How to Clean a Fiber Optic Transceiver?

To ensure the high performance of optical data transmission, fiber optic cleaning is regarded as an essential way to get rid of the contaminants on devices. Fiber optic connectors are often recommended to be cleaned on a regular basis. Apart from the connectors, other devices such as fiber optic transceiver, optical adapter should also be cleaned when they are being polluted. This post will focus on introducing the proper method of cleaning fiber optic transceivers.

How to Find a Contaminated Optical Transceiver?

Compared with connectors, transceiver modules seem to have a smaller chance to be contaminated. Therefore, fiber optic transceivers should only be cleaned when problems occur. Generally, if signal output from the transceiver is still false or in low-power after cleaning the connectors, you can clean the fiber optic transceiver instead to solve the issue. Common contaminant in optical transceivers is the debris or particles coming through the contact with optical connector ferrules. The following picture shows the comparison of dirty and clean interfaces of transceivers under the digital microscope.

Cleaning Tools

Air duster and lint-free swab are the major cleaning tools for fiber optic transceivers. Air duster uses the clean dry air to blow any dust and debris out of the transceiver. Lint-free swab is special for not leaving any lint in the transceiver interface after cleaning.

Things to Note Before Cleaning

A safe operation is very important to protect yourself from unnecessary accidents. Before starting the cleaning process, here are some precautions for you to note.

• Always handle optical modules in an ESD (electro-static discharge) safe area using the proper safety precautions.
• Ensure that the module power is off and handle the modules with care.
• Always use CDA or an approved canned compressed air supply.
• Always hold the can of compressed air upright. Tipping may release liquids in the air stream.
• Do not touch the inner surfaces of the module including the OSA (optical subassemblies), or insert any foreign objects into the ports.
• Use of finger cots or powder free surgical gloves is not required but can ensure better cleanliness.

Cleaning Procedures

After every thing is ready, you can start to clean the transceiver interface. The followings are the general cleaning steps for reference. If condition permits, you can use microscope to inspect the transceiver to ensure cleanliness. Usually, when output signal becomes normal, then the cleaning procedure is a success.

• Step 1: Open the dust cover or remove the dust plug from the module.
• Step 2: Use a non-abrasive cleaner (air duster) to remove any dirt or debris.
• Step 3: Insert a lint-free cleaning stick of the appropriate size (2.5 mm or 1.25 mm) and turn clockwise. It is recommended to do dry cleaning instead of wet cleaning by using alcohol-based cleaning sticks.
• Step 4: Repeat steps 2 and 3 if necessary.
• Step 5: Remove the cleaning stick, and reinsert the module’s dust cap. Always keep the dust cap inserted in the module when not in use.
• Step 6: Always make sure that the connector is also clean before plugged into the module.

Conclusion

Fiber optic cleaning plays an important role in fiber optic system. Although optical transceivers are less frequent to be cleaned, the request for cleaning still exists. As long as you use the correct cleaning tools and follow the right cleaning procedures, transceivers can surely be cleaned with no more contamination. In this case, the efficiency of fiber optic system will be greatly improved.

Source:http://www.chinacablesbuy.com/clean-fiber-optic-transceiver.html

Applications of 3G-SDI Video SFP

At the data rate of 3 Gbps, using HD-SDI (high-definition serial digital interface) fiber converter may cause problems for video displaying, such as splash screen, black or blue screen and lagging frame. Is there any good solution to solve this problem? Definitely, 3G-SDI video SFP (small form-factor pluggable) transceiver is designed to meet the relevant demands. This article will guide you to know the basic information about 3G-SDI video SFP and its common applications.

What Is 3G-SDI?

With the wide deployment of fiber optics, the HD (high-definition) video transmission over fiber is no longer a dream. We are familiar with the HD video interface such as HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface), HD-SDI, HD-CVI (high-definition composite video interface) and so on. But what is 3G-SDI?

3G-SDI is an updated version of HD-SDI which can offer nominal data rates of 1.485 Gbit/s (dual link) and 2.970 Gbit/s serial link, respectively. 3G-SDI system can support the digital video signals with SMPTE424M, SMPTE292M, SMPTE259M, SMPTE297M , SMPTE305M and SMPTE310M standards, as well as the DVB-ASI (EN50083-9) format digital video signals. Similar with HD-SDI, 3G-SDI is generally used for the television broadcasting. But as the technology advances, it is now widely applied in global security applications such as high-end surveillance or unmanned systems, allowing simple designs or upgrades with full HD cameras.

3G-SDI Video SFP & Related Products

A variety of 3G-SDI video products have been launched in the market. These equipment include 3G-SDI extenders, 3G-SDI distribution amplifiers, 3G-SDI matrix switchers and so on. They are adopted with 3G pathological signal but can also be compatible with 1.5G pathological signal for long-distance transmission, meeting the diversified demands of users.

However, though there are many 3G-SDI equipment in the market, most of the products cannot pass the SDI pathological-code test. In this case, if the video signals are transmitted in an irregular bitrate, the issues that are mentioned in the beginning of the article may occur. This phenomenon will happen especially under the operation of 3Gbps (i.e., 1080p application) rather than 1.5G (720p or 1080i application). Why? Excluding the factors of equipment quality and brand differences, the cost factor may be the main reason. In the current market, most of the HD-SDI converters employ the ordinary SFP optics, namely the 1.25G or 2.5G digital SFP to replace the specific video SFP. Inevitably, the error rate increases when transmission bit rate is irregular. Since the application field of HD-SDI converter requires higher quality frames, it is very necessary to use the specific 3G-SDI video SFP to avoid these problems and ensure the high definition and smooth frames of the video.

3G-SDI module is designed in SFP package which is compliant with SFP Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) and SFF-8472. 3G-SDI module can be designed with different form factor such as dual or single transmitter, dual or single receiver, duplex or BiDi (bi-directional) transceiver (transceiver & receiver). According to the operation wavelengths, 3G-SDI module can be used in multimode or single-mode application—works on 850nm wavelength to support up to 300m transmission distance over multimode fiber and 1310 or 1550nm wavelengths to support 10km or 80km transmission distance over single-mode fiber. In addition, 3G-SID CWDM SFP modules are also available in the market. Furthermore, 3G-SDI SFP module also support DDM (digital diagnostic monitoring) function to monitor extensive output optical power, bias current, supply voltage and operating temperature etc.

3G-SDI Video SFP Application Cases

Similar to the ordinary SFP module that is used in the switch to transmit and receive the signals, 3G-SDI SFP module is for the same purpose but used in the HD-SDI equipment. It plays an important role in the application of digital video extension over fiber. Three classical 3G-SDI SFP application cases (over SMF) are shown in the following:

Case 1: Using a 3G-SDI SFP transmitter for transmitting the signals and a 3G-SDI SFP receiver for receiving the signals over a simplex SMF. This is the most basic case of the HD-SDI video transmission.

Case 2: Using 3G-SDI SFP transceivers which can both transmit and receive over a duplex LC SMF.

Case 3: Using a pairs of 3G-SDI BiDi SFP transceiver which can both transmit and receive over a simplex LC SMF. This solution can help save more cost on fiber.

Conclusion

3G-SDI SFP transceiver is a cost-effective solution for transmitting and receiving high-definition video signals. Our website provides a series of 3G-SDI SFP covering the wavelengths of 850 nm, 1310 nm, 1550 nm, CWDM band, BiDi 1310/1490 nm and BiDi 1310/1550 nm. Each one is tested to be fully compatible with Cisco, Arista, Juniper, Dell, Brocade and other brands.

source:http://www.sfp-transceiver-modules.com/wiki/a/115/Applications-of-3G-SDI-Video-SFP

Overview of SMF & MMF 40G QSFP+ Transceiver

Owing to the server consolidation, virtualization, and performance improvements in data centers, there is a demanding need for upgrading 10G switch connections into 40G connections. However, the reduced reach of OM3/OM4 multimode optics from 10G to 40G and the need to improve the existing fiber optic cabling plant based on additional fiber count both increase the difficulties of the upgrade process. Luckily, the advent of SMF and MMF 40G QSFP+ transceiver has solved the problem.

Basic Introduction to SMF & MMF 40G QSFP+ Transceiver

As we all know, a fiber optic transceiver may either operate on multimode fiber (MMF) or single-mode fiber (SMF). However, a SMF&MMF 40G QSFP+ transceiver can be used with both MMF and SMF without the need for any software/hardware changes to the transceiver module or any additional hardware in the network. Usually, this transceiver is based on IEEE defined 40GBASE-LR4 specifications and operates in the 1310 nm band. It uses a duplex LC connector and supports distances up to 150 m over OM3 or OM4 multimode fiber and up to 500 m over single-mode fiber (different vendor may have different specifications). This is usually accomplished by combining four 10G optical channels at different wavelengths (1270, 1290, 1310, and 1330 nm) inside the transceiver module to transmit and receive an aggregate 40G signal over a single pair of multimode or single-mode fibers. At present, there are two main SMF&MMF 40G QSFP+ transceiver in the market. One is the Arista QSFP-40G-UNIV universal QSFP+ transceiver, and the other is the Juniper JNP-QSFP-40G-LX4 40GBASE-LX4 QSFP+ transceiver. These two types QSFP+ for both MMF and SMF are widely installed and used for upgrading from 10G to 40G networks without modification or expansion.

Advantages of SMF&MMF 40G QSFP+ Transceiver

With the increase in data center bandwidth requirements, migration to 40G for switch to switch connections is in higher demand. SMF&MMF 40G QSFP+ transceiver is designed to allow for seamless migrations from existing 10 to 40GbE networking without requiring a redesign or expansion of the fiber network. Besides, this transceiver also provides a cost-effective solution to migrate from multimode to single-mode fiber, allows a single-mode fiber infrastructure for distances up to 500m. The advantages of SMF&MMF 40G QSFP+ are as following.

Cabling Migrating From 10G to 40G

Existing 40G transceivers for short reach, QSFP+ SR4 and the extended reach QSFP+ CSR4, utilize four independent 10G transmitters and receivers for an aggregate 40G link, which use an MPO-12 connector and require 8-fiber parallel multimode fiber (OM3 or OM4). However, a SMF&MMF QSFP+ uses duplex LC connector, which is consistent with the existing 10G connections, which are also commonly MMF cables with duplex LC connectors. Therefore, a SMF&MMF QSFP+ allows the same cables to be used for direct 10G connections to direct 40G connections, resulting in zero-cost cabling migration.

Increase Number of 40G Links in the Network

As existing MMF 40G solutions need the use of 8 fibers for a 40G link, customers have to add additional fiber to increase the number of 40G links. By deploying the SMF&MMF 40G QSFP+ transceiver, customers increase the number of 40G links by 4 times without making any changes to their fiber infrastructure, which greatly expand network scale and performance.

Migrate From Multimode to Single-mode Fiber

As data rates increase from 40G to 100G and beyond to 400G, there is a strong desire for data centers to move to single-mode fiber for cost effectiveness. Due to the limitations of multimode transceivers to support existing distances with ever increasing data rates, migrating to 100G and 400G in the future will be simpler with single-mode fiber. However, the single-mode transceivers typically cost up to 4 times more compared to multimode transceivers. As SMF&MMF QSFP+ interoperates with 10km QSFP-LR4 optics, it s a cost effective solution for SM fiber infrastructure for distances up to 500 m.

Simplify the Data Centers With a Mix of MMF and SMF Deployments

The SMF&MMF 40G QSFP+ transceiver offers the unique advantage of operating on both multimode and single-mode fiber without any requirement for additional hardware or software. Customers can consolidate their optics and use SMF&MMF QSFP +in their network irrespective of the fiber type, which makes full use of the existing cabling systems, reduces the cost of deployment and of support, and simplify purchasing and deployments.

Conclusion

With the help of SMF and MMF QSFP+ transceivers, the upgrading from 10G to 40G networks can be perfectly achieved today. This solution saves the modification of cabling system which originally might be a huge cost. It also bridges the gap between single-mode and multimode optics. If you are interested in these transceiver products, please search our website for more information.

source:http://www.sfp-transceiver-modules.com/wiki/a/114/Overview-of-SMF--MMF-40G-QSFP+-Transceiver

Differences Between Single-mode & Multimode Fiber Optic Transceivers

As for data transmission in optical networks, fiber optic transceiver is an indispensable part used for sending and receiving electrical and optical signals between facilities like computers, input/output devices, peripheral devices or switches. According to different transceiver models, optical modules can be divided into single-mode fiber optic transceivers and multimode fiber optic transceivers. Each type has its own different characteristics. You need to know their differences so as to choose the most suitable type. To understand them better, this post will present their brief introduction and major differences.

What Is Single-mode & Multimode Fiber Optic Transceivers?

A single-mode fiber transceiver is a type of optical transceiver module, which is a self-contained component that can receive and transmit data using single-mode optical fiber cables. It permits the transmission of signals at the very extreme high bandwidths thus facilitating the transmission of signals at very long distances. A multimode fiber optic transceiver works with multimode fiber. It permits the use of inexpensive LED light sources and alignment of the connectors with a coupling that is less critical than that of the single-mode fiber. The transmission distance of multimode fiber optic transceiver is less than that of the single-mode transceiver due to dispersion.

What Are Their Differences?

The major differences between single-mode and multimode fiber optic transceivers are listed below.

Transmitting Rates and Range—Both the single-mode and multimode fiber optic transceiver can handle the 10G speeds. However, distance requirements are quite critical. The multimode optical transceivers generally have a reach of approximately 550 meters, while the single-mode transceivers can get you through 10 km, 40 km, 80 km and even farther.

Price—The optics used in the single-mode fiber are twice those used in the multimode fiber. But when installed as part of a project, the extra cost of single-mode fiber is negligible compared to multimode fiber. The fragility and increased cost to produce single-mode fiber makes it more expensive to use.

Compatibility—When it comes to issues dealing with compatibility, the two types of transceivers are not compatible. You cannot mix the multimode and the single-mode fiber between any two endpoints.

Power Dissipation—Multimode transceivers consume less power than single-mode transceivers, which is an important consideration especially when assessing the cost of powering and cooling a data center.

What Should Be Noticed When Using Them?

When using the fiber optic transceivers, the tips below should be followed.

• Ensure that in the single-mode transceivers, both ends of the fiber patch cord are of the same wavelength. The color for the used modules must be all consistent.
• In order to ensure and facilitate the data accuracy, short wave modules are used with the multimode transceivers while long wave modules are used with the single-mode transceivers.
• Do not wind or overbend the fiber optic cables when using them. This is because doing so will attenuate the light in transit.

Conclusion

From this article, we can know that single-mode and multimode fiber optic transceivers are used for different applications. Single-mode optical transceiver is typically used for high speed data transmission over long distances. But multimode optical transceivers are made for short fiber optic links. Our website provides fiber optic transceivers with different data rates such as 10G transceivers, 40G transceivers, 100G transceivers, etc. supporting both single-mode and multimode transmission. All of them are tested on the corresponding equipment to ensure their performance and stability.

Source:http://www.sfp-transceiver-modules.com/wiki/a/113/Differences-Between-Single-mode-amp;-Multimode-Fiber-Optic-Transceivers

Installing and Removing Hot-Pluggable Transceivers

Due to the continuous development of transceiver technologies, most transceivers are now hot-pluggable to be installed or removed from the equipment without shutting down the system. This helps keep the regular operation of system without significant interruption which ensures the working efficiency. However, when it comes to the practical operation, do you know the specific steps for installing and removing hot-pluggable transceivers? Here will take bale clasp SFP and pull tab QSFP+ transceivers as examples. You may regard this article as a reference for your own application.

Installing and Removing SFP Modules

Installing Procedure

• Step 1, attach an ESD (electro-static discharge) wist strap to your wrist and to the ESD ground connector or a bare metal surface on your chassis.
• Step 2, remove the SFP transceiver module from its protective packaging.
• Step 3, check the label on the SFP transceiver to verify that you have the right module for your network.
• Step 4, close the bale clasp before inserting the SFP transceiver.
• Step 5, put the SFP transceiver in front of the socket opening.
• Step 6, hold the SFP transceiver by its sides, and insert the module into the port on the switch.
• Step 7, slide the SFP transceiver into the port until you hear the click.

Removing Procedure

• Step 1, attach an ESD wrist strap to your wrist and and a properly grounded point on the chassis or the rack.
• Step 2, disconnect and remove interface cable from the SFP transceiver.
• Step 3, open the bale clasp on the SFP transceiver with your index finger in a downward direction. If the bale clasp is obstructed, use a small flat-blade screwdriver to open it.
• Step 4, grasp the SFP module between your thumb and index finger and carefully remove it from the port.

Installing and Removing QSFP+ Modules

Installing Procedure

• Step 1, attach an ESD grounding strap to your bare wrist and connect it to the ESD point on the chassis.
• Step 2, remove the QSFP+ transceiver from its antistatic container and remove the dust cover from the modular optical connector.
• Step 3, check the label on the QSFP+ transceiver to verify that you connect the correct transceiver for your network.
• Step 4, for QSFP+ transceivers equipped with a pull-tab, hold the transceiver so that the identifier label is on the top.
• Step 5, align the QSFP+ transceiver in front of the module's transceiver socket opening and carefully slide the QSFP+ transceiver into the socket until the transceiver makes contact with the socket electrical connector.
• Step 6, press firmly on the front of the QSFP+ transceiver with your thumb to fully seat the transceiver in the module's transceiver socket.

Removing Procedure

• Step 1, attach an ESD wrist strap to your wrist and and a properly grounded point on the chassis or the rack.
• Step 2, disconnect the network interface cable from the QSFP+ transceiver connector.
• Step 3, immediately install the dust plug into the transceiver's optical bore.
• Step 4, grasp the tab and gently pull to release the transceiver from the socket.
• Step 5, slide the transceiver out of the socket.
• Step 6, place the QSFP+ transceiver into an antistatic bag.

Ways to Verify Transceiver Installation

You may use the display transceiver interface command to check the installation. The transceiver is proved to be installed correctly if its information is correctly displayed. On the contrary, there will be an error. You may remove the transceiver and reinstall it again. To check the interface status, you need to enter the interface view of the target transceiver module and perform the display command. If the interface has been shut down, perform the undo shutdown command to activate it.

Suggestions for Safety Manipulation

• Point 1, after the installation, do not remove the dust plug if you do not connect a fiber cable to the module.
• Point 2, do not plug the transceiver installed with a fiber into the port.
• Point 3, if the laser optic module is too hot to touch, disengage the laser optic module and allow it to cool before removing it completely.
• Point 4, do not look directly into a fiber port on the switch or ends of a fiber cable when they are powered on.
• Point 5, do not pull out the transceiver by force.

Summary

When installing and removing hot-pluggable transceivers, you should follow the steps and safety cautions to perform a secure installation. The above procedures are for reference only. Different types of transceivers may have slight procedure differences. Please consult professional technicians in case any unnecessary problem occurs.

Source:http://www.sfp-transceiver-modules.com/wiki/a/111/Installing-and-Removing-Hot-Pluggable-Transceivers

Guide to Fiber Optic Transceiver Testing

Fiber optic transceiver is an important component of optical network converting electrical signals to optical signals or the same thing in reverse. The performance of a transceiver is vital to the function of whole system. If its compatibility and interoperability are assured, there will be less problems for practical applications. A reliable vendor will first verify the performance of transceivers before putting them into the market. But how much do you know about the testing process of fiber optic transceiver?

As we know, fiber optic transceiver is a single, packaged device composed of a transmitter and a receiver. Poor quality transceivers will affect the operation of entire network. Therefore, the testing of transmitter optical power and receiver sensitivity are absolutely necessary. This post will guide you to know the basics of transmitter and receiver testing for fiber optic transceivers. From the following figure, you may have an overview of the main measurement process.

Transmitter Testing

The transmitter port of an optical transceiver consists of a light source and relevant electronic circuitry. Measurement for the transmitter is a typical production test performed to ensure that the transmitter performs at a specified level. Here are two steps to test a transmitter:

• Step one, the input signal must be good enough when testing a transmitter. Measurements of jitter and an eye mask test must be performed to confirm the quality. An eye mask test is the common method to view the transmitter waveform and provides a wealth of information about overall transmitter performance.
• Step two, the optical output of the transmitter must be tested using several optical quality metrics such as a mask test, OMA (optical modulation amplitude), and extinction ratio.

Receiver Testing

The receiver port of an optical transceiver is composed of a photodiode that performs the optical-to-electrical conversion and electronic circuitry to correctly interpret the bits received. Receiver is tested within reasonable gating time at higher BER (bit error ratio). Here are two steps for receiver testing:

• Step one, the receiver testing involves sending in a signal that has poor quality. To do this, a stressed eye representing the worst case signal shall be created. This is an optical signal, and must be calibrated using jitter and optical power measurements.
• Step two, testing the electrical output of the receiver should be processed. Three basic categories of tests are included. First is the mask test. It ensures a large enough eye opening accompanied by a BER depth. Second is the jitter budget test which tests for the amount of certain types of jitter. Third is the jitter tracking and tolerance. This is performed to measure the ability of the internal clock recovery circuit to jitter within its loop bandwidth.

Summary

All in all, fiber optic transceiver testing is essential to the performance of network system. Today, most produced transceivers are tested based on the above parameters to make sure that they are fully complied with the required specifications. The widely used eye-mask test is an effective way to test a transmitter. But testing a receiver may seem much more complicated because of the requirements for multiple testing methods. Our website provides full series of fiber optic transceivers. Each transceiver is tested to be 100% compatible to your network. Please search at our site for more information.

Source:http://www.sfp-transceiver-modules.com/wiki/a/110/Guide-to-Fiber-Optic-Transceiver-Testing

Application of 40GBASE-SR BiDi QSFP Transceiver

In short distance data transmission, 40GBASE-SR4 and 40GBASE-CSR4 fiber optic transceivers are usually used for the 40G network. Unlike the traditional 10G network connections, the 40G connections require 12-fiber MTP/MPO connectors and 12 fibers to accomplish the transmission. However, cable routing is definitely a big challenge for the migration from 10G to 40G network over short distance. If the transmission of 40G over duplex multimode fiber optic cable is feasible, we don’t have to change the cabling infrastructure which greatly saves our time and money.

Realizing 40G Over Duplex MMF By 40GBASE-SR BiDi QSFP

Is it possible to transmission 40G over duplex multimode fiber optic cables? With 40GBASE-SR BiDi QSFP transceivers, the answer is yes. The following will introduce the details of this optics. Compare with the traditional 40G QSFP+ transceivers like 40GBASE-SR4 and 40GBASE-CSR4, 40GBASE-SR BiDi QSFP optics use a much more straightforward transmission mode.

The traditional 40G QSFP+ transceivers like 40GBASE-SR4 and 40GBASE-CSR4 use 4*10G transmission mode occupying 4 fibers for sending and 4 fibers for receiving as shown in the following picture. Usually a 12-fiber MPO connector is used with 4 fibers unused.

For 40GBASE-SR BiDi QSFP optics only a duplex LC patch cord can finish 40G transmission over MMF and can perfectly achieve the migration from 10G to 40G. 40GBASE-SR BiDi QSFP take advantages of fiber optic multiplexing.

Operations of 40GBASE-SR BiDi QSFP

There are mainly three steps for 4*10G signals transmitting via 40GBASE-SR BiDi QSFP module. The first step is electrical. The four 10G signals are electrically combined together into 20G and 20G. The second step is an optical combining using two different wavelengths going on the same fiber strand. In the third step, the two 20G signals are sent to the other 40GBASE-SR BiDi QSFP module on the target device via the single optical fiber. The 40G signals are receiveds from the other 40GBASE-SR BiDi QSFP module on the other end of the optical fiber. The process for receiving is reverse. This is how a pair of BiDi QSFP transmit 40G signals over a duplex fiber optic patch cable. The following picture shows the basic working principle of this 40G BiDi QSFP module.

The most commonly used two wavelengths for 40G BiDi QSFP module are 850 nm and 900 nm. The two wavelengths support reliable transmission over multimode fiber optic cables up to 150 meters over OM4 and 100 meters over OM3, which can perfectly fit the 40G short distance transmission in data center. To help you better understand this module. The following picture shows the internal structure of the 40G BiDi QSFP module and how a pair of BiDi QSFP modules working with each other.

High Density Cabling Solution for 40GBASE-SR BiDi QSFP Modules

With 40GBASE-SR BiDi QSFP module, cabling in data center or server room would be much easier. As above mentioned, you do not have to change your cabling infrastructure for 40G BiDi QSFP. A pair of duplex LC-LC multimode fiber optic patch cable is enough. OM3 and OM4 are suggested. For high density cabling, a new version of LC patch cord—LC-HD duplex multimode fiber optic cable is suggested. This type of patch cable has a tab attached on the connector, which offers easier finger reach for telecom engineers. With 40GBASE-SR BiDi QSFP modules, you can scale your 40G network easily and cost-effectively.

Conclusion

As for 40G short range data propagation, the application of 40GBASE-SR BiDi QSFP transceiver is a good solution that reduces the difficulty of cable routing. With an easier connection, it is much more time-saving and cost-effective to adopt this type of transceiver in your network. Why not give it a try?

Source:http://www.sfp-transceiver-modules.com/wiki/a/109/Application-of-40GBASE-SR-BiDi-QSFP-Transceiver

Reasons for Choosing Third Party Transceivers

Demands for third party transceivers have been rapidly increased over the years. More and more people prefer to use the third party transceivers rather than the official-branded ones. You may wonder what is the charm of third party transceivers? What’s the difference between third party products and original ones? There must be some reasons for their popularity. This article will talk about some possible reasons that encourage us to use third party fiber optic transceivers.

What Is Third Party Transceiver?

First of all, we need to know the concept of “third party”. Third party products are often seen in the technical world. They are neither made by the OEMs - original equipment manufacturers (first party) nor by the users (second party), but by the another vendor (third party) who can also provide the same solutions. You can find lots of third party suppliers in different industries. These companies usually have high degrees of specialization in their field. Sometimes, when a company establishes its own brand but still supplies other brands’ compatible components, it is also considered to be a third party for other OEMs. In the same way, a third party transceiver is made by the third party vendor, but functions as good as the official-branded transceiver.

Benefits of Third Party Transceiver

Low Cost

Project budget is always one of the important considerations. Buying third party transceivers can definitely save you a great deal. Actually, the transceivers you purchase from an OEM are not as “original” as you think. OEMs also buy their transceivers from master suppliers who code and label the transceivers for them. But why are these transceivers still more expensive? One possible reason may be the cost of transceiver testing and validation, but the majority of your money is pure profit that goes directly into the OEM’s pocket. From this perspective of view, choosing a third party transceiver is much more cost-effective.

Consistent Availability

Many third party companies regard the sales of transceivers as their priority, therefore they take the availability of product more seriously. In the third party websites, different sorts of transceivers are always purchasable all year round. And some of them can also provide customized transceivers according to your requirements. This makes the purchasing of third party transceivers more flexible and provides the customers with greater convenience.

High Quality

Third party transceiver providers usually source their products from the same or equivalent suppliers used by OEMs. They may not use the same testing procedures, but most transceivers have nearly 100% success in compatibility with the corresponding OEM equipment. Therefore, if you want to make sure your transceiver is fully compatible with OEM devices, it is very important to ask your third party supplier about which OEMs and product lines they specialize in, and to inquire about detailed information on their testing procedures. Generally speaking, the quality of third party transceivers from a good vendor is the same as the quality of original brands.

Long-time Warranty

A good third party transceiver provider will offer the customer with long-time warranty on their transceivers. Even with name brand OEMs, it is inevitable that the transceivers you bought will fail at one point. Failures happen most frequently when the networking software or data center hardware is updated causing incompatibility with existing optics. An ideal third party provider will be able to troubleshoot and replace the transceiver for you at a minimum time and cost.

Conclusion

Today, many users still feel strange and insecure to third party transceivers. This is because they don’t know the third party products very well. However, with the maturity of third party providers, choosing the third party transceivers will become the future trend.

Source:http://www.sfp-transceiver-modules.com/wiki/a/108/Reasons-for-Choosing-Third-Party-Transceivers

Choose the Right Patch Cable for Your Transceiver Module

To a large extent, a fluent data transmission relies on the seamless transition between patch cables and fiber optic transceivers. As high bandwidth gradually dominates the market, patch cables and transceivers become much more essential to data transmission, especially for data transmission between the switches and equipment. But when you try to find the right patch cable for your transceiver, you may feel dazzling about the great variety of products. Don’t worry, this article will help you find the quickest way to choose the suitable product. But first, let’s have a look at the basic knowledge about patch cables and transceiver modules.

Overview of Patch Cables and Transceiver Modules

A patch cable or patch cord is an electrical or optical cable used to connect one electronic or optical device to another for signal routing. It is composed of an electrical or optic cable terminated with connectors on the ends. Optical patch cables are now widely used in data centers for data transmission. They have different fiber connectors including LC, SC, ST, FC, MTRJ, E2000, MU, MPO/MTP, etc. As for fiber types, there are also single-mode patch cables and multimode patch cables. Single-mode patch cables can further be classified into OS1 and OS2. While the multimode can be further divided into OM1, OM2, OM3 and OM4.

Transceiver is a self-contained component that can both transmit and receive. It is often inserted in devices such as switches, routers or network interface cards which provide one or more transceiver module slot. Many transceivers types, such as SFP, X2, XENPAK, XFP, SFP+, QSFP+, CFP, etc. are used for various applications. The transceiver accepts digital signals from the Ethernet device and converts them to optical signals for transmission over the fiber.

Several Aspects to Consider

Transmission Media

Two kinds of transmission media can be found in the network. They are optic fiber cable and copper cable. Therefore, transceivers also have two types based on transmission media — copper based transceivers and fiber optic based transceivers. Copper based transceivers like 100BASE-T SFP, 1000BASE-T SFP are the commonly used types. They have a RJ45 interface to connect with the copper cables. Generally, cat 5, cat 6 and cat 7 cables attached with RJ45 connectors are typically linked to the copper based transceivers.

Compared with copper based transceivers, fiber optic transceivers support higher data rates for over 100 Gbps. The supported fiber patch cables are more complicated for selection. Usually single-mode and multimode fiber patch cables are used. But according to different transmission rates and transmission distance, further choices should be made.

Transmission Rate and Distance

It is known that data rate decreases as the transmission distance increases in fiber optic cables. Multimode fiber optic cables are often used for short distances due to the high cost of single-mode optical cables. But single-mode patch cables have better performance for different data rates in both long and short distances. Thus, if your transceiver supports high data rate over long distance, single-mode should be a better choice, and vice versa.

Transceiver Interface

Interfaces are also important to the selection of patch cables that match with transceivers. Optical transceivers usually use one port for transmitting and one port for receiving. Cables with duplex SC or LC connectors are typically employed to connect with this type of fiber optic transceivers. However, for BiDi transceivers only one port is used for both transmitting and receiving. Thus, simplex patch cables are used with BiDi transceivers.

Other high data rate transceivers like 40G/100GBASE QSFP+ often use MTP/MPO interfaces. They should be connected to the network with multi-fiber patch cords attached with MTP/MPO connectors. If these ports are used for 40 G to 10 G or 100 G to 10 G connections, fanout patch cables should be used.

Conclusion

Knowing the transmission media, transmission data rate and distance, transceiver interfaces can give you a general direction of which type of patch cables should be chosen. Only matched patch cables and transceiver modules can provide better performance.

Source:http://www.fiber-optical-networking.com/choose-right-patch-cable-transceiver-module.html

100G Optical Transceiver Solutions

Network has been rapidly developed over the years. People are always dreaming of entering into the world of higher bandwidth. And now the dream has come true since we already reach the 100 gigabit Ethernet (100 GbE) networking. This technology enables the transmission at rates of 100 gigabits per second (100 Gbit/s). The standard was first defined by the IEEE 802.3ba in 2010. To accommodate the trend, different types of 100G optical transceiver emerge as a reflection of the development. QSFP28 (quad small form-factor pluggable 28), CFP (centum form-factor pluggable) and CXP (centum extended-capability form-factor pluggable) are most commonly used optical transceiver solutions for 100G active equipment. Today, the article will mainly introduce these three solutions.

100G Transceiver Solutions

CFP

Specified by a multi-source agreement (MSA) between competing manufacturers, CFP was designed to replace many former transceivers like SFP+, SFP, XFP with a significantly larger support of 100 Gbps. The electrical connection of a CFP uses 10 x 10Gbps lanes in each direction (RX, TX). The optical connection can support both 10 x 10Gbps and 4 x 25Gbps variants. In addition, there are another two CFP next-generation 100G form factors — CFP2 and CFP4. Compared to the existing CFP, CFP2 and CFP4 are respectively double and quadruple front panel port density. All of them are now available on the market.

QSFP28

QSFP28 transceiver is designed for 100G Ethernet which uses the 4 x 25 wiring specification. It has the same size as 40G QSFP+ but with a higher performance. The 100G QSFP28 is implemented with four 25Gbps lanes. “28” stands for the highest possible rate of 4x28Gbps in transmission. Two basic versions of QSFP28 transceivers are 100GBASE-SR4 QSFP28 transceiver and 100GBASE-LR4 QSFP28 transceiver, which are respectively used for multimode fiber (MMF) and single-mode fiber (SMF) 100G applications. 100GBASE-SR4 QSFP28 operates at multimode fiber for a distance of 100 m. 100GBASE-LR4 QSFP28 can support a much longer distance of 10 km.

CXP

As a complement to CFP, CXP is also specified by MSA aiming at the clustering and high-speed computing markets. CXP has a higher density network interface with 45 mm in length and 27 mm in width, making it slightly larger than an XFP or 1/4 size of a CFP transceiver. It has a form-factor pluggable active device interface with 12 transmit and 12 receive lanes, capable of supporting bit-rates in excess of 10 Gbps per lane on a variety of optical transmission technologies.

Future Trend of Optical Transceivers in Data Centers

In the future, higher bit rates over 100G are the inevitable trend in data centers. The next data center developments will be following the 4x trend set by 40G and 100G, such as 200G, 400G, etc. Accordingly, optical transceivers should keep up with the steps and satisfy higher demands.

In 200G applications, next generation switching ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) are expected to have native port speeds of 50G and 128 ports, which correspond to a net throughput of 6.4 Tbps. This means that 200G QSFP modules (QSFP56, 4 x 50 Gbps) would result in a front panel bandwidth of 6.4 Tbps (32 x 200 Gbps).

For 400G applications, the module must accommodate either 16 x 25G or 8 x 50G electrical input lanes, which exceeds the 4 lanes defined for the QSFP. 400G transceivers will have larger size than QSFP. However, meeting the 3.5W power limit of QSFP modules appears infeasible for some 400G implementations. Thus, proposals for larger form factors for 400G can be anticipated from CFP MSA, which has had large success in 100G with CFP, CFP2, and CFP4. In this case, a key requirement will be that the size allows for at least 16 ports on the front panel in order to satisfy a net throughput of 6.4 Tbps (16 x 400 Gbps, and possibly more).

Conclusion

The market of 100G optical transceivers is accelerating. It is no doubt that more 100G transceivers and other assemblies will be deployed in data centers. QSFP28, CFP series and CXP are presently the most suitable solutions for 100G applications. Definitely one of them can solve your project needs.

Source:http://www.fiber-optical-networking.com/100g-optical-transceiver-solutions.html

Suggestions for Solving Unsupported Transceiver Errors

The unsupported transceiver errors may arise at any time of your work. Though this situation is the least you want to see during work, you must be enough prepared to solve issues in time. To deal with the errors is now an essential part to keep good running of devices. And different vendors will have tips to solve errors for their own products. But are there any suggestions for general issues? The answer is yes. This article will give some advice for how to deal with unsupported transceiver errors on ordinary occasions.

Suggestions

1)Check the error message first before actually deal with the problem. Different ways to address the errors are depending on the message you receive. Here is an example, when you receive this message, “3750e-sw1(config)#service unsupported-transceiver [1]”, the error may result from the false customer installation or a defective product. Thus, error message is a good source to decide your next step.

2)An uncertified transceiver will cause errors under most cases. When the third-party device does not come from a channel partner, problems may also arise. It is not that easy to address router issues if the transceivers is required to be made from the same manufacturer. But specialists may turn to hack codes to solve the problem.

3)Hidden commands of some devices may also cause errors. The message will go like “service unsupported transceiver”. But it allows other transceivers as an option for you to decide whether the transceiver should be replaced.

4)Before removing the transceiver to solve a third-party error, you can look up other options first. Because sometimes the third-party transceiver can provide significant savings for you. Perhaps one of the savings will help settle the problem.

About Third-Party Transceivers

Although you may encounter the unsupported errors when using the third-party transceiver, it still has some advantages. The major benefit is the cost which is much lower than the cost of original transceivers. Since the cost of transceiver takes a huge part of the entire system cost, reducing the investment on transceiver can greatly save expenses for better designs.

Also, the compatibility of third-party transceivers has been greatly increased thanks to the fully specified international standards. The risk of incompatibility is much lower, and there is no need to worry about buying a transceiver from formal vendors. For instance, FS.COM is one of the reliable manufacturers that provides cost-effective third-party transceivers, and all of the transceivers are 100% compatible to any named brands like Cisco, Juniper, Arista and so on.

Conclusion

Anyway, in order to avoid unsuspected transceiver errors, the fundamental aim is to make sure that the transceiver completely complies with IEEE and MSA standards. Understanding the hidden commands can also help you find out the source of error. So long as you follow the above suggestions, most of the problems can be solved in a short time. The purpose of dealing with the errors is all about getting good results, and your working efficiency will also be improved if there is no problem with the devices.

Article source: http://www.chinacablesbuy.com/suggestions-for-solving-unsupported-transceiver-errors.html.

Things You Should Know Before Transceiver Selection

Fiber optic transceiver is an indispensable component for fiber optical transmission. With the popularization of Ethernet networks, there is an increasing demand for transceiver modules in the market. However, when it comes to transceiver selection, you may be confused about whether you have chosen the matching transceiver. Don’t worry, this article will introduce some essential issues for you to consider before buying the product.

Transmission Distance

According to the length of transmission distance, transceivers are varied for either long range or short range. This leads to a decision between single-mode or multimode transceiver. Single-mode transceiver is used for long reach transmission and multimode transceiver for short reach. Typically, if the reach is under 1 km, multimode transceiver is more suitable for the application. And for longer distance, single-mode transceiver is the better choice.

Data Rate

In telecommunication, data signaling rate, also known as gross bit rate, is the aggregate rate at which data pass a point in the transmission path of a data transmission system. It is clear to see the transmission speed through data rate. Commonly used data rates are 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 10 Gbps, 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps. The choices for optical transceivers can range from the small form-factor pluggable (SFP) module at 1 Gbps up to the CFP transceiver at 100 Gbps.

Transmission Media

There are two types of transmission media for data communication. One is the copper and the other is optic fiber. Transceivers can used on different media due to different requirements. For instance, in the Gigabit Ethernet, 1000BASE-T SFP can operate on standard Category 5 copper wiring. And 1000BASE-LX can operate on single-mode or multimode fiber.

Compatibility

Although transceivers are designed by a multi-vendor consortium with open specifications, it is usually preferable to match your SFP to your switch vendor. Therefore, compatible transceivers are created to support products from different brands. Make sure you pick up the right transceiver that can link to your device, otherwise the transmission may be failed. By the way, you can buy these compatible transceivers from third party dealers with a relatively lower price. For example, FS.COM might be a good online shopping website where you can buy cost-effective compatible transceivers.

Cost

The cost limit will definitely affect the quality of transceiver you purchase. Typically, single-mode transceiver costs higher than the multimode. And transceivers with higher data rate cost much more than the low speed transceivers. Also, using fibers is more expensive than using coppers. But if your device doesn’t require much about the performance of transceivers, choosing a low-cost transceiver can save you a few bucks.

Conclusion

By considering different specifications of transceivers, such as distance, data rate, media, compatibility, cost, etc., choosing a suitable transceiver is really not an easy task. All the aspects much be properly evaluated to specify the right one for your project. But after your careful selection, I’m sure you will be satisfied with your transceiver.

The article originates from http://www.sfp-transceiver-modules.com/wiki/a/107/Things-You-Should-Know-Before-Transceiver-Selection.