Summary

Question

What does the transceiver name seen on the part label mean ? and how can it help select the right components for the connection ?

Customer Environment

Troubleshooting Steps

Key Information to know about Transceivers and Fiber types :

Transceivers Overview:

What can be derived from the given name on the transceiver or from the information written on the GBIC's label ?
For Example :
10GB SR 400m SFP+:

• 10 GB: Speed of the transceiver

• SR: Transmission distance rating (Short Reach)

• 400m: Rated transmission distance

• SFP+: Form factor type (Small Form-factor Pluggable)
  
   

Fiber Optic Transceiver what are they called ?

Transceivers are commonly known as GBICs or SFPs, do not confuse these with connectors as they are separate and can vary based on the use-case. 

• GBIC: Gigabit Interface Converter [ historically/Commonly called ]

• SFP: Small Form-factor Pluggable
  
   

Transmission Ratings:

What two-letter rating seen on the transceiver means and what it implies.

• SR: Short Reach (Multi-Mode)

• LR: Long Reach (Single-Mode)

• ER: Extended Reach (Single-Mode)

• LRM: Long Reach Multi-Mode (Multi-Mode)
   

Cable Types:

Types of fiber cables that out there and how to identify them.

• Single-Mode Fiber (SMF):

  • Jacket Color: Yellow

  • Common Types: OS1, OS1a, OS2, SM

• Multi-Mode Fiber (MMF):

  • Jacket Color: Orange/Slate (Grey)

  • Common Types: OM1 (62.5/125), OM2 (50/125)

  • Jacket Color: Aqua/Teal

  • Common Types: OM3, OM4

Courtesy Google images*
 

Form-Factor and Speed:

How to know the speed of the transceiver based on its form-factor nomenclature.

• SFP: Small Form-factor Pluggable 1G

• SFP+: Small Form-factor Pluggable 10G

• SFP28: Small Form-factor Pluggable 25G

• SFP56: Small Form-factor Pluggable 50G

• QSFP: Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable 4G

• QSFP+: Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable 40G

• QSFP28: Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable 100G

 
Courtesy Google Images*


*Quad refers to the 4-channel that are used by the SFP when in operation, this is internal to the SFP working.

 

Connector Types that are commonly seen :

The tiny bit that connects the fiber cable, more likely the fiber strands inside the fiber cable to the transceiver.

• SC: Square Connector type

• LC: Lucent Connector type, This is most commonly seen on the SFPs

Courtesy Google Images* 

Best Practices:

Key considerations for planning a fiber installation include:

• Check cable specifications, often printed on the cable itself, to ensure compatibility and performance.

• Ensure Right cable is used with the right type of transceiver.

• Ensure that when deploying the connections they are set to match the Operational parameters/Requirement of the GBICs/SFPs 

Do refer Troubleshooting Fiber/ SFP/ SFP+ connection issues on RUCKUS ICX Switches and networks in general to learn more about troubleshooting issues encountered when working with this technology.

Resolution

When working with Transceivers, fiber cables and connections its important to know what these specifications imply as they will aid in ensuring,

• Using right transceivers for the requirement at hand.

• Ensuring that connections are made within deigned parameters.

Click here for  the RUCKUS Optics Family Spec Sheet, which provides more information on the RUCKUS Optics offerings. This will be helpful when working with RUCKUS ICX Switch Offerings.