Benefits of Cisco GBIC and SFP transceivers

GBIC & SFP transceivers

Cisco offers a GBIC & SFP products that give service providers and other companies the ability to easily establish Gigabit Ethernet and Fiber Channel within their networks. The GBIC, or Gigabit Interface Converter, is a standard for transceivers that plugs into a Gigabit Ethernet and connects to a fiber optic network. The SFP stands for small formfactor pluggable transceiver.

Not only affordable, the solution is easy and convenient. It can be deployed in college campuses, big city networks, and at company data centers. The product has two parts, including a component with eight pluggable transceivers, or the Cisco GBICs and Cisco CWDM SFPs) and a component with Cisco CWDM passive multiplexer/demultiplexer. Also, optical add/drop multiplexers, or OADMs, may be used. You can rack-mount the equipment on a chassis.

The benefits of Cisco’s GBIC & SFP offering include its scalability, using just one strand to move up to eight channels. And, the equipment works with a standard GBIC & SFP port. The Cisco equipment does not have to be powered and it does not have to be configured. It’s a versatile tool that permits various network configurations. Among them is a point-to-point configuration or a hub and spoke. The product will allow providers and businesses who use it to increase the bandwidth of a Gigabit Ethernet without using new fiber.

There are many different models of routers which utilize GBIC and SFP technology. Some examples include the short wavelength modules, long wavelength modules, and extended wavelength modules. The 1000BASE-SX is a shortwave length module that can operate up to 1800 feet via a standard multimode fiber-optic link. An example of a long wavelength GBIC and SFP module is the 1000BASE-LX/LH. This one operates fully with IEEE 802.3z. They have a much higher optical quality however, allowing them to reach over 6 miles over one fiber. A standard model can only reach over 3 miles.

An example of an extended length GBIC and SFP module is the 1000BASE-ZX. This uses a simple single-mode fiber-optic link which can cover over 40 miles. It can reach lengths of over 60 miles using the more complicated fibers such as the premium single-mode fiber-optic link, and the dispersion-shifted single-mode fiber. It is intended to be used as a Physical Medium Dependent for a gigabit Ethernet interface which can be found on various products. When you are reaching shorter lengths with a single fiber, you should use an in-line optical attenuator to make sure that you don’t overload the server.