What is an SFP optical module?

SFP optical module is a one billion - bit electrical signals into optical signal interface device, is the industry standard of small pluggable gigabit optical transceiver module, integrated pluggable in switches, routers and other network equipment, media converter SFP ports, used to connect to the light or copper cables for data transmission network, we can usually in Ethernet switches, routers, firewalls, and find it in the network interface card.

What is an SFP port?

SFP port is mainly used for signal conversion and data transmission, and its port conforms to IEEE 802.3AB standard (such as 1000base-T), with the maximum transmission distance up to 1000Mbps (switch‘s SFP port supports 100/1000Mbps).

SFP port advantages

SFP port is a hot plug I/O interface (refers to the input/output interface), with strong flexibility, suitable for a variety of products, such as 1000 base-SX, 1000base-Lx /LH, 1000base-Zx or 1000base-BX10-d /U port exchange, in addition, SFP port can be compatible downward, support 10/100/1000Mbps.

The SFP port of the gigabit switch

Gigabit switches SFP port can be connected to various types of optical fiber by single-mode and multimode fiber (for example) and network jumper (Cat5e and Cat6, for example) used to expand the exchange of the entire network function, but gigabit switches SFP port before use must first insert the SFP optical module, and then use fiber optic jumper wire jumper wire and network for data transmission. At present, all enterprise switches in the market have at least two SFP ports, which can construct the ring or star network topology between different buildings, floors or regions through the connection of fiber optic cables and network jumpers.

Why are SFP optical modules popular?

The volume of SFP optical module is reduced by half compared with that of GBIC optical module. The number of SFP ports on the same panel will be twice that of GBIC optical module. Similarly, THE SFP optical module has plug and play mini fiber slots, which meet the high density requirements of the data center.

SFP optical module has the following four advantages:

1. Support hot plug, can reduce the installation maintenance management time;

2. Ports are flexible;

3. Rugged design enhances reliability;

4. Support digital optical monitoring (DOM) function.

SFP optical module application

1. Short distance network cabling

1000Base-T SFP optical module supports 10/100/1000 adaptive and Auto MDI/MDIX, which can be used with 5 classes of unshielded network jumpers. The transmission distance is up to 100m.

The 1000Base-SX SFP optical module is compatible with the IEEE 802.3Z 1000Base-SX standard and can be used in a 50m /62.5 m multimode fiber link with a maximum

transmission range of up to 550m.

2. Long distance network cabling

The 1000base-EX and 1000base-ZX SFP optical modules can be used together with single-mode optical fiber and are suitable for long-distance network transmission, of which the transmission distance of 1000base-EX SFP optical module can reach 40km and that of 1000base-ZX SFP optical module can reach 80km.

Note: When single-mode fiber (SMF) is used for short distances, an optical attenuator is inserted in the link to avoid overload of the receiver.

Conclusion

SFP port can support SFP port module and SFP port module. SFP port and SFP port module have high flexibility and compatibility in practical application, and are the best scheme for gigabit Ethernet.