Introduction to the types of 10G SFP+ optical transciever modules

[Daniel_X-krama]

As is well known, SFP+ optical transceiver modules are widely used in 10G Ethernet due to their advantages of small size, low cost, and high density. They are currently the most common 10G optical modules in data centers and enterprise campuses. Now, let's take a look at the types of 10G SFP+ optical modules and what are their differences.

The 10G SFP+ series optical modules include SR, LRM, LR, ER, ZR, BIDI, CWDM, DWDM, and 10G electrical port modules. Their interface types are all LC duplex, and they comply with IEEE802.3ae, SFF-8472, and SFF-8431 standards. Here are the specific details of these optical modules:


1.   10G SFP+ SR Optical Transceiver Module

10GBase-SR is one of the Ethernet specifications, and the 10G SFP+ SR optical module complies with this standard. "SR" in the module's name stands for Short Range, meaning it can transmit distances of up to 300m when used with multimode fiber. Additionally, the 10G SFP+ SR optical module has a wavelength of 850nm and offers advantages such as low cost, low power consumption, small form factor, and high density.


2.   10G SFP+ LRM Optical Transceiver Module

The 10G SFP+ LRM optical module complies with the 10GBase-LRM Ethernet standard, where "LRM" stands for Long Reach Multimode. It can be used with OM1, OM2, and OM3 multimode fiber and is primarily used in FDDI networks and 10G data communication. It also fully complies with MSA SFF-8431 standards, offering low power consumption and excellent EMI performance. An upgraded version of the 10G SFP+ LRM optical module is the SFP-10G-LRM2, with a transmission distance of up to 2km, commonly used in local area network connections.


3.   10G SFP+ LR Optical Transceiver Module

The 10G SFP+ LR optical module complies with the 10GBase-LR Ethernet standard, with "LR" standing for Long Range. It can transmit up to 10km (and even up to 25km in some cases) over single-mode fiber, offering advantages such as compact size, low power consumption, and long transmission distance.


4.   10G SFP+ ER Optical Transceiver Module
The 10G SFP+ ER optical module complies with the 10GBase-ER Ethernet standard, with "ER" standing for Extended Range. It operates at a wavelength of 1550nm and can transmit distances of up to 40km when used with single-mode fiber. It is a cost-effective option for long-distance applications and is highly favored in data centers and enterprise campuses.


5.   10G SFP+ ZR Optical Transceiver Module

The 10G SFP+ ZR optical module complies with the 10GBase-ZR Ethernet standard, which is a Cisco proprietary specification. "ZR" in the module's name stands for Ze best Range, indicating that it has an extremely long transmission distance, up to 80km when used with single-mode fiber. Therefore, this optical module finds wide-ranging applications.


6.   10G SFP+ BIDI Optical Transceiver Module

BIDI optical modules are single-fiber bidirectional optical modules available in both SFP and SFP+ form factors. The key difference is that BIDI SFP+ modules have a rate of 10G, while BIDI SFP modules support either 100M or 1G rates. BIDI SFP+ modules use WDM technology and have two fiber connectors, requiring the use of pairs to ensure proper operation. However, these modules have the benefit of reducing the amount of fiber used in network deployment, significantly lowering deployment costs.


7.   10G SFP+ CWDM Optical Transceiver Module

The 10G SFP+ CWDM optical module is a coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) optical module typically used with single-mode fiber. These modules save fiber resources by using CWDM technology, significantly enhancing network flexibility, economy, and reliability. Additionally, they have very low power consumption, approximately 12.5% of the power consumption of 10G SFP+ DWDM optical modules.


8.   10G SFP+ DWDM Optical Transceiver Module

The 10G SFP+ DWDM optical module is a high-speed, high-capacity dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) optical module, typically used with single-mode fiber. It can transmit distances of up to 80km and is suitable for long-distance data transmission. These modules can meet the demands of ultra-high capacity and long-distance transmission, providing stable support for multi-service operations and future network upgrades and expansion. They also support various networking modes, including wavelength scheduling between nodes, and offer advantages such as easy capacity expansion, flexible service access, high bandwidth utilization, and high reliability.


9.   10G Electrical Port Transceiver Module

The 10G electrical port module is an optoelectronic conversion module with an SFP+ form factor, featuring an RJ45 interface. It is typically used with Category 6 or 7 network patch cables. These modules do not support DOM (Digital Optical Monitoring) functionality and have a transmission distance of 30m, making their application less widespread due to the limited range.