Cisco SFP Optics and Gigabit Ethernet

The Cisco SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) Gigabit Interface Converter (Transceiver) is the industry standard choice for Gigabit Ethernet applications on Cisco switches, routers or modular blades with SFP slots. the SFP is a hot swappable I / O device which inserts into a Gigabit Ethernet port or slot. The SFP provides an interface with links the port with the network.

Cisco SFPs are flexible and interchangeable with a wide variety of Cisco products. They can also be used in mixed combinations including 1000BASE-T, 1000BASE-SX, 1000BASE-LX / LH, 1000BASE-EX, 1000BASE-ZX, or 1000BASE-BX10-D / U on a port-by-port basis.

There are many different types of Cisco SFP depending upon your particular application.

1000BASE-T SFPs for Copper networks operate on garden variety Category 5 unshielded twisted pair copper cabling. Cisco 1000BASE-T SFPs are capable of up to 100m (328 ft) link lengths. Cisco 1000BASE-T SFP modules support 10/100/1000 autonegotiation and Auto MDI / MDIX.

1000BASE-SX SFPs are intended for Multimode Fiber Used Only. The 1000BASE-SX SFP is fully compatible with the IEEE 802.3z 1000BASE-SX standard. 1000BASE-SX SFPs operate on legacy 50 μm multimode fiber links up to 550 m and on 62.5 Fiberm Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) -grade multimode fibers up to 220 m.

1000BASE-LX / LH SFPs are intended for both Multimode and Single Mode Fiber applications. The 1000BASE-LX / LH SFP is compatible with the IEEE 802.3z 1000BASE-LX standard. These SFPs operate on standard single-mode fiber-optic link spans of up to 10 km and up to 550 m on any multimode fibers. When used over legacy multimode Fiber type, the transmitter should be coupled through a mode conditioning patch cable.

1000BASE-EX SFPs are designed for Long-Reach, Single-Mode Fiber applications of up to 40 km in length. A 5-dB inline optical attenuator should be inserted between the fiber-optic cable and the receiving port on the SFP at each end of the link for back-to-back connectivity.

1000BASE-ZX SFPs are intended for Long-Reach, Single Mode Fiber applications up to approximately 70 km in length. The SFP provides an optical link budget of 23 dB, but the precise link span length depends on multiple factors such as fiber quality, number of splices, and connectors.

1000BASE-BX10-D and 1000BASE-BX10-U SFPs are designed for Single Fiber, Bidirectional Applications and are compatible with the IEEE 802.3ah 1000BASE-BX10-D and 1000BASE-BX10-U standards. 1000BASE-BX10-D SFPs operate on a single strand of standard SMF.

Source by JJ Andrews