Author: Fiber-MART.COM

SFP+, an enhanced version of SFP (small form-factor pluggable), can support data rates of 10 Gbit/s. 10G SFP+ transceiver is a popular industry format supported by many network component vendors. It plays an important role in today’s network applications. There are different types of SFP+ modules, like 10GBASE-SR SFP+ module, 10GBASE-LR SFP+ module, 10GBASE-LRM SFP+ module, 10GBASE-ER SFP+ module, and 10GBASE-ZR SFP+ module. This article will introduce one of them, 10GBASE-LR SFP+ module.

Introduction

10GBASE-LR SFP+ transceiver is designed for single-mode fiber and operates at a nominal wavelength of 1310nm. The 10GBASE-LR transmitter is implemented with a distributed feedback laser (DFB). DFB lasers are more expensive than VCSELs but their high power and longer wavelength allow efficient coupling into the small core of single-mode fiber over greater distances. Compared with 10GBASE-SR, the maximum range of 10GBASE-LR is 10 km.

Features

10GBASE-LR SFP+ transceiver is a hot-swappable SFP+ module that plugs into SFP+ slots on switches. You can connect a 10GBASE-LR SFP+ transceiver while the system is powered on without causing any problems. This permits modules to be added or removed without interrupting the network. The SFP+ form factor is smaller than other form factors such as Xenpak, X2, and 10G XFP, ensuring lower costs, lower power disruption, and higher port density. It provides the necessary signal amplification for data to be transmitted to the network cable from the port, and vice versa, for the port to receive data from the network cable. 10GBASE-LR SFP+ transceiver supports 10G Ethernet, which results in very fast data transmissions of up to 10 Gbit/s. This is 10 times faster than Gigabit Ethernet and enables the switch to handle faster and higher data transmissions, making it very suitable for business needs.

Two Types of 10GBASE-LR SFP+

SFP-10G-LR-S 10GBASE-LR SFP+: The Cisco SFP-10G-LR-S compatible 10GBASE-LR SFP+ transceiver, as shown in the following picture, supports a link length of 10 kilometers on standard single-mode fiber (SMF) (G.652). It is implemented with a DFB laser to support longer distances. And it uses a duplex LC connector.

SFPP-10GE-LR 10GBASE-LR SFP+: The Juniper SFPP-10GE-LR compatible 10GBASE-LR SFP+ transceiver, as shown in the following picture, is guaranteed 100% compatible and functional in its intended equipments. This 1310nm DFB 10Gbps SFP+ transceiver is designed to transmit and receive optical data over single mode optical fiber for link length of 10km. Every SFPP-10GE-LR is environmentally tested in its specific port/platform prior to shipping to ensure that they are in perfect physical and working condition.

Conclusion

SFP+ transceiver is widely used to support communication standards including synchronous optical networking (SONET)/synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH), gigabit ethernet and fiber channel. Fiberstore manufactures a complete range of SFP+ transceivers. Fiberstore 10GBASE SFP+ module series transceivers offer a wide variety of 10G Ethernet connectivity options for data centres, enterprise wiring closets, and service provider transport applications. All of our 10GBASE-LR SFP+ transceivers are tested and fully compatible with major brands like Cisco, HP, Juniper, Brocade and Finisar. We offer high performance and low cost 10GBASE-LR SFP+ transceivers to fulfill customers’ requirements.

A dual-rate optical transceiver means that an optical transceiver can support two different data rates. Users could use dual-rate optical transceivers to achieve the full forward and backward compatibility of their systems, which helps them save a lot. The common dual-rate optical transceivers in today’s market is the 1G/10G dual-rate SFP+ transceiver. In this post, we will give a brief introduction to this kind of dual-rate transceiver.

Dual-Rate 1/10G SFP+ Transceiver

1/10G dual-rate SFP+ transceivers are designed for use in 1-Gigabit and 10-Gigabit Ethernet links over single-mode fiber (SMF) or multi-mode fiber (MMF). They are compliant with SFF-8431, IEEE 802.3-2005 10GBASE-SR/SW, 10GBASE-LR and 1000BASE-SX, 1000BASE-LX. Digital diagnostics monitoring (DDM) or digital optical monitoring (DOM) functions are available in dual-rate SFP+ transceivers via a 2-wire serial interface as specified in SFF-8472, so users can monitor many parameters of the transceiver module in real-time. There are many different vendors to supply 1G/10G dual-rate SFP+ transceiver, but the standards and protocols which they complied with are the same. The picture below shows an Intel E10GSFPSR 1/10G dual-rate SFP+ transceiver.

Two Types of Dual-Rate SFP+ Transceiver

1G/10G dual-rate 10GBASE-LR and 1000BASE-LX SFP+ transceivers are designed for use in 1-Gigabit and 10-Gigabit Ethernet links up to 10km over SMF. They are compliant with SFF-8431, IEEE 802.3-2005 10GBASE-LR/LW and 1000BASE-LX. Digital diagnostics functions are available via a 2-wire serial interface, as specified in SFF-8472. 1G/10G dual-rate 10GBASE-LR and 1000BASE-LX SFP+ transceivers, such as Finisar FTLX1471D3BCV and Intel E10GSFPLR 10GBASE-LR and 1000BASE-LX SFP+ transceivers, are for applications specifically designed for 10G SFP+ ports and 1G/10G SFP+ ports. The FTLX1471D3BCV is a “limiting module”, which means it employs a limiting receiver. Host board designers using an EDC PHY IC should follow the IC manufacturer’s recommended settings for interoperating the hostboard EDC PHY with a limiting receiver SFP+ module. These transceivers are RoHS compliant.

1G/10G dual-rate 10GBASE-SR and 1000BASE-SX SFP+ transceivers are designed for use in 1-Gigabit and 10-Gigabit Ethernet links over MMF. They are compliant with SFF-8431, IEEE 802.3-2012 10GBASE-SR/SW and 1000BASE-SX. Digital diagnostics functions are available via a 2-wire serial interface, as specified in SFF-8472. 1G/10G dual-rate 10GBASE-SR and 1000BASE-SX SFP+ transceivers, such as Finisar FTLX8571D3BCV, Finisar Intel FTLX8571D3BCV-IT, and Intel E10GSFPSR SFP+ transceivers, are for applications specifically designed for 10G SFP+ ports and 1G/10GSFP+ ports. The FTLX8574D3BCV is a “limiting module”, i.e., it employs a limiting receiver. Host board designers using an EDC PHY IC should follow the IC manufacturer’s recommended settings for interoperability with an SFP+ limiting module.

Conclusion

A 1G/10G dual-rate SFP+ can be used in both 1 Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet links which eases the transition from 1Gb/s to 10Gb/s systems. This kind of SFP+ transceivers provide you a cost-effective solution for upgrading to higher needs of data rates. Moreover, 40G is becoming more and more popular and 100G is developing rapidly, thus the market of dual-rate optical transceivers will be promising. Fiberstore manufactures and supplies a complete range of SFP+ transceivers. Dual-rate 1G/10G SFP+ provided by Fiberstore can be designed to be compatible with many major brands, such as Cisco, HP, Juniper etc. And every optical transceiver has been tested to ensure our customers to receive the optics with superior quality.

It is particularly important to test the compatibility and interoperability of each fiber optic transceiver in the network, for most optical networks today use components that may come from various suppliers. Verifying the performance of an SFP+ transceiver module when it is first deployed is necessary and straightforward. How to test an SFP+ transceiver module to make sure that it can function well? This article will discuss SFP+ transceiver module test.

SFP+ Background

SFP+ is a hot-pluggable multi-rate optical transceiver for data communications and storage-area network (SAN) applications. As SFP+ transceiver becomes more pervasive, engineers need to become more familiar with some of the key challenges linked to testing SFP+ capable devices. We know that basically an SFP+ transceiver consists of a transmitter and a receiver. When a transmitter connects with a receiver through a fiber, the system doesn’t achieve your desired bit-error-ratio (BER). Where is the problem? Is it the transmitter or the receiver? Perhaps both are faulty. A low-quality transmitter can be compensated by a low-quality receiver (and vice versa). Thus, specifications should guarantee that any receiver will interoperate with a worst-case transmitter, and any transmitter will provide a signal with sufficient quality such that it will interoperate with a worst-case receiver. The picture below shows a Brocade 10G-SFPP-SR 10GBASE-SR SFP+ transceiver.

SFP+ Transceiver Test

The test of an an SFP+ transceiver module can be divided into two parts: the transmitter testing and the receiver testing.

SFP+ Transmitter Testing

SFP+ transmitter parameters may include wavelength and shape of the output waveform. There are two steps to test a transmitter:

1. The input signal used to test the transmitter must be good enough. Measurements of jitter and an eye mask test must be performed to confirm the quality using electrical measurements. An eye mask test is the common method to view the transmitter waveform and provides a wealth of information about overall transmitter performance.

2. The optical output of the transmitter must be tested using several optical quality metrics such as a mask test, OMA (optical modulation amplitude), and Extinction Ratio.

SFP+ Receiver Testing

SFP+ receiver may specify tolerance to jitter and bandwidth. To test a receiver, there are also two steps:

1. Unlike testing the transmitter, where one must ensure that the input signal is of good enough quality, testing the receiver involves sending in a signal that is of poor enough quality. To do this, a stressed eye representing the worst case signal shall be created. This is an optical signal, and must be calibrated using jitter and optical power measurements.

2. Then, testing the electrical output of the receiver must be performed, which includes three basic categories of tests:

A mask test, which ensures a large enough eye opening. The mask test is usually accompanied by a BER (bit error ratio) depth.

Jitter budget test, which tests for the amount of certain types of jitter.

Jitter tracking and tolerance, which tests the ability of the internal clock recovery circuit to track jitter within its loop bandwidth.

SFP+ Transceiver Test

SFP+ Testing Challenges

During the process of SFP+ transceiver testing, there are several challenges that you need to pay attention to. One challenge is moving seamlessly from a compliance environment to a debug environment. If a measurement fails, how can the designer determine which component is causing the failure and debug the issue to arrive at the root cause? Another problem that most designers face today relates to connectivity: how to get the signal out from the device under test (DUT) to an oscilloscope. Yet another challenge is the increased port density and the testing time required with 48 or more ports per rack.

Summary

Testing an SFP+ transceiver module is a complicated job, and it is also an indispensable step to ensure its performance. Basic eye-mask test is an effective way to test a transmitter and is still widely used today. To test a receiver seems more complex and requires more testing methods. Fiberstore provides all kinds of compatible SFP+ transceivers, like Avago AFBR-709SMZ compatible SFP+ module or HP J9150A compatible 10GBASE-SR SFP+ module, which can be compatible with many brands such as Cisco, HP, Arista, Brocade, etc. And every SFP+ transceiver from Fiberstore has been tested to ensure our customers with superior quality.

Fiber jumpers continue to provide a cost-effective cabling solution for data centers, local area networks (LANs), and other enterprise applications. Singlemode fiber optic patch cordsand multimode fiber optic patch cords are two options. Compared to singlemode fiber, multimode fiber has a large diameter core, which allows multiple wavelengths of light traveling in the fiber core at the same time. Multimode fiber optic patch cord comes with two core sizes: 50 micron and 62.5 micron. And this article will talk about these two core sizes of multimode fiber optic cables.

Overview

The numbers 50µm and 62.5µm refer to the diameters of the glass or plastic core, the part of the fiber that carries the light which encodes your data. The dimensions are sometimes specified as 50/125μm and 62.5/125μm, to include the diameter of the cladding, which confines the light to the core because it has a lower index of refraction. You can use both in the same types of networks, although 50µm cable is recommended for premise applications, like backbone, horizontal, and intrabuilding connections. They both can use either LED or laser light sources. The main difference between 50µm and 62.5µm cable is in bandwidth, 50µm cable features three times the bandwidth of standard 62.5µm cable, particularly at 850nm. The 850nm wavelength is becoming more important as lasers are being used more frequently as a light source. Other differences are distance and speed. 50µm cable provides longer link lengths and higher speeds in the 850nm wavelength.

multimode fiber

62.5µm Multimode Fiber Optic Patch Cords

OM1 fiber optic cable is the 62.5/125 multimode fiber cable. OM1 fiber has a bigger core diameter, which makes it better at concentrating the light and bend-resistance. OM1 fiber was the indoor cabling standard chosen by AT&T, ANSI and IBM. For OM1 fiber cable, the max attenuation is 3.5dB/km working at 850nm, 1.5dB/km at 1300nm. Overfilled launch of OM1 fiber optic cable at 850nm is 200MHz*km, at 1300nm is 500MHz*km. Today, OM1 fiber optic cables are still a popular indoor use multimode fiber optic cable.

50µm Multimode Fiber Optic Patch Cords

50µm fiber includes OM2, OM3, OM4. OM2 fiber optic cable refer to the commonly used 50/125 traditional multimode fiber cable. OM1 and OM2 are both orange jacketed cable, and you cannot judge from the outer diameter to identify OM1 and OM2 fiber cable, because the 50/125 and 62.5/125 refer not to whole cable diameter but to the fiber inside. OM2 multimode fiber cables are used in fiber optic telecommunications and high speed transmission systems that require simultaneous, bi-directional data transfer.

OM3 cable and OM4 cable are both optimized for laser based equipment that uses fewer modes of light. As a result of this optimization, they are capable of running 10 Gigabit Ethernet at lengths up to 300m and 550m respectively. OM4 is completely backwards compatible with OM3 fiber and shares the same distinctive aqua jacket. OM4 was developed specifically for VSCEL laser transmission. OM4 multimode fiber optic cable is the highest level of multimode fiber optic cable that you can use. They can be used in networks where an overwhelming or extreme amount of data transfers will take place.

Which One Should You Choose?

Given its superior technical characteristics for high-speed links, 50μm fiber is the clear choice for new multimode fiber links in most circumstances. OM3-grade, high-bandwidth 50/125-micron fiber cable increases the flexibility of network designs and achieves data transfer rates up to 10Gbps at the lowest available cost. 50μm multimode fiber is the medium of the future, with 62.5μm fiber being supported chiefly for legacy purposes. However, the majority of the fiber deployed in the world today is 62.5μm, so backward compatibility is an important concern. On the other hand, there are no technical drawbacks to using different fiber types in separate network links, as long as the ports at both ends of the link are compatible with the cable. In a word, installing 50μm fiber for new network links is a good investment for future growth.

Summary

With the increasing demand for network capacity, upgrades must be planned with an eye to the future. Installing 50μm multimode fiber today brings immediate benefits of longer cable reach and improved light loss budget margins, and prepares the network for future upgrades.

We know that fiber optic patch cables play a very important role in the connection between devices and equipment. When talking about fiber optic patch cables, we usually divide them into multimode fiber optic patch cables and singlemode fiber optic patch cables according to the modes of the cable. What is multimode fiber optic patch cable? How many types of multimode patch cables are there? And what is the difference between multimode and singlemode patch cables? What are the applications of multimode patch cables? This text will solve those questions one by one.

Introduction

Multi-mode fiber patch cables are described by the diameters of their core and cladding. There are two different core sizes of multi-mode fiber patch cords: 50 microns and 62.5 microns. Both 62.5 microns and 50 microns patch cable feature the same glass cladding diameter of 125 microns. Thus, a 62.5/125µm multi-mode fiber patch cable has a 62.5µm core and a 125µm diameter cladding; and a 50/125µm multi-mode fiber patch cable has a 50µm core and a 125µm diameter cladding. The larger core of multi-mode fiber patch cords gathers more light and allows more signals to be transmitted, as shown below. Transmission of many modes of light down a multi-mode fiber patch cable simultaneously causes signals to weaken over time and therefore travel short distance.

Types of Multimode Fiber Optic Patch Cable

Multimode fiber optic cables can be divided into OM1, OM2, OM3, and OM4 based on the types of multimode fiber. The letters “OM” stands for optical multimode. OM1 and OM2 belong to traditional multimode fiber patch cable, while OM3 and OM4 belong to the new generation fiber patch cable which provides sufficient bandwidth to support 10 Gigabit Ethernet up to 300 meters. The connector types include LC, FC, SC, ST, MU, E2000, MPO and so on. Different type of connector is available to different equipment and fiber optic cable.

By the materials of optic fiber cable jackets, multimode fiber patch cord can be divided into four different types, PVC, LSZH, plenum, and armored multimode patch cable. PVC is non-flame retardant, while the LSZH is flame retardant and low smoke zero halogen. Plenum is compartment or chamber to which one or more air ducts are connected and forms part of the air distribution system. Because plenum cables are routed through air circulation spaces, which contain very few fire barriers, they need to be coated in flame-retardant, low smoke materials. Armored fiber patch cable use rugged shell with aluminum armor and kevlar inside the jacket, and it is 10 times stronger than regular fiber patch cable.

Difference Between Singlemode and Multimode Patch Cables

Multimode and singlemode fiber optic patch cables are different mainly because they have different sizes of cores, which carry light to transmit data. Singlemode fiber optic patch cables have a core of 8 to 10 microns. Multimode fiber patch cable allows multiple beams of light passing through, while singlemode fiber cable allows a single beam of light passing through. As modal dispersion happens in multimode fiber cable, the transmission distance is relevantly nearer than singlemode fiber cables. Therefore, multimode fiber optic patch cable is generally used in relevantly recent regions network connections, while the singlemode fiber cable is often used in broader regions.

Applications of Multimode Fiber Optic Patch Cable

Multi-mode fiber patch cables are used to connect high speed and legacy networks like Gigabit Ethernet, Fast Ethernet and Ethernet. OM1 and OM2 cables are commonly used in premises applications supporting Ethernet rates of 10Mbps to 1Gbps, which are not suitable though for today’s higher-speed networks. OM3 and OM4 are best multimode options of today. For prevailing 10Gbps transmission speeds, OM3 is generally suitable for distance up to 300 meters, and OM4 is suitable for distance up to 550 meters.

Conclusion

Fiber optic patch cords are designed to interconnect or cross connect fiber networks within structured cabling systems. Typical fiber connector interfaces are SC, ST, and LC in either multimode or singlemode applications. Whether to choose a singlemode or multimode fiber patch cable, it all depends on applications that you need, transmission distance to be covered as well as the overall budget allowed.

Fiber patch cables are the backbone of the fiber optics industry. These fiber patch cables are strands of optically pure glass as thin as human hair.

These cables carry information via mode of transmission of light. Short patch leads usually made with stranded wire are flexible patch cables. The fiber patch cables are used to plug one piece of equipment into another. To sum, these cables are the most opted solution these days for the networking and broadcasting industry.

They have various uses in all kinds of industries. Fiber patch cables are used in:

Medical imaging

Mechanical engineering

LAN applications

Cable TV networks

Telephone lines,

and More!

Fiber patch cables have revolutionized the total network industry of telephones, cable, internet, audio applications, etc. The fiber patch cables offer accurate signal transfer which is totally distortion free. Thus due to these cables the audio or video transmission is completely distortion free and crystal clear. Since these fiber patch cables use light as a mode of transmission there is no hazard of electric interferences or any tampering.

Fiber Patch Cables Used for?

Fiber patch cables are used to two nearby components with fiber connectors. Fiber patch cables come with their respective connectors. They can be an ideal and easy replacement of copper cables because they use the same RJ45 connector as copper patch cables.

What are Fiber Patch Cables Available in?

Fiber patch cables are available in simplex, duplex, multimode, single mode with STST, STSC, SCSC connectors. Fiber patch cables are of two prominent types – single mode and multimode. Single mode fiber patch cables are used in long-distance high capacity voice applications like telephone transmission or long distance gigabit networking. These fiber patch cables can use 9/125 micron bulk fiber cables and connectors at both ends.

Multimode fiber patch cables are used in computer industry which is standard for data applications like local area network, wide area network, etc. Fiber patch cables in multimode are available in 50µm and 62.5µm. SC, ST, LC, FC, MT-RJ, E2000 and MU connectors have polished ceramic ferrules for precision and durability. The SC and LC duplex fiber patch cables come equipped with a clip to maintain polarity.

ST to ST fiber patch cable gives unlimited bandwidth at high speeds over long distances. These fiber patch cables are ideal for connections between fiber patch panels, hubs, switches, media converters and routers, etc. Fiber patch cables provide higher speeds and increased bandwidth, compared to conventional twisted-pair copper cable. These fiber patch cables are compatible with all standard fiber optic equipment and connectors. Ceramic connectors of these fiber patch cables ensure low signal loss and high reliability along with total immunity to electrical and electromagnetic interference.