Buying SFP transceivers requires knowledge about the product. Organizations, therefore, have IT departments where qualified professionals work and take care of all the procurement as well as processing needs of its IT infrastructure. These professionals make a check-list before making purchase. This list outlines the needs of the SFP transceiver, its utility in the organization environment and also, how it is going to bring more functionality to the overall IT design. But, when a professional help is not around, you may be required to know the components better so that you get the best part for the intended job. So, let’s take a look at the most important questions one need to ask to accomplish the purchase of SFP transceivers.
Compatibility matrix
SFP transceivers are interconnection solutions that connect an SFP port of a switch, router or any device to fiber optic network. The biggest challenge that lies in buying SFP transceivers is getting original component. The price of the original optical transceivers may be quite high and may fall out of the buyer’s budget range. So, the very first question to ask a seller of SFP transceiver is about its compatibility. How compatible the transceiver is with various OEM products can help you find an affordable alternative in case of emergency.
Industry approved OEMs like Cozlink and others make Cisco compatible SFP transceivers and offer quality solutions for accomplishing the networking aims. These OEMs provide custom labeling options so that the customer can customize it and use it for branding purposes too.
Compliance and Quality checks
Industry approved standards compliance is another feature that one should know about the fiber transceiver. Manufacturers of SFP transceivers should invariably follow the industry set standards of safety and quality. RoHS approved SFP means the component is tested for being environment-safe. The optical transceivers are expected to be Class 1 laser safe products so that these do not harm the eyes while installation/removal. These transceivers should have negligible insertion and return loss so that the signal sent across the part is of ultimate quality. MSA, IEC, ISO etc are some of the prevalent industry standards that a transceiver must comply to. While making a purchase, it is advisable to ask the seller about the compliance and regulations followed.
If the SFP transceiver is too inferior in quality, it is likely to fail in terms of performance delivery. It may consume power more than required and may also generate heat in larger amounts, thereby, posing a threat to the functioning of the intended equipment. Thus, compliance with energy standards can avert any unwanted events of break-down, a situation which may cost humongous, especially in the data communications industry.
Performance parameters
SFP modules are designed to deliver data connectivity over optical fiber connections. The data range may vary from a few meters to many kilometers. To distinguish the SFP transceiver from one another, these are classified according to Ethernet cabling standards. The Ethernet optical transceiver can be carrying terms like 10GBASE-SR, 10GBASE-LR etc. Such terms indicate the data transfer speed that the transceiver may be able to pull off. So, if you are using a 1000BASE-SR SFP module to achieve a 10Gbps speed, it certainly would prove to be a sham and the whole purchase process would yield nothing.
Storage and working conditions
Mostly, SFP transceivers are operational at commercial temperature range of 0 to 70 degree Celsius. There are certain storage conditions that one must follow to ensure the longevity of the component. For example, the transceiver module must be packed in a dirt-free, moisture-resistant air-sealed pack else it may get contaminated by these environmental factors causing poor quality of signal. The buyer must ask for the installation and removal procedures and also should pay attention to the storage requirements so that he can maximize the benefits of the purchase.
This is how the SFP transceivers are stored when packed or are unused:
Areas of application
An SFP transceiver buyer must procure the information about their application areas. Some transceiver modules are designed for short range connectivity while others fulfill the connectivity criteria spanning over a long distance. Also, there are certain application protocols such as Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and SDH/SONET etc that need compatible transceivers to deliver the intended purpose. Users may also need to know about the connections such as:
- Intra-rack
- Inter-rack
- Inter-branch
- In-premise
- Inter-location, etc
This may help them select the transceiver that suits the purpose perfectly. The hot-swappable nature of SFP transceivers allows the users to upgrade the network using better alternative without putting the system on hold. Thus, whenever there is call for populating the network, or upgrading it to better speed, the user may take advantage of hot-pluggable nature and accomplish the process in the least possible efforts.
Guidelines for Handling SFPs
If you choose to handle SFP on your own, you must acquaint yourself with the guidelines. These entail the following points:
- Wear a chassis-linked ESD secured wrist strap to avoid ESD damage.
- The SFP modules may deliver poor performance when exposed to dust. Thus, the devices should be installed in such as way that plugs are housed safely in the optical chambers.
- Plug-and-play is the feature provided only for easy installation. The user must avoid frequent insertion and removal of SFP module else the component may deliver shorter shelf-life.
Thus, the more informed you are about the product, easier it is for you to handle it. Make a list of things you need to know before you set yourself to purchase SFP transceiver, and save on the procurement cost. All information about SFP modules can also be found at www.cozlink.com.