Category: Fiber Transceivers

Optical transceivers, Active Optic Cables, data center switches, and cable management in data centers.

SFP+ compatibility issues? Here are 5 troubleshooting tips!

by http://www.fiber-mart.com

Have you ever tried to plug an optic SFP+ transceiver into an SFP+ port to discover that the connection didn’t work, i.e. traffic was very slow or there was no data transmission at all? Did you manage to diagnose the problem and find a resolution? There are several possible reasons for failure. We’ve listed the five most common ones.
First of all, let’s briefly recap what SFP and SFP+ stand for. SFPs – short for ‘small form-factor pluggable’ – are compact, hot-pluggable devices that link networking devices, like switches, routers and servers. In this article, we focus on optic transceivers, as they’re called, which deliver 1Gbps of data across single-mode or multi-mode fibers. The SFP+ is an enhanced version of the SFP that supports data rates up to 10 Gbps. Now, the difference between SFP and SFP+ is an important one when troubleshooting: the transceivers are not always interchangeable.
TIP 1: Check whether you’re using SFP or SFP+ transceivers and slots
SFP and SFP+ modules look exactly the same. And as they have the same size, your SFP transceiver will fit seamlessly into an SFP+ switch port and vice versa. However, the connection won’t work as you expect it to. Or, worse even, it won’t work at all. If you plug an SFP device into an SFP+ port, the speed will be locked at 1 Gbps. Plugging an SFP+ module into an SFP port delivers no results at all, as the 10G transceiver can never auto-negotiate to 1Gbps.
TIP 2: Ensure that the SFPs have identical wavelengths at both ends
Data transmission implies that data is sent from one end to another. The SFP+ transceiver on one end converts electrical signals into optical signals . A built-in laser transmits light through the fiber to the other side. Here, an optical diode converts the light back into an electrical signal. To guarantee that the SFP+ at the other end is capable of doing this, the SFPs at both ends should support the same wavelength. An 1310nm transceiver, for example, will not talk to an 850 nm transceiver.
→ Here, too, look at the specs on the sticker of the modules or check out the details on the manufacturer’s website. Don’t look into the laser light ! Use your smartphone camera if you want to verify that light is coming out of the cable.
TIP 3: Use the correct single or multi-mode fiber cable
Still in trouble even though you are sure you did not mix up SFP and SFP+ and are supporting the same wavelengths at both sides? If so, then verify if the optical transceivers on each end use the same fiber type, i.e. for single-mode or multi-mode fiber. And use the corresponding fiber cable.
Single-Mode Fiber (SMF): featuring a narrow core (typically around 9μm), SMF allows only a single mode (or “ray”) of light to propagate. It is mostly used to transmit data over long distances (max 2km – 120km).
Multi-Mode Fiber (MMF): as MMF has a much wider core (typically 50μm or 62.5μm), it allows multiple modes of light to propagate. The common MMFs are used for short distance transmissions (max 100m – 500m)
TIP 4: Are both ports compatible with your SFP+ modules?
Even when using compatible SFP+s at both ends of the right cable, it is key that both of your devices support SFP+. Make sure that the SFP+ ports on your devices are compatible with the SFP+ modules you want to use. Some brands allow you to use only their own modules.
TIP 5: Is your optic cable in good shape?
Fiber optic cables are exceptionally vulnerable. Dust, dirt or tampering might cause physical damage. So, if you’re experiencing problems when connecting devices, check the connector, the module, and the module slot to make sure they’re not damaged.
To avoid physical damage, avoid extreme bends in fiber optic cables when storing them and put dust-caps on your cable ends if you disconnect them.
In summary, make sure that you know what you are doing when plugging in SFP+ modules and fiber optic cables! It may look simple, but transceivers and slots are not always compatible. Always check the specs on the sticker of your transceiver/the slot, or verify the details on the manufacturer’s website. Only when done right, using fiber optic cables that are in good shape, will you be able to transmit data at the desired speed!

Four Commonly Used Fiber Optic Transceivers

by http://www.fiber-mart.com

In last 5 years, the sale of optical transceivers has grown steadily and is expected to grow exponentially in the years to come. Today, there are many types of optical transceiver modules available in the market. They are segregated as per data transmission speed, connections and packing forms. Few most commonly used optical fiber transceivers include GBIC, SFP, SFP+, X2, XFP, Xenpak and others.
GBIC Transceivers
GBIC was the first transceiver form factor standard before the advent of new generation optical transceivers such as SFP and SFP+. Gigabit interface converter (GBIC) transceivers perform the basic function of converting electric current into optical signal, and optical signal into digital signal and are used as an interface in fiber optic and Ethernet systems for high-speed networking. GAOTek, a leading supplier of advanced fiber optic components, offers a large selection of single-mode/multimode bi-directional (BIDI) and Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) GBIC transceivers for you to choose from for sale to the United States, Canada and Globally.
GAOTek GBIC Transceivers are easy to use, compact and hot-swappable and can function across a span of different transmission distances. Designed for tough environments, our GBIC Transceivers offer speed and flexibility across a wide range of switches and networking hardware. GAOTek GBIC Transceivers comply with the SFF 8472 standards and offer a versatile, convenient and cost-effective solution for gigabit Ethernet and fibre channel applications.
GBIC transceivers are widely used in gigabit Ethernet and fibre channel applications. Key specific applications include: Switch to switch interface, Gigabit Ethernet, Switched backplane applications, Router/Server interface and other optical links
SFP Transceivers
Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) Transceivers are compact hot pluggable devices which can be used to provide an interface between communication devices. SFP transceiver is gaining lot of importance these days due to its various advantages. It not only supports SONET / SDH, Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel and other communications standards but also it has been introduced in the market as a better and more advanced alternative replacement to GBIC transceivers and is also called as mini GBIC because its function is similar to the GBIC transceiver, but its dimensions are much smaller than GBIC.
SFP transceivers find abundant application in telecommunication and data communication. They provide tremendous flexibility to network devices, with their ability to provide connection to different types of fiber. A few key applications include switch to switch interface, fast Ethernet, switch backplane applications, router/server interface and other optical links.
GAOTek offers a broad range of SFP Transceivers such as SFP BIDI (bi-directional), SFP Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) BIDI, SFP CWDM, and SFP GE-FX & (DWDM Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) Transceivers for sale to the United States, Canada and Globally. These devices offer a way to connect a single network device to a wide variety of fiber cables across varied transmission distances and types.
GAOTek SFP Transceivers support single-mode as well multimode fibers and can be inserted or removed during operation. Our transceivers can be used in SONET/SDH networks, Fiber Channel and Gigabit Ethernet. Moreover, these transceivers require less fiber cable and comply with SFF 8472 and RoHS standards.
SFP+ Transceivers
The SFP+ (enhanced small form-factor pluggable) transceivers are upgraded version of SFP transceivers which is more compact in size than SFP module. It supports 8 Gbit/s Fibre Channel, 10 Gigabit Ethernet and optical transport network standard OTU2. The SFP+ and SFP28 transceivers are expected to grow at the highest rate due to applicability in increasing the versatility of the network used for many applications such as data centers, cloud computing, and others.
GAOTek offers a wide range of SFP+ Transceivers such as SFP+ BIDI (bi-directional), SFP+ Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM), SFP+ DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing), and SFP+ Tunable Transceivers. These hot pluggable SFP+ Transceivers make maintenance of fiber networks extremely convenient allowing service providers to scale up their ethernet service.
fiber-mart.com SFP+ Transceivers are designed to meet specific networking protocols and media requirements and provide accurate digital diagnostic functions. These transceivers are hot swappable, i.e., they can be removed and replaced during operations without turning off the system for sale to the United States, Canada and Globally. GAOTek SFP+ Transceivers support high speed serial link at defined signaling rates for different applications. They comply with 10 Gigabit Enhanced Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP+) MSA SFF-8431, SFF-8432, SFF-8690 and SFF-8472.
XFP Transceivers
XFP (10 Gigabit Small Form-Factor Pluggable) transceivers are hot pluggable protocol independent modules which allow a single network device to connect to a wide variety of fiber cables. GAOTek offers a wide selection of high end XFP Transceivers that can be used with single-mode fiber as well as multi-mode fiber for sale to the United States, Canada and Globally. GAOTek XFP Transceivers fall into following categories: XFP BIDI (bi-directional), XFP Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM), XFP DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing), and XFP Tunable Transceivers. XFP transceivers can reach distances of up to 80 km SMF. They are commonly used for Ethernet, Fiber Channel, SDH/SONET and Infiniband applications. GAOTek XFP Transceivers support 10-Gbps speeds and since they are hot-swappable there is no need to shut down the system during swapping.

19″ Network cabinet type A 12U FM-TA-12U-600-600 Landing Chassis

19″ Network cabinet type A 12U FM-TA-12U-600-600 Landing Chassis

Network cabinets, used to store the 19-inch standard or non-standard equipment such as routers, switches, patch panels, servers, monitors, UPS modules. With good usability and security facilities, easy to operate, installation and maintenance, ensures the safety of the operator.The back of the cabinet mesh door with vent, helps our inter modules still cool. Front door is the glass door or flat door, which can be replaced with: glass column mesh door, double open mesh door, the wave mesh door, side mesh door.
Application
Network cabinet for electronic equipment to work the environment and security
Features
Configuration Instructions:
2Fans, 1 Layper board, 1 Power supply

    • Exquisite design with precise craftsmanship
    • Reliable Structure, the Large Static Loading Capacity:500KG(Optional Castors and Plinth)
    • Welded steel frame for front and back part, can be flat packing, easy to transfer
    • Tempered glass front door with over 180 turning degree; vented front door border
    • Steel rear door with little round lock, optional other lock
    • Removable side panel with latch, easy to install, optional lock
    • Adjustable feet and castors sre available simultaneously
    • Cable entry on the top, adjustable cable entrance at the bottom with panel
    • Advanced handle locks for front door, optional other lock
    • S-shaped mounting profile, free to move forward and back
    • Efficient baying kit of cabinet, Earthing kit
    • Optional plinth to fix cabinet on the floor; under base cable entry
    • Various optional accessories for common using
    • Unassembled packing, about 2/5 of original volume, save container space

 

    • Material

 

    • SPCC quality cold rolled steel
    • Others: SPCC quality cold rolled steel
    • Thickness: Mounting profile: 2.0mm; Mounting angle: 1.5mm; other: 1.2mm

 

    • Standard:

 

    • Comply with ANS/EIA RS-310-D, IEC297-2, DIN41491, PART1, DIN41491, PART 7, ETSI Standard

 

    • Loading Capacity:

 

    • Static loading: 500kg (on the adjustable feet)

 

    • Surface finish:

 

    • Degreaseing, Pickling, Phosphating, Powder Coated

 

    • Size:

 

  • Width:600mm
  • Depth:600mm
  • Height:12U
  • Net Dimension: 600*600*12U（600mm）
  • Packing size:620*620*620 (mm)

The Positive Impact of Using Optical Fibers on Cell Towers

by http://www.fiber-mart.com

While fiber optic technology has been utilized for many years in the communications industry, consumers generally identify with the role that it plays in wired communications such as Cable TV, Fiber-To-The-Home, and the related networking equipment.  However, what most overlook or do not realize is the significant impact that deploying optical fibers has also had on something consumers use every day – mobile devices.  In order to achieve the high speed data levels that we have become accustomed to when using mobile devices, cell towers and their supporting networks had to be retrofitted with optical fiber cables.
The transition from copper to fiber first started when 3G mobile technology was first introduced, but when 4G LTE technology was deployed, the service providers’ equipment in almost every cell tower had to be upgraded.  The primary reason for this was to support the need for the higher frequencies and faster speeds that the existing 1 5/8 ” coax cables on most cell towers could not handle. Since the primary feed line to most cell towers had been upgraded already, connecting the cell systems in the towers with fiber was the next step.
So what positive changes occurred when transitioning to optical fiber in the cell tower?
First, engineers could now design systems with fiber that run solely off of DC power.  The result was that a very small (less than a ½” in diameter) 16-pair optical fiber cable and two small multi-strand DC cables could replace as many as 12 to 18, 1 5/8” coax cables which are sometimes called “hard lines”.  As you can see, this is a significant improvement.
Secondly, after the hard lines are taken off and replaced with optical fiber cables, both the weight and wind drag are drastically reduced on the cell tower.  The amount of weight and wind drag that is reduced when swapping coax for a fiber-based system is almost unbelievable.  Thousands of pounds of materials are removed and space on the tower is dramatically increased.  In addition to amount of material, a lot of time is saved in comparison to having to add 12 to 18 more hard lines to each system.
By upgrading to incorporate optical fiber cables into the infrastructure, today’s cell towers have realized significant improvements not only in mobile network performance, but also from an architectural standpoint.

Importance of Using Reliable Fiber Network Simulation Platforms

by http://www.fiber-mart.com

In many cases, the primary focus of a fiber network simulation platform is on the electro-optical equipment at both ends of the fiber optic link.  Since the purpose of network simulators is to evaluate the DUT (Device Under Test) equipment, it only makes sense that this is where the attention will be. However, it is a crucial mistake to forget about both the stability and consistency of the test fiber because the DUT test results (performance, pass/ fail, etc) totally depend on knowing that the optical fiber characteristics are consistent and very reliable.
As a provider of test fiber, we often hear statements such as “if we can get light through, it’s good enough” or “new fiber is too expensive, so we’ll just buy a used spool on EBay” or “the shipping package our fiber spool arrived in provides enough protection”.  Unfortunately, the reasoning behind these comments has everything to do with saving a very small amount of money and nothing to do with the expectation of being able to provide reliable test results that can confidently be presented to a customer or included on a data sheet.
As many times as we hear the statements above, we also often hear “the fiber I am using is not providing consistent results”, “the second-hand fiber I purchased arrived damaged”, and “our fiber was broken accidentally while exposed on the bench.”  Fiber network simulation platforms are designed to resolve all of the potential issues arising from mishandling of fiber spools, including damaged connectors, pinched or bent fibers, and fiber movement on the spool due to improper storage.  By using these platforms, the risk of damage and breaks to fiber and connectors is greatly minimized, while protecting it from dust and debris.  In addition, connector interfaces (adapters) are secured, cleanable, and replaceable.  Lastly, only new fiber is used in these platforms to assure the quality of performance, so users do not have to worry about any issues with the fiber that might lead to poor performance and test results.
If you do not take the appropriate measures to build a reliable test platform, you run the risk of inconsistent or marginal results which can lead to more serious issues down the line.  A small investment into a quality network simulation platform is an important, yet simple way to ensure the accuracy and performance of your equipment.

Understanding The Difference Between Single-mode and Multimode Fiber

by http://www.fiber-mart.com

There are so many cable options available the one might wonder where to start. This article will set you on the right path in the decision process. Let’s begin by focusing on single mode and multimode fiber optic cables.
Multimode
Multimode optical fiber cable has a larger diametrical core that permits multiple modes of light to pass through at a given time. This characteristic allows the number of light reflections created as the light passes through the core to increase, creating the ability for more data to pass through at any given time. The attenuation rate and high dispersion of this fiber reduce the signal quality over long distances. Multimode optical fiber is commonly used short distances, audio/video applications, and Local Area Networks (LANs). From core to cladding, the diameter ratio is 50 microns to 125 microns and 62.5 microns to 125 microns.
Single Mode
Single mode optical fiber cable a small diametrical core that allows one mode of light to pass through at a given time. Because of this, the light reflections created as light passes through the core decreases, reducing attenuation and enabling the ability for the light signal to travel further. Single mode optical fiber would be ideal for long distances that require more bandwidth such as telecommunications companies, cable television providers, and colleges and universities. From core to cladding, the diameter ratio is 9 microns to 125 microns.
Depending on your application will determine with fiber would necessary. We provided a quick optical fiber guide for you to use as a guide to learn more about the types of fiber and the comparison between each manufacturer.
Since 2001, fiber-mart.com has been an established manufacturer and innovator of professional optical fiber platforms for fiber network simulation, latency / optical time delay, training, and demonstration applications. Our customer base includes many of the world’s most recognized communications service providers, equipment manufacturers, data centers, web service providers, financial institutions, research institutions, and government agencies.