Compatible Test of Cisco QSFP-40G-SR4 Optics

When purchasing the third party optics, customers usually suffer from the poor quality and compatibility issue, which is the major obstacle of OEM market. Just as a saying goes, what is good is not cheap. However, this article will prove that the cost-effective OEM optics from fiber-mart.COM are well worth the penny.

 

fiber-mart.COM, as a professional and reliable manufacturer and supplier of compatible optical transceiver, provides a series of self-developed products which can be highly compatible with many major brands, such as Cisco, HPE, Juniper, Brocade, Arista, etc. In this blog, we are going to present a compatibility testing of our hot-selling Cisco compatible QSFP-40G-SR4 optics on Cisco Nexus 9396PX.

 

Cisco QSFP-40G-SR4 Optics

 

Before we come to the major part, let’s have a brief overview of the 40G QSFP-40G-SR4 and the Cisco Nexus 9396PX switch. Cisco QSFP-40G-SR4 Compatible 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP+ transceiver is a short-range transceiver for 40 Gigabit Ethernet. It supports link lengths of 100m and 150m on laser-optimized OM3 and OM4 multimode fiber, respectively. Cisco QSFP-40G-SR4 enables high bandwidth 40G optical links over 12-fiber parallel fiber terminated with MPO/MTP multifiber connectors, which is also optimized to guarantee interoperability with any IEEE 40GBase-SR4 and 10GBase-SR.

 

Our Cisco compatible QSFP-40G-SR4 optics is fully tested with most Cisco platforms to ensure compatibility and compliance. Thus, it can be supported on a wide range of Cisco equipment, such as Cisco ASR 9000 series, Nexus 9000 series, Nexus 6000 series, and so on.

 

Cisco Nexus 9396PX Switch

 

Cisco Nexus 9396PX belongs to the Cisco Nexus 9000 series. It delivers a comprehensive line-rate layer 2 and layer 3 featuring in a two-rack-unit form factor. It can support 1/10/40 Gbps of switching capacity with forty-eight 1/10 Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ port and twelve 40 GE QSFP+ nonblocking ports. The main advantage of this switch is that you can reuse the existing 10 Gigabit Ethernet multimode cabling for 40 Gigabit Ethernet by connecting the 40Gb bidirectional transceiver. Figure 1 shows the Cisco Nexus 9396PX switch.

 

The Testing Procedure of the Cisco QSFP-40G-SR4 on Cisco Nexus 9396PX Switch

 

In fiber-mart.COM’s test center, we care of every detail from staff to facilities to ensure our customers to receive the optics with superior quality. Just take our hot-selling Cisco QSFP-40G-SR4 optics as an example, the procedure can be quite simple that can be concluded in three steps:

 

1. Plug the Cisco QSFP-40G-SR4 compatible QSFP+ into the 40-Gbps ports of the Nexus 9396PX

 

2. Plug the cleaned MTP patch cord into the optical ports of the transceivers

 

3. View the state of LED light and more information in the CLI.

 

Besides the above procedures, we also have a testing demo of QSFP-40G-SR4 Cisco compatible module testing on Nexus 9396PX.

 

Conclusion

 

At the end of the article, you must know the reason why fiber-mart.COM is the number one choice of compatible optical transceivers. Not only the Cisco QSFP-40G-SR4 optics, but other reliable compatible fiber optic transceivers from fiber-mart.COM are the best-seller products over the past years. If you are the major brand user like Cisco, HPE or Juniper, and want to cut down your budget this time, you might want to have a look at our cost-effective compatible fiber optic transceiver.

All You Need to Know About Polarity in an MPO System

by Fiber-MART.COM

A multi fiber connector is the backbone of 40/100 GbE.  They are called MPO technology; they have high density, top-notch flexibility, and advanced durability.  As such, they are an important aspect of fiber optics and the industry at large.  When designing a network, the polarity of an MPO system is how networkers determine if the signal of the fiber optic connection can be transmitted from each component, end-to-end.  So, how do they go about figuring this out?  Let’s explore the polarity in MPO systems, and how to understand them.

 

The Contents of an MPO Connector

 

MPO connectors are commonly made of 12 fiber strands.  And, when deployed, these fiber strands must match up in order to send a transmission at the correct polarity.  These polarity types, A, B, and C, allow each fiber to correctly communicate through transmit and receive files, labeled TR and RX respectively.  MPO connectors can also come with strand numbers of 24, 36 and 72.  The orientation of the connector also affects the polarity of the system.

 

 

 

Why Does Polarity Matter?

 

While polarity does not affect the ability of the system to actually function, it plays an important role in communication between fibers and cables.  There is no performance advantage to any kind of polarity.  So, you may be wondering why it matters at all.  The issue is that certain situations require a specific kind of polarity.  There are three methods used to connect these cables, called methods A, B, and C.  And, to match, there are three kinds of MPO trunk cables used for each method.  When used correctly, polarity in an MPO system can achieve faster transmission speeds in a fiber optic industry constantly searching for ways to increase productivity.

 

Learn more about fiber optics and MPO systems by following fiber-mart.com on our blog and social media!

 

fiber-mart.com is ready to work with you to customize your fiber optic network!

 

We focus on custom product manufacturing for fiber optic connectivity.  We will engineer solutions to any customer’s specs and needs, and we create end-to-end solutions so you won’t be left in the dark.  fiber-mart.com strives to provide our customers with the highest quality product above industry standards at a competitive cost.  

 

 

Do you need a custom fiber optic connectivity solution?  fiber-mart.com specializes in custom design solutions.  We work all over the world to provide solutions from our headquarters in Venice, Florida.  Our goal is to provide you with the perfect solutions, designs, and cabling.

The Advantage Of Media Converters

by Fiber-MART.COM

Media converters are a beneficial tool to have when assessing today’s networks. In the past (and somewhat still in the present), copper cabling was a dominant force in the technology field. At its core, a media converter is used to connect two devices that are not entirely relatable. The reason this type of product is important is due to the unique function it gives us. With a media converter, you have the ability to fiber systems with copper-based setups. This increases the overall functionality and usability for other products.

 

The Process Of Speed

With any product, the hope is that it will help you accomplish your tasks in the fastest manner possible. A fiber-based media converter can help you achieve that type of goal due to its versatility. By reducing any potential interference and increasing the distance, it can theoretically support an above average network speed. Not only do they take in a greater amount of speed, but media converters are able to give you more flexibility.

 

Expansion

When you employ this device, one of the things you’ll notice is how it expands the reach of the network. Considering the fact that a media converter is essentially two transceivers passing data back and forth to each other, it gives you stronger access and a smaller chance of losing any connection. The reason for this is due to how local area networks are brought together. When the reach of local area networks expand, it gives way to multiple LANs forming what is basically a conglomerate of a network.

 

Cost Effective

The beauty of media converters is that they can also save you money. One of the primary perks of fiber technology is that it has the ability to withstand high bandwidth features, like a streaming application. A media converter saves you money in terms of making the fiber to desktop process easy.

 

Learn more about fiber optics when you follow fiber-mart.com!

fiber-mart.com is ready to work with you to customize your fiber optic network!

 

We focus on custom product manufacturing for fiber optic connectivity.  We will engineer solutions to any customer’s specs and needs, and we create end-to-end solutions so you won’t be left in the dark.  fiber-mart.com strives to provide our customers with the highest quality product above industry standards at a competitive cost.

 

Do you need a custom fiber optic connectivity solution?  fiber-mart.com specializes in custom design solutions.  We work all over the world to provide solutions from our headquarters in Venice, Florida.  Our goal is to provide you with the perfect solutions, designs, and cabling.

Global Optical Transceiver Market: Striding to 200G and 400G

by Fiber-MART.COM

The demand for higher Ethernet speed, couple with the prevalence of Cloud computing, Internet of Things and virtual data center, has driven the prosperity of optical transceiver market. Optical transceivers, direct attach cables (DACs) and active optical cables (AOCs) have evolved dramatically to catch leading edge broadband network capacity. The past decades have witnessed massive adoption of optical transceivers with data rates ranging from 1G, 10/25G to 40/100G, while higher-speed 200G or even data center 400G is just on the horizon. The sales of optical components grows steadily and is expected to continue in the years to come.

 

10G, 25G, 40G and 100G: Seeing Broad Adoption in Data Center 

As network gets faster and virtualization gradually becomes the norm, data center is undergoing a major transformation. The trend emerges in the industry signifies a migration toward higher speed transceivers and better service. These high-bandwidth transceivers are driving revenue growth which suggests a strong market. The global optical transceiver market is anticipated to reach to $9.9 billion by 2020, driven by the widespread use of 10/25 Gbps, 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps, and with the biggest sales forecasted for 25G and 100G ports. The imminent 200 Gbps and 400 Gbps optical transceivers also poise to hold a fraction of the market share.

 

10G Transceiver: Moving to the Edge

Initially offered in the early 2000s, 10 Gigabit Ethernet has matured now to become a commonplace in data center. 10G server connections reached majority of new shipments and have outpaced 1G connection in 2015. Basically the 10G Ethernet is stacked to move to 40G and 100G at the access layer, following the upgrade path of 10G-40G-100G, which, however, will quadruple the cabling complexity, power consumption and overall cost. And this will be exacerbated when aggregating into 100G (10×10G) interface.

 

25G Transceiver: Pave the Road for 100G

So there comes the game changer: 25G Ethernet for better economics and efficiency. 25 Gigabit Ethernet makes the road to 100G smoother with reduced cost, lower power consumption and less cabling complexity. SFP28 optical transceiver is designed for use in 25G Ethernet, delivering 2.5 times higher speed per lane at lower power. 25G SFP28 can be viewed as the enhanced version of 10G SFP+ transceiver, utilizing the same form factor but running at 25 Gb/s instead of 10 Gb/s. Besides, SFP28 25G is back compatible with SFP+ so it will work sufficiently on SFP+ ports. By the year of 2019, the price of a 25G SFP28 will be almost the same as a 10G SFP+. So you will be saving a great bunch of money if choosing to move to 25G. Some users even plan to skip 10G and directly deploy 25G Ethernet for better scaling to 50G and 100G.

 

40G Transceiver: Affordable for Mass Deployment

Obviously, 10GbE is no longer fast enough for data centers handling large-scale applications, so 40G is designed to alleviate bottlenecks in the access layer . When firstly planning to scale to 40G, the cost is extremely high that makes the implement of 40G technology difficult. Luckily, we’ve seen significant cost reduction of 40G optics in the past 2 years: QSFP-40G-SR offered by fiber-mart.COM is $49 only. The price drop accelerates 40G transceivers adoption in aggregation links, or in access links to connect servers. For scaling to“spine-leaf” architecture, 40G switches can be used as spine switch with the 40G QSFP+ ports breaking out into 4 10G SFP+ ports to support 10G server uplinks. 40G port revenue has peaked in 2016 and will now decline in favor of 25G and 50G ports.

 

100G Transceiver: Ramping up in Data Center

Currently 100G are the fastest Ethernet connections in broad adoption, which is growing sustainably. And the optical transceiver market indicates that 100G QSFP28 module price will continue to drop, making the cost difference between 40G and 100G even small. For example, fiber-mart.COM offers great cost reduction on 100G transceivers: only $199 for QSFP28 100G-SR. Moreover, 100G switch port shipments will outnumber 40G switch port shipments in 2018—as 25G server and 100G switch became commonplace in most hyperscale data centers that replaces previous 10G servers and 40G switches. Vendors of 100G QSFP28 transceiver will continue to grow the product and push the limits of its versatility.

 

200G and 400G – New Connection Speed Hits Data Center

Another foreseeable trend in interconnect market is the phase out of low speed transceivers in the core of networks and in data centers. So here comes the major shift from 10G and under to 40/100G and higher. New developments with QSFP28 technology in 2018 also will pave the way for the 200G and 400G QSFP-DD: next-generation 200G and data center 400G Ethernet will deploy starting in 2018, and become mainstream by 2019-2020. On the whole, optical transceiver market is evolving to higher speed, more reduced power consumption and smaller form factor. Let’s take a look at these future-proofing optical transceivers.

 

DAC and AOC: Lower Cost Stimulate Popularity

DACs (direct attach copper cables) and AOCs (active optical cable), with their inherent advantage of enhanced signal integrity and superior flexibility, have become the preferred, cost-effective interconnect for high-speed links at 10G, 25G, 40G and 100G for about all applications in hyperscale and enterprises, and is likely to be used for 200G and 400G as well. DAC and AOC provide improved speed and cost efficiency, they are witnessing tremendous growth in data interconnect market. 2017 has witnessed shipment over 100k direct attach copper cables for 100Gb/s networks in hyperscale data centers, and this is anticipated to continue in 2018. While the global market for AOC is projected to surpass $2 billion by 2020, the sales will keep surging in the years to come.

 

Conclusion

Data demand will continue to skyrocket. As the vast increases in Internet traffic are pushing optical transceiver market to shift, we can still expect deployment of 10/25/40/100 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) optics in mega data centers to spur market growth in 2018. While the lower-cost and power-efficient DACs and AOCs are yielding significant growth in short-distance high speed interconnect. So just stay tuned and embrace the significant opportunities lie ahead for optical transceiver market.

40CH DWDM Mux Insertion Loss Testing

by Fiber-MART.COM

DWDM, which can add great capacity of bandwidth for long haul backbone data center by multiplexing different wavelengths into one fiber, is one of the dominant technology used in various applications. When purchasing a DWDM Mux Demux, one of the vital parameters that need to be considered is the insertion loss. Higher insertion loss means more investment in DWDM network deployment. This post focuses on the insertion loss testing of 40CH DWDM Mux to offer some help for your DWDM Mux Demux purchase.

 

Understand DWDM Mux Insertion Loss

As its name shows, insertion loss is the total optical power loss (often measured by dB) caused by the insertion of an optical component. Any component in a fiber optic interconnection will introduce loss definitely. For example, insertion loss of a connector or splice is the difference in power that we can see when inserting the component into the system. The insertion loss is affected by the fiber core meter on the transmit and receive end, as well as the receive conditions in two joint fibers.

 

In a completed network, the total loss comes not only from the optical connectors, but also from optical cables and the diverse ports of optical components inserted. As we all know, there are several types port on 40CH DWDM Mux Demux: line port, channel port and monitor port, some Muxes may have other function ports like 1310nm port, 1510nm port and expansion port. No matter which type of ports is connected to a DWDM system, some insertion loss occurs. Therefore, in order to ensure good performance of a whole DWDM optical link, a high quality DWDM Mux Demux should have a reasonable insertion loss value.

 

Insertion Loss Comparison in Different Vendors

If you are familiar with DWDM Mux Demux, you may know how great impact the insertion loss of them has on the whole network links. The higher the DWDM channel insertion loss is, the more cost may be needed, for optical amplifiers are required to keep a balance signal power in the link. And there are many vendors and suppliers of 40CH DWDM Mux in the market. Here is a graph showing the maximum insertion loss value of 40CH DWDM Mux of different vendors.

 

In a DWDM networks, the budget loss mainly comes from optical fiber path loss, DWDM OADM and Mux/Demux. If the loss of them is high, the network deployment cost will get higher certainly. In this graph, the vertical axis stands for the max insertion loss, and the horizontal axis shows several DWDM Mux vendors or suppliers like Cisco, Finisar, MRV, fiber-mart.COM, etc. From this comparison, we can see all the max insertion loss of 40CH DWDM Mux are not very high. The max insertion loss of MRV is 7.5dB, Cisco is 6.5dB and Finisar is 5dB. But compared with these vendors or suppliers, fiber-mart.COM 40CH DWDM Mux has the lowest max insertion loss—4.5dB. Besides, the typical insertion loss of fiber-mart.COM 40CH DWDM Mux is only 3dB. All these indicate that fiber-mart.COM 40CH DWDM Mux is perfect for long haul DWDM transmission.

 

How to Do Insertion Loss Testing for 40CH DWDM Mux Demux

Since insertion loss has profound influence on the whole optical networks, knowing how to test the insertion loss of 40CH DWDM Mux Demux is important. And the testing can be finished with an optical power meter if no professional equipment is available. Here offers a video to illustrate the insertion loss testing of our 40CH DWDM Mux, which uses Cisco Catalyst 4948E switch and our Cisco C25 compatible 10G DWDM SFP+ and C60 DWDM SFP+ modules that support 80km as light sources. This testing just takes channel 25 port and channel 60 port as examples to explain the testing method.

 

Summary

High quality, low insertion loss 40CH DWDM Muxs can not only manage bandwidth and expand capacity of existing optical backbones, but also save cost in DWDM network design. fiber-mart.COM 40CH DWDM Mux is a high density, low insertion loss passive modules, providing an ideal solution for DWDM networks. Custom services are also available. If you are interested, welcome to visit our website www.fiber-mart.com or contact us via sales@fiber-mart.com for more detailed information.