Do you konw the classification of Optical Transceiver Modules ?

[Daniel_X-krama]

Due to its advantages such as high transmission quality, small size, and light weight, optical fiber communication has completely replaced cable communication. Optical transcriver modules, as an essential component of optical fiber communication, play a crucial role in converting electro-optical signals, transforming the electrical signals of network equipment into optical signals, thus allowing data to be transmitted through Optical fibers. In the following, X-krama will introduce the classification of optical transceiver modules.

Nowadays, optical transceiver modules can be categorized into several main types:



1. Fiber Channel (FC) Optical Transceiver Modules

Fiber Channel (FC) is a high-speed network data transmission protocol that can transmit raw data in an orderly and lossless manner. It is mainly used for data transmission in data centers, computer servers, switches, and storage networks.

Fiber Channel (FC) optical transceiver modules follow the FC protocol and serve as interfaces between optical fiber channel systems and as interfaces between optical storage network devices. They are primarily used in optical fiber channel storage network links in data centers. FC optical modules are characterized by their small size and low power consumption, meeting the demands for fast and lossless transmission of a large amount of information. FC optical modules typically operate at optical fiber channel speeds of 1Gbps to 128Gbps (1Gbps / 2Gbps / 4Gbps / 8Gbps / 16Gbps / 32Gbps / 128Gbps) and are expected to reach 256Gbps and 512Gbps. Common form factors include SFP, SFP+, SFP28, SFP56, and QSFP28.

Storage Area Networks (SAN) are isolated from the external environment, reducing the risk of storage network attacks and data leakage. Therefore, using FC optical modules in storage networks is considered a more secure choice.



2. Dual-Fiber Optical Transceiver Modules

Dual-fiber optical modules are currently available in various transmission rates, such as 1.25Gbps, 10Gbps, 25Gbps,  40Gbps,  56Gbps, 100Gbps, and 400Gbps. Depending on the type of optical fiber used for transmission, they can be divided into multi-mode optical modules and single-mode optical modules. Multi-mode optical modules have shorter transmission distances, with a primary wavelength of 850nm, and they are typically used with multi-mode fiber (OM1 / OM2 / OM3 / OM4 / OM5). The interface types for multi-mode optical modules are LC and MPO. Single-mode optical modules are used for longer-distance transmission, with primary wavelengths of 1310nm, 1490nm, and 1550nm, and they are typically used with single-mode fiber OS2. The main interface types for single-mode optical modules are LC and SC.

Common packaging types for dual-fiber optical modules include SFP for 1.25G, SFP+ for 10G (transmission up to 100km), XFP for 10G (transmission up to 100km), SFP28 for 25G (transmission up to 40km), QSFP+ for 40G (transmission up to 40km), and QSFP28 for 100G (transmission up to 40km).



3. Bidirectional single-fiber (BIDI) Optical Transceiver Modules

BIDI optical transceiver modules are available in various transmission rates, such as 1.25Gbps, 10Gbps, 25Gbps, and 40Gbps. For example, a 1.25G SFP BIDI optical module can transmit up to 160km, a 10G SFP+ BIDI optical module can transmit up to 80km, a 10G XFP BIDI single fiber optical module can transmit up to 100km, a 25G SFP28 BIDI optical module can transmit up to 40km, and a 40G QSFP+ BIDI optical module can transmit up to 150m.



4. CWDM (Coarse Wave Division Multiplexing) Optical Transceiver Modules

CWDM optical transceiver modules have a center wavelength range of 1270nm to 1610nm with 20nm spacing between channels. There are 18 channels to choose from, typically in the 1470-1610nm range. Common transmission distances are 40KM, 80KM, and 120KM. CWDM optical modules support various transmission rates, including 155M CWDM,  1.25G CWDM,  2.5G CWDM and 10G CWDM, corresponding to SFP, SFP+, and XFP form factors.



5. DWDM (Dense Wave Division Multiplexing) Optical Transceiver Modules

DWDM optical transceiver modules operate in the C-band (C17-C61 channels) with wavelengths between 1563.86nm and 1528.77nm, 0.8nm channel spacing, and 45 channels to choose from. Common transmission distances are 40KM and 80KM. DWDM optical modules support various transmission rates, including 155M DWDM SFP,  1.25G DWDM,  2.5G DWDM and 10G DWDM corresponding to SFP, SFP+, and XFP form factors.

[deanwebb]

Removed the advertising links. Also a caution that X-krama is potentially a Section 508-listed corporation and that its products may be prohibited for use in US Government facilities, including any state/local facilities that are subject to Section 508 regulations.

Otherwise, once the links are stripped, it's a nice little essay on the topic, so I'm OK with allowing the sig block to remain as is, with the disclaimer I've made about Section 508.