Is SFP faster than Ethernet?
Hello guys!
Today, I would like to introduce a little bit about SFP and ethernet cable.
Objetive
The purpose of this article is to introduce SFP and ethernet cable.
Is SFP faster than Ethernet
What is the Fast Ethernet standard?
Two concepts that often generate many doubts are the Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet standards. They refer to the connection speed, via cable, of devices such as routers. Generally, Fast refers to products that support speeds up to 100 Mbps (Megabits per second).
Fast Ethernet
A network that supports Fast Ethernet (also called 10/100) transfers data at rates up to 100 Mb/s and is supported by any commercially available networking device as it is the oldest of the standards. Low speed can cause a feeling of slowness when transferring files and using heavier Internet services, such as streaming.
Simpler, networks and devices of this type cost less, since cables, ports and devices with restricted support for this technology are also cheaper. A Gigabit Ethernet port on a router costs, on average, four times as much as a Fast Ethernet connector.
In addition to prices, another advantage in favor of the Fast Ethernet standard is the relative ease of installation, since the standard does not normally require more elaborate configuration procedures, as is the case with Gigabit networks.
What is an SFP?
An SFP, or Small Form Factor Pluggable, is a compact, hot-swappable transceiver designed to support 100/1000Mbps Ethernet, Fiber Channel, and SONET, among other communication standards. SFP transceivers support speeds up to 4.25 Gbps and are commonly used in telecommunications and data communication applications. SFP ports are found on a range of devices, from Ethernet switches to routers, NIC cards and firewalls. The pluggable small form factor specification is based on IEEE802.3 and SFF-8472.
It is a market standard developed and standardized by the main switch and router companies in the world, in the case of SFP they are based on the SFF-8472 and IEEE802.3 standard/standard. SFP ports are easily found in various equipment such as switches, routers, server boards, storage and firewall.
SFP module types
The growth of data traffic and the evolution of technologies involved in fiber optic networks also brought evolutions to SFP, increasing the ability to connect greater distances and using fewer fibers.
Depending on the model, SFP transceiver can work with single-mode or multimode fiber, to better understand the types of fiber see this other article on our blog by clicking here.
Another difference found in mini-Gbic module models is the type:
- Unidirectional SFP (DualFiber) uses 2 fibers for its connection, one to carry out the transmission (Tx) and the other responsible for the reception of the signal (Rx).
- Bidirectional SFP (also called SFP BiDi or SFP WDM) uses only 1 fiber to transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx), so it uses different wavelengths for Tx and Rx.
Bidirectional or unidirectional SFP?
In terms of performance, both the bidirectional and unidirectional SFP are full duplex and have exactly the same performance, the big difference is in the amount of fibers used for data communication and the wavelength used.
How to connect SFP transceiver module
To connect and use the SFP transceiver, you must first insert the SFP module into the SFP slot of the switch/router, and then connect the fiber cord / patchcord to the module, respecting the type of connector. The most common connector in this type of transceiver is the LC and it must always be polished "plated" characterized by the color Blue (LC/UPC) or Gray (LC/PC), but there are also some SFP models with SC connector.
What is the difference between SFP and SFP+?
The main difference is that SFP+ is an enhanced version that supports speeds of up to 10Gbps. ... The difference in data rate also explains the difference in transmission distance—SFP typically has a longer transmission distance. SFP+ specifications are based on SFF-8431.
