dominant 40G optical transceiver and offers customers a wide variety of high-density 40 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity options for data center, high-performance computing networks, enterprise core and distribution layers, and service provider transport applications.

What Is QSFP Transceiver

QSFP transceiver module is a hot-swappable, parallel fiber-optical module with four independent optical transmit and receive channels. These channels can terminate in another 40-Gigabit QSFP transceiver, or the channels can be broken out to four separate 10-Gigabit SFP+ transceivers. For instance, QSFP-40G-SR provides four channels of data in one pluggable interface and each channel is capable of transferring data at 10 Gbps and supports a total of 40 Gbps. QSFP transceiver is an industry format jointly developed and supported by many network component vendors, allowing data rates from 4x10 Gbps. The QSFP product family includes cages in single and ganged configurations with various heat sink and lightpipe options. It uses 38 position connector and Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) plugs are offered for empty ports to interface networking hardware to a fiber optic cable.

Advantages of QSFP Transceiver

The QSFP transceiver is designed with form factor, optical/electrical connection and digital diagnostic interface according to the QSFP Multi-Source Agreement (MSA). It has been designed to meet the harshest external operating conditions including temperature, humidity and EMI interference. The module offers very high functionality and feature integration, accessible via a two-wire serial interface. The quad small-form-factor pluggable (QSFP) is a full-duplex optical module with four independent transmit and receive channels designed to replace four single-channel SFPs in a package only about 30% larger than the standard SFP. The port density is three times higher than traditional SFP designs. As a result, the QSFP transceiver offers customers a wide variety of high-density and low-power 40 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity options for data center, high-performance computing networks, enterprise core and distribution layers, and service provider applications.

Applications of QSFP Transceiver

The QSFP specification accommodates Ethernet, Fibre Channel, InfiniBand and SONET/SDH standards with different data rate options. The QSFP transceiver modules can be connected to both copper and optical cables. In the process of transmitting data, the QSFP transceiver converts parallel electrical input signals into parallel optical signals by a driven Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) array. All data signals are differential and the data rate can be up to 10 Gbps per channel. As the QSFP transceivers are used to interface networking hardware to a fiber optic cable, the choice of them depends on many factors, like the transport media, the connector type, transmission distance, wavelength, etc. For example, Fiberstore provides various kinds of QSFP transceivers like Cisco QSFP-40G-ER4 compatible 40GBASE-ER4 transceiver which supports link lengths of 40 km on single-mode fiber cable at a wavelength of 1310nm.

QSFP transceivers supplied by Fiberstore offer customers a wide variety of high-density and low-power 40 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity options for data center, high-performance computing networks, enterprise core and distribution layers, as well as service provider applications.

How Much do You Know About DAC

With the economics-driven growth of fiber communication networks over the past few decades, there is an increasing demand for cables which can provide a lower-power means for operation on short fiber optic links or short copper connections such as the direct attach cables (DAC) that will be described in this article.

What is DAC

A direct attach cable (DAC) is a fixed assembly that is purchased at a given length, with the connector modules permanently attached to each end of the cable. The direct attach cable is designed to use the same port as an optical transceiver, but compared with optical transceivers, the connector modules attached to the DAC leave out the expensive optical lasers and other electronic components, thus achieving significant cost savings and power savings in short reach applications.

Types of DAC

According to the cables used, the direct attach cables include copper cable assemblies and fiber optic cable assemblies. Besides, DAC cable assemblies can also be classified into 10G SFP+ cables, 40G QSFP+ cables, and 120G CXP cables according to the data rate supported by different connector modules.

In addition, direct attach copper cable can be divided into active and passive versions. In the active direct attach copper cable, there are signal processing electronics in the modules to improve signal quality and provide a longer cable distance. Otherwise, direct attach copper cable is considered passive. However copper cable is heavy and bulky, in order to overcome the disadvantages, active optical cable (AOC) assembly is booming in the market. AOC provides more advantages, such as lighter weight, high performance, low power consumption, low interconnection loss,etc. Take Cisco QSFP-4X10G-AOC10M compatible QSFP+ to 4SFP+ breakout AOC for example, it offers a very cost-effective way to establish a 40-gigabit link between QSFP port and SFP+ port of Cisco switches because of the low power consumption and high performance.

What’s more, we can also divide the DAC according to the number of connectors on the end of the cable. Most DAC assemblies have one module on each end of the cable. But there is a special kind of DAC assembly which may have 3 or 4 modules on one end of the cable. For instance, Cisco QSFP-4SFP10G-CU1M compatible QSFP+ to 4SFP+ passive breakout copper cable from Fiberstore has a single QSFP+ module rated for 40-Gbps on one end and four SFP+ modules, each rated for 10-Gbps, on the other end.

Directions for Use

A direct attach cable is used to connect one mobility access switch with another when forming a stack. Let’s take the 10G SFP+ copper connection components for example. When a SFP+ port supports a direct attach connection, all you need to do is to insert the SFP+ module on the end of the direct attach cable into the port until it latches. If we want to replace it with a direct attach fiber cable, the first step is to remove the SFP+ direct attach copper cable from the port by pulling gently on the rubber loop (see Figure1). When the port is empty, hold the SFP+ connector attached on a direct attach fiber cable by its sides and insert it into the port (see Figure2). Make sure that it clicks firmly into place.

As the main fiber optical manufacturer in China, Fiberstore provides various kinds of high speed interconnect DAC assemblies including 10G SFP+ cables, 40G QSFP+ cables, 120G CXP cables and so on. All of our direct attach cables can meet high demand to cost-effectively deliver more bandwidth, and can be customized to meet different requirements.

How to Choose the 40G Transceivers

With the economics-driven growth of global regional and local fiber communication network over the past few decades, the IEEE 802.3 ba 40Gb/s Ethernet standard was published in June, 2010. In order to meet the data transmission needs in the market, a high-performance and flexible implementation of the IEEE 802.32012 for 40Gbps Ethernet - 40GBase optical transceivers are developed and widely used. The 40GBase optical networking equipment transfers data at a rate of 40 gigabits per second over Ethernet.

40GBase optical transceivers, compliant to the IEEE standards mainly include CFP and QSFP (quad small form-factor pluggable). Today, let’s mainly discuss on how to choose the 40G QSFP transceiver. As the 40-Gigabit QSFP transceivers are used to interface networking hardware to a fiber optic cable, the choice of them depends on many factors, like the media system, the connector type, transmission distance, wavelength, etc. Thus we should consider all these factors comprehensively before we choose the 40G QSFP transceivers.

Transport Media

Choose the right transceivers according to the transport media, namely the fiber type. According to the IEEE 802.3 ba 40Gb/s Ethernet standard, there are three types of transceivers used respectively in three types of transport media: copper, single mode fiber (SMF) and multimode fiber (MMF).

• Copper: 40GBASE-CR4 is a direct attach cable segment with the QSFP+ modules attached to each end of the cable. It reaches 40 Gb/s Ethernet over four short-range twinaxial copper cables bundled as a single cable over a standard pair of G.652 single-mode fiber. For example, Juniper EX-QSFP-40GE-DAC-50CM compatible QSFP+ to QSFP+ copper direct attach cable is suitable for very short distances and offers a very cost-effective way to establish a 40-Gigabit link between QSFP ports of Juniper switches within racks and across adjacent racks.
• SMF: 40GBASE-LR4 transceiver reaches 40 Gb/s Ethernet over four wavelengths carried by a singlemode fiber optic cable.
• MMF: 40GBASE-SR4 transceiver reaches 40 Gb/s Ethernet over four short-range multimode fiber optic cables.

Connector Type

Choose the right transceivers which are compliant with the proper connectors. The connectors widely-used mainly have following types: Duplex LC connector, MPO connector, and MTP connector (a high performance MPO connector). For instance, Cisco QSFP-40GBD-SR transceiver is compliant with the Duplex LC connector, while Arista QSFP-40G-PLR4 transceiver is compliant with the MPO connector.

Transmission Distance

When we choose the ideal transceivers, we must consider the transmission distance and the reach requirements we need in reality. The most common types of transceivers divided by its transmission distance can reach up to 100m, 150m, 300m, 400m, 1km, 2km, 10km, 40km, etc. For example, Cisco QSFP-40G-CSR4 compatible QSFP+ transceiver provided by Fiberstore supports link lengths of 82m, 300m and 400m, respectively on OM2, OM3 and OM4 multimode fibers at a wavelength of 850nm. And some others, like QSFP-40G-ER4 transceiver which supports link lengths of 40km on single-mode fiber cable is designed to use in long distance transmission.

Wavelength

The wavelength the transceivers operate with is an important factor in choosing the proper transceivers. For instance, QSFP-40G-LX4 transceiver converts 4 inputs channels (1271nm, 1291nm,1311nm, 1331nm) of 10Gb/s electrical data to 4 CWDM optical signals, and multiplexes them into a single channel for 40Gb/s optical transmission. While some other transceivers like QSFP-40GBD-SR consists of two 20-Gbps transmit and receive channels in the 832-918 nm wavelength range.

Fiberstore provides various types of 40G QSFP transceivers including single-mode and multi-mode with different channels and wavelengths. In order to achieve a fast and successful selection of the 40G QSFP transceivers, we should consider all the above-mentioned factors comprehensively.

Three Different Types of Transceivers

There are numerous types of transceivers available that can be used in a variety of applications including radio applications and telecommunications applications. Different specifications and designs are employed to meet the changing needs of designers. This article will introduce three primary types of transceivers used in today’s telecommunication systems.

SFP Transceiver

The small form-factor pluggable (SFP) is a compact and hot-pluggable transceiver used for both telecommunication and data communications applications. The form factor and electrical interface are specified by a multi-source agreement (MSA). It interfaces a network device motherboard (for a switch, router, media converter or similar device) to a fiber optic or copper networking cable. SFP was one of the most popular versions of transceivers until the enhanced version was introduced. Select the SFP devices for the best results.

Fiberstore’s SFP transceivers are available for designers to use in a variety of applications. These transceivers come in a variety of transmitter and receiver types. Users can select an appropriate transceiver by reviewing several different categories. Some common categories include: copper and fiber, single-mode and multi-mode, SX (transmits up to 550m at 1.25 Gb/s), LX (transmits up to 10 km), and BX (transmits up to 10 km). For example, HP J8177C compatible 1000BASE-T SFP copper transceiver is high performance and cost-effective transceiver for 100m distance over Cat 5 UTP cable.

SFP+ Transceiver

The enhanced small form-factor pluggable (SFP+) is an enhanced version of SFP and is designed to support data rates up to 10 Gbit/s. SFP+ was designed to have higher port density compared to SFP. The SFP+ specification was first published on May 9, 2006, and version 4.1 published on July 6, 2009. SFP+ supports 8Gbit/s Fiber Channel, 10 Gigabit Ethernet and Optical Transport Network standard OTU2. The SFP+ product family includes cages, connectors, and copper cable assemblies. The SFP+ transceiver modules are specified for 8Gbps/10Gbps/16Gbps Fiber Channel and 10-Gigabit Ethernet applications. In addition, they have the ability to connect to a variety of different types of optical fiber and are highly flexible. That’s why they are so desirable to designers.

XFP Transceiver

XFP transceiver is a hot-pluggable and protocol-independent 10 Gbit/s optical transceiver designed to help drive cost and power consumption out of 10 Gbit/s optical networking applications. This particular XFP specification was developed by the XFP Multi-Source Agreement Group. XFP transceivers are capable of operating at wavelengths of 850 nm, 1310 nm, and 1550 nm. They are capable of operating at a single wavelength or through the use of dense wavelength-division multiplexing techniques.

There are a variety of transceiver types available, but the most popular ones include: SR (850 nm and can transmit up to 300 m), LR, ER, and ZR. LR is 1310 nm and can transmit distances up to 10 km. For example, Juniper XFP-10G-L-OC192-SR1 compatible 10GBASE-LR XFP transceiver from Fiberstore operates at a wavelength of 1310 nm at up to 10km links. ER is characterized by 1550 nm and can transmit distances of 40 km. ZR can transmit distances up to 80 km. Designers prefer to use XFP packaging because it has a smaller footprint than other devices.

Choose the Best Transceiver for Your Design

There are also other types of transceivers apart from the above-mentioned. Since there are so many types of transceivers, try to find the best transceiver for your design and applications. When the design is optimized, everything seems to fall into place for the end user. The reliability of your design will improve, and your end-user will reap the benefits of a system that will stand the test of time and the rigors of a stressful environment.

Benefits of Pluggable Fiber Optic Transceivers

Fiber plug-and-play solutions for data center applications are necessary to transmit data with a high degree of integrity, reliability, and efficiency. At the same time, pluggable fiber optic transceivers are becoming more and more popular. There are many benefits of pluggable optical transceivers. For instance, a 120km reach module can have low power consumption and a small footprint. These modules are designed to simplify wavelength management and provide a solution to fiber exhaust. Here are some more benefits that explain why pluggable optical transceivers are so important in data center communications.

Easy to Replace or Repair

Pluggable fiber optic transceivers are easy to replace or repair and can be placed into a variety of applications. In most cases, they do not have to be powered down for replacement. This is why most designers prefer pluggable optical transceivers. SFP pluggable devices are recommended. If the device malfunctions or requires an upgrade, it will be easy with a pluggable fiber optic transceiver. When you open the device to replace the transceiver, it only requires a few simple steps, and the process is complete. Experts can help with the process, but most people with some technical skills can perform the process easily.

Compatible With Many Other Devices

Pluggable optical transceivers are compatible with many other devices including discrete components. They are also compatible to multiple setups across both fiber optic and copper channels. Whether you need both long or short distance communication, SFP transceivers can help. The electronics are universal and will ensure that meets Gigabit standards for all types of networks. Besides, designers do not have to get new hardware every time a transceiver needs replacement. For example, Cisco GLC-LH-SMD compatible transceiver provided by Fiberstore offers the same function with Cisco branded GLC-LH-SMD and is fully compatible with Cisco SFP devices.

Communication Distance

SFP transceivers are adept at passing data and information across fiber from one network to the next. Communication is possible because of the copper wiring or fiber optics through which signals are being sent. Optical transceiver modules are also capable of helping to deliver signals. Networks can generate both long and short distance communication, and there are transceivers to handle both types of communication.

Data Rate

Transceivers, typically, are sold with a set speed that moves data. The faster data can reach its destination, the faster decisions can be made. Pluggable optical transceivers which support selectable data rates can create self-healing redundant links for mission critical applications or support physical layer multicast broadcasts of any protocol within its range. Most applications require a faster data transfer rate, but “how fast” will depend upon the application. For instance, Finisar FTLF8524P2BNV SFP transceiver can support up to 4.25Gb/s bi-directional data links to maximum 15om distance and 2.125Gb/s data rate to maximum 300m when using different types of fiber cables.

There are numerous benefits of pluggable fiber optic transceivers. The benefits make them valuable to any network. Because of the universality of the transceivers, they can operate in many different types of networks. That’s why pluggable fiber optic transceivers are preferred by many designers because they are flexible, scalable, and affordable. In the future, designers hope to make them more compatible and have a faster data transfer rate.