Tip of the Week – 18 Feb 2013

Posted   Filed under Tip of the Week.

Tip of the Week: If you need to deploy a 40G link, you may want to consider 40G QSFP+ pluggable transceivers instead of SFPs or XFPs. Lets have a look at pricing these pluggables for a campus or metro deployment that is under 10km. The 40G QSFP+ pluggable complies with 40GBase-LR4 standard that is rated to 10km (6dB) over standard single mode fiber. SFP+ and XFP are also available for this distance and the below chart compares typical transceiver prices. For a 40G over metro/campus fiber link (2 fiber strands) distance of 10km (6 miles), estimated price for transceivers for both ends: Pluggable                 Price 2x QSFP+                 $8000 40GBase-LR4 8x SFP+                   $6500 (also requires two 4 channel CWDM mux) 8x XFP                     $8000 (also requires two 4 channel CWDM mux) As can be seen above the QSFP+ is likely a more cost effective and simpler solution than both SFP+ or XFP since the QSFP+ option does not require the addition of 4 channel multiplexers for the 2 fiber link. However the QSFP+ 40GBase-LR4 is only rated to 10km (can go further with optical amplifiers). For any longer distances or higher span loss, the XFP or SFP+ is the better/only choice. For intra office communication at 40G using multimode fiber, standard 40GBase-SR4 provides distances up to 150m (490ft). Estimated price for transceivers for both ends: Pluggable                 Price 2x QSFP+                 $1800 40GBase-SR4, 8 fiber strand OM4 cable with MTP/MPO connectors 8x SFP+                    $1300 Requires a 8 fiber strand OM3/4 breakout cable with LC connectors 8x XFP                      $1800 Requires a 8 fiber strand OM3/4 breakout cable with LC connectors As per above intra office multimode fiber link pricing, the price of two QSFP+ is more than eight SFP+. One should also note that for the QSFP+ a 8 fiber MM OM4 cable is required with MTP/MPO connectors which can be pricey but is a simpler solution and takes up less space in a switch than the SFPs. Notes:
  • The above pricing assumes a simple fiber link, and other fiber design factors can change prices substantially.
  • The above prices are only estimates and can vary greatly between suppliers.
  • The above does not included the cost of the proper Ethernet switches that are needed for each pluggable.
  • Fiber cable price is not included in these prices.
Also Note, our new website now has a Tips of the Week blog where I will be posting all tips and you can comment on them there or simply email me your comments or questions.  Older Tips will be posted eventually, when I get time.  Location is https://telecomengineering.com/category/tipoftheweek. Pertinent Products/Services: Looking for the right optical transceivers for your network? Gives me a call, we carry a variety of 100 Mbps to 40 Gbps transceivers including: 1310/1550 XFP, SFP, SFP+, QSFP+, GBIC, CFP, Zenpak Channel tunable DWDM XFP and SFP OTN FEC G.709 transceivers Long reach 10G transceivers with budgets of 28dB Tunable 3R transponders Compatible with most manufacturers equipment guaranteed.

To learn more about this topic and other fiber optic network topics, refer to my following books (publisher McGraw-Hill): “Planning Fiber Optic Networks“, ISBN 0-07-1499199 available from Amazon.com . “Fiber Optic Installer’s Field Manual”, ISBN 0-07-135604-5 available from Amazon.com.