Difference Between XFP &

SFP

What is XFP?
TheXFP(10 Gigabit Small Form Factor Pluggable) is
a standard for transceiversfor high-speedcomputer
networkandtelecommunication links that
useoptical fiber.
It

was defined by an industry group in 2002, along

with its interface to other electrical components
which is calledXFI.

Atransceiveris a device comprising both a

transmitter and areceiverwhich are combined
and share common circuitry or a single housing.

XFP Detail
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XFPmodules are hot-swappable and protocol-independent.

They typically operate at optical wavelengths (colors) of
850 nm, 1310 nm or 1550 nm.
Principal applications include 10 Gigabit Ethernet, 10
Gbit /s Fibre Channel, Synchronous optical networking
(SONET) at OC-192 rates, Synchronous optical networking
STM-64, 10 Gbit /s Optical Transport Network (OTN) OTU-2,
and parallel optics links.
They can operate over a single wavelength or use dense
wavelength-division multiplexing techniques.
They include digital diagnostics that provide management
that were added to the SFF-8472 standard.
XFP modules use an LC fiber connector type to achieve
high density.

What is SFP?
Thesmall form-factor pluggable(SFP) is a
compact,hot-pluggabletransceiverused for
both telecommunicationanddata
communications applications.
It interfaces a network devicemother board(for
aswitch,router,media converteror similar
device) to afiber opticor coppernetworking
cable. It is a popular industry format jointly
developed and supported by many network
component vendors.

SFP Detail
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SFPtransceivers are expected to perform at data

speeds of up to five gigabits per second (5 Gbps),
and possibly higher.
Because SFP modules can be easily interchanged,
electro-optical or fiber optic networks can be
upgraded and maintained more conveniently than
has been the case with traditional soldered-in
modules.
Rather than replacing an entire circuit board
containing several soldered-in modules, a single
module can be removed and replaced for repair or
upgrading. This can result in a substantial cost
savings, both in maintenance and in upgrading
efforts.

Count
SFP transceivers are designed to support
SONET, Gigabit Ethernet,Fibre Channel,
and other communications standards.
Due to its smaller size, SFP obsoletes the
formerly ubiquitousgigabit interface
converter(GBIC); the SFP is sometimes
referred to as aMini-GBICalthough no
device with this name has ever been defined
in the MSAs.

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