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Gigabit Ethernet has supplanted Fast Ethernet in wired local networks and becomes ubiquitous throughout the world, serving as one of the most prevalent enterprise communication standard. The Gigabit Ethernet standard supports a maximum data rate of 1 gigabit per second (Gbps)(1000 Mbps), 10 times faster than Fast Ethernet, yet is compatible with existing Ethernet. To link your switches and routers to a Gigabit Ethernet network, you need a Gigabit Ethernet transceiver as a transmission medium. This article intends to introduce the most commonly used one—SFP transceivers.

What Is SFP Transceiver?

SFP, short for small form-factor pluggable is a compact, hot-pluggable transceiver used for both telecommunication and data communications applications. SFP transceiver can be regarded as the upgrade version of GBIC module. Unlike GBIC with SC fiber optic interface, SFP module is with LC interface and the main body size of SFP is only about half of GBIC so that it can save more space. SFP interfaces a network device mother board (for a router, switch, media converter or similar devices) to a fiber optic or copper networking cable. It is designed to support SONET, Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and other communications standards.

Types & Applications of SFP transceivers

SFP transceivers are available with various transmitter and receiver types, which facilitates users to select the appropriate optical transceiver for different optical reach and optical fiber type (single-mode fiber or multimode fiber) required by different link. SFP transceiver modules can be divided into several different categories:

Types	Transmission Medium	Wavelength	Distance
1000BASE-T SFP	Twisted-pair cabling	/	100 m
1000BASE-SX SFP	Multimode fiber	770-860 nm	OM1-275 m/OM2-550 m
1000BASE-LX/LH SFP	SMF & MMF	1270-1355 nm	MMF-550 m/SMF-5 km
1000BASE-ZX SFP	Single mode fiber	1550 nm	70 km
1000BASE-EX SFP	Single mode fiber	1310 nm	40 km
1000BASE-BX10 SFP	Single mode fiber	1480-1500 nm downstream, 1260-1,360 nm upstream	10 km
CWDM and DWDM SFP	Single optical fiber	various wavelengths	various maximum distances

SFP transceivers are found in Ethernet switches, routers, firewalls and network interface cards. Storage interface cards, also called HBAs or Fibre Channel storage switches, also make use of these modules. Because of their low cost, low profile, and ability to provide a connection to different types of optical fiber, SFP transceiver provides such equipment with enhanced flexibility.

FS.COM Compatible SFP Transceivers for Popular Switches

FS.COM offers a full range of SFP transceivers compatible with major brands, such as Cisco, Juniper, Arista, Brocade, HPE, etc. All of these cost-effective compatible SFPs have been strictly tested to make sure 100% compatibility. The table below listed a small part of compatible SFPs supported on major branded switches.

Brand	Switch Series	Model	Port Description
Cisco	Catalyst 6500 Series	WS-SUP720-3BXL	2 SFP Port
		VS-S720-10G-3C	4 SFP Port
		WS-X6724-SFP	24 SFP Port
	Nexus 9000 Series	N9K-C9396PX	48 SFP Port
	IE3010 Series	IE-3010-24TC	2 SFP Port
	ASR 9000 Series Router	A9K-MPA-20X1GE	20 SFP Port
Juniper	EX 4200 Series	EX4200-24T	2 SFP Port
		EX4200-48T	4 SFP Port
		EX4200-24T-DC	2 SFP Port
	MX480 Router	MX480 Router	4 SFP Port
	SRX Series	SRX210	1 SFP Port (Option)
	QFX 5100	QFX5100-48S	48 SFP Port
Arista	7500 Series	DCS-7504	48 SFP Port (Option)
		DCS-7508	48 SFP Port (Option)
	7050SX Series	7050SX-64	48 SFP Port
	7100 Series	DCS-7124S	24 SFP Port
Brocade	VDX 6720	BR-VDX6720-16-R	16 SFP Port
		BR-VDX6720-24-F	24 SFP Port
		BR-VDX6720-40-F	40 SFP Port
	SX Series	SX-424F	24 SFP Port
		SX-FI12GM-4-PREM	12 SFP Port
	Brocade BI-RX-8	NI-MLX-1Gx20-SFP	20 SFP Port
HPE	ProCurve 5400zl Series	J8697A	2 SFP Port
		J9548A	144 SFP Port
	FlexFabric 5800 Series	JC101B	4 SFP Port
		JG225B	6 SFP Port
	5400R zl2 Series	J9584A	24 SFP Port
	StorageWorks edge 2/12	348406-B21	12 SFP Port

FS.COM Patch Cables for SFP Transceivers

FS.COM offers comprehensive fiber patch cables for common and special types of SFPs, including singlemode & multimode, simplex & duplex, UPC & APC, lengths from 1 meter to 30 meters in large stocks. They also provides Cat 5e patch cables for 10/100/1000BASE-T SFPs.

Fiber Mode	Connector	Jacket
9/125 SMF	LC Duplex	PVC/LSZH/OFNP
9/125 SMF	LC Simplex	PVC/LSZH
9/125 SMF	SC Simplex	PVC/LSZH
50/125 OM2	LC Duplex	PVC/LSZH
62.5/125 OM1	LC Duplex	PVC
Cat5e Patch Cables	Max Distance	Data Rate
Unshielded (UTP)	100m	1000Mbps
Shielded (FTP)	100m	1000Mbps

Summary

This article offers switch and fiber patch cabling solution for SFP transceivers. Besides the major brands mentioned above, we also provide SFP transceivers compatible with other brands, such as Dell, Extreme, H3C, Huawei, Intel, IBM, Netgear, Ciena, D-Link, Avago, and so on.