Optical Transceiver on Rise to Aid Fiber Optics

People who have been in this industry awhile might remember the early days of fiber optic transceivers, where, besides specifying the function which was needed (e.g. RS-232 to fiber optic), additionally you have to define number of fibers, connector type, wavelength, and possibly optical budget. Additionally, there might have been the selection of end point, repeater, or multi-port star or hub. All of these things made for a dizzying range of part numbers and complicated the specification, ordering, and stocking of transceiver products. As an example, the Cisco SFP modules (e.g. GLC-SX-MMD, GLC-SX-MM, SFP-10G-SR) offer a wide variety of Ethernet network connectivity options for data center, enterprise wiring closet, and service provider transport applications.

The Gigabit Interface Converter (GBIC) module was prepared in 1999, originally specified for fiber channel applications. It enabled a small module to plug into transmission equipment using Gigabit Ethernet or fiber channel. Soon after, a mini GBIC known as a SFP (small form factor pluggable) transceiver was introduced. The SFP has a bit smaller footprint than the GBIC and is used for data rates up to 10 Gb/s. It has various fiber options, including Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM), data rates, and it has an RJ-45 copper option (). Fiber interfaces can be multi-mode or single mode, implement different fiber optic Ethernet standards (referring to wavelength, distance, and data rate), and support different fiber optic connectors. LC is the most widely used connector interface.

Started in 2000, a variety of industry companies including IBM, Fujikura, Agilent Lucent, Cisco, and Netgear Electronics accepted the Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) Transceiver MultiSource Agreement (MSA) to establish internationally compatible sources of a pluggable fiber optic transceiver module in support of standards for fiber optic systems. Each party expects that the establishment of compatible sources for an interchangeable transceiver module enables the whole fiber optic marketplace to grow more quickly. This enhanced marketplace growth, customer choice, and vigorous competition are the express purposes of this Agreement. The MSA defined both physical and electrical parameters for devices that might plug into single or multiple unit receptacles (cages) and be hot swappable. Some optical SFP transceivers now support digital diagnostics monitoring (DDM) functions, commonly known as digital optical monitoring (DOM), giving users the ability to monitor real-time parameters such as optical output power, optical input power, and temperature.

It is worth reminding about the manufacturer warranty and support. While researching Cisco's policy, you will found this: When a customer reports an item fault or defect and Cisco believes the fault or defect can be traced to the by using third-party memory products, such as GBICs, SFP modules, SFP+ cables, filters, and other non-Cisco components by a customer or reseller, then, at Cisco's discretion, Cisco may withhold support under warranty or a Cisco support program.

Although, some on-line postings advise that third-party SFPs might not work out of the box and may have to need a Cisco IOS command such as service unsupported-transceiver to successfully operate, but some OEM manufacturers compatible SFPs is trustworthy. I highly recommend OEM manufacturers they could provide lifetime warranty and custom seivice, such as Fiberstore inc. Fiberstore is a professional manufacturer of fiber optics, they offered fiber optic transceivers are 100% compatible with major brands like Cisco, HP, Juniper, Nortel, Force10, D-link, 3Com.