How to Choose SFP Transceiver Modules for UniFi US-8-150W Switch?

Ubiquiti Networks Unifi switch is part of the UniFi line of products that delivers robust performance and intelligent switching for the growing networks. Many customers nowadays hold great feedback about the cost-effective UniFi switches. US-8-150W, as one of the most popular UniFi switches, offers eight Gigabit RJ45 ports and 2 SFP ports that can support up to 1Gbps. So, how to choose the suitable optics for UniFi US-8-150W switch? This article will provide detailed information about this UniFi switch and the appropriate SFP modules for US-8-150W switch (seen in the below image).

Understanding UniFi US-8-150W Switches

Ubiquiti Networks UniFi switches can be divided into two types: managed Gigabit switches and managed PoE+ Gigabit Switches. In short, POE switches and non-POE switches. Each UniFi switch type is fully managed Gigabit switches with RJ45 and SFP+/SFP ports, offering non-blocking throughout switching performance.

US-8-150W UniFi switch features 8 RJ45 ports and 2 SFP ports which offer convenient different power output options, auto-sensing IEEE 802.3af/at POE/POE + performance. It is a bit larger than a standard home switch. So, would-be buyers who are looking to rack mount need to buy a extra shelf and stick it there. The table below provides the clearer information about this switch.

Note that US-8-150W is only US $199.

How to Select SFP Modules for UniFi US-8-150W Switches?

According to Ubiquiti Networks, both their original and third party SFP transceiver modules from other vendors can be used on UniFi switches.

Ubiquiti Networks UF-MM-1G & UF-SM-1G-S

Ubiquiti Networks only offer two type of SFPs—UF-MM-1G and UF-SM-1G-S. UF-MM-1G SFP module supports a data rate of 1.25 Gbps over multimode fibers. It uses the 850nm as the Tx and Rx wavelength with a supporting distance of 550m.

UF-SM-1G-S is a single-mode SFP available in both blue (1310nm) and yellow (1550nm) color code. Unlike the 1000BASE-LX SFP optics with LC single-mode fibers that can operate up to 5 km, UF-SM-1G-S only supports a link limit of 3 km.

Figure 3 presents all the existing fiber optic transceivers (SFP and SFP+) from Ubiquiti Networks. UF-SM-1G-S is in the middle of the image.

3rd Party SFPs for US-8-150W Switch

Besides the above two SFP types, there are several more Gigabit Ethernet standards for SFP transceiver modules—1000BASE-T, 1000BASE-SX, 1000Base-LX/LH, 1000BASE-ZX, 1000BASE-BX-D, 1000BASE-BX-U and 1000BASE-EX, which are compatible with the UniFi switches. According to the Ubiquiti Networks, Fiberstore (FS.COM) SFPs are tested to be fully compliant with UniFi switches. For more information about these compatible SFPs, please check on the following list.

From the table, we know that several Cisco SFP modules and HPE SFP transceivers are working on the UniFi Switches. In our test center, we have tested the GLC-T compatibility and Cisco GLC-SX-MM compatible issues.

More Information About UniFi Switches

Besides the hot selling US-8-150W switches, there are a series of UniFi switches such as US-8-60W, US-16-XG, US-48, US-8, US-24, US-48-750W, US-48-500W, US-24-250W, US-24-500W. Whether you use which one, FS.COM SFPs in the above table are tested to be fully compatible with UniFi switches. For such a low price of the 3rd party SFP transceiver modules, it is advisable for you to purchase more optics for backup.

Summary

The UniFi US-8-150W switches are designed to be part of the complete line of small business or home networking and wireless communication products that work together as part of proven, fully integrated, easy-to-use small business solution. UniFi switches support several types of Gigabit Ethernet SFP optical transceivers. All these high-quality fiber optic transceivers can be found on FS.COM for great prices. We also make sure to provide its customers same day shipping. Some of the items can be directly shipped from Seattle warehouse.

C3KX-NM-10G Network Module Overview

Questions like whether a 1G SFP can be used on the SFP+ port of the switch and support 10G data rate are frequently asked by overall users. Generally, you will get the answer “no”. Because Most (95+%) SFPs and SFP+s will only run at the rated speed, no more, no less. Even though SFP and SFP+ have the same port size, it doesn’t mean that you can insert a SFP in a SFP+ port to achieve a 10G connectivity. Not to mention that some SFP+ port can only support 10G SFP+ optics. However, this article will introduce a Cisco Network module in Cisco Catalyst 3750-X and 3650-X Series switches that can both support 1 GbE SFP and 10 GbE SFP+ transceivers.

C3KX-NM-10G Network Module

The Cisco Catalyst 3750-X and 3560-X series switches support four optional network modules for uplink ports, namely C3KX-NM-1G (four GbE port network module), C3KX-NM-10G (two 10GbE SFP+ ports network module with four physical ports with two SFP+ and two regular SFP ports), C3KX-NM-10GT (two 10GB-T ports network module), C3KX-SM-10G (service module with two 10GbE SFP+ ports network module for Netflow and MACsec encryption). C3KX-NM-10G module on the Cisco Catalyst 3750-X and 3560-X has two installation screws on each side, which make it easy to switch things out and make new connection without a fuss. What’s more, when business demands changes, the C3KX-NM-10G network module allows customers to only upgrade their modules from 1 GbE to 10 GbE without replacing a comprehensive upgrade of switch.

As the above image shows, the C3KX-NM-10G network module has four slots—two SFP+ slots and two SFP slots. These four slots usually work in pair, with one pair supporting 1 GbE data rate and the other achieving 10 GbE. Note that you must use the same form factor transceiver in a pair and never mix the SFP module with SFP+ module. SFP+ can’t auto-negotiate down to 1G to support with SFP module.

To put it simply, let’s name the port from left to right as slot 1, slot 2, slot 3, slot 4. Usually a 10-Gigabit SFP+ module takes precedence over a 1-Gigabit SFP module. But it’s another case when an SFP module is first inserted in Slot 1 and has link. For example, if the SFP in Slot 1 retains link, you insert an SFP+ module in Slot 2 and it will not operate. If the SFP module in Slot 1 is shut down or removed, the SFP+ module in Slot 2 turns on. The SFP module in Slot 1 does not work as long as an SFP+ module is in Slot 2. The following chart concludes the accessible combination of SFP and SFP+ modules.

Suitable Cisco Transceivers for C3KX-NM-10G Network Module

As note before, C3KX-NM-10G module on the Cisco Catalyst 3750-X or 3560-X series switch can both support 1 Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet data links. We will list the available Cisco modules attached with detailed information in the below charts.

Cisco SFP transceiver for C3KX-NM-10G module:

Cisco SFP+ transceiver for C3KX-NM-10G module:

There are many other compliant Cisco SFP+ DAC and AOC cables that I haven’t listed above, if you are interested, you can visit fs.com.

Conclusion

This post lists all of the functions of the Cisco C3KX-NM-10G network module, all the basic and advanced features and tells you how to select the compliant Cisco SFP modules and SFP+ modules. If you want to expand your database from 1GbE to 10GbE, with the Cisco C3KX-NM-10G network module, you only need to upgrade your Cisco SFP and plug it with a brand new SFP+ transceiver, then that’s it.

Is the GLC-SX-MMD Transceiver Right for Your Network?

Growing businesses typically requires higher-bandwidth networks. It is an unavoidable trend. The old-decade technology like Base-T Ethernet works just fine for small office, but it isn’t sufficient to handle heavier network. Thus if you are in the situation to consider purchasing a large property, or opening up a second office, it is time for you to think about upgrading to Gigabit Ethernet, which moves at ten times the speed of traditional Ethernet. However, there are a number of issues involved in a major network infrastructure transition.

When planning a move to gigabit Ethernet, one of the most urgent concerns is how much new hardware designers have to purchase. The basic components like fiber optic cable and optical transceiver modules are indispensable. These inexpensive Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) slots allow transceivers like the GLC-SX-MMD to be plugged in and provide instant gigabit Ethernet connectivity. The Cisco standard SFP transceiver allows data rate of 1000Mbps with DOM support. The max transmission distance is 550m over OM2 multimode fiber. So here comes the question, is the GLC-SX-MMD transceiver (see in Figure 1) right for your network?

Fiber Optic Gigabit Ethernet vs Twisted Copper

As noted before, GLC-SX-MMD transceiver operates over multimode fiber at rate of up to 1000Mbps. Using copper-wire cabling or fiber optic cabling like above is the unsolved dilemma when contemplating a network. It is the common sense that fiber optic cabling is more expensive than twisted copper cabling, but fiber optic provides several advantages over copper with the same gigabit speeds.

First, fiber optic supports longer link distance than twisted copper. For instance, copper can only run for around 100 meters, whereas fiber can go between 200 and 500 feet, or more, without signal loss. Fiber has given off no radio interference, allowing it to coexist more easily in an office with a lot of wireless devices. Because of the lack of interference, fiber is also harder to hack into than copper. What’s more, for future proofing, moving away from copper is probably a good idea, as the fiber optics are growing steadily in popularity among businesses which have taken over large twisted-copper office buildings, created expansive complexes, or need to collaborate with remote offices in real time. Figure 2 shows a standard GLC-SX-MMD transceiver links fiber optic Ethernet with Cisco Switch.

Using a GLC-SX-MMD for Fiber Optic Gigabit Ethernet

GLC-SX-MMD, as a representative of the standard Cisco SFP, is widely utilized for short-reach Gigabit Ethernet. As we know, the biggest advantage of Cisco's SFP system is that it's entirely hot-swappable. It doesn't matter what the device is, from servers to your switch to simple Ethernet cards: If it has an SFP port on it, it can support a multitude of transceivers for different functions, through one standardized interface. In fact, that standardization means that third parties can produce transceivers which are as good as official Cisco units.

Cisco even maintains a Compatibility Matrix, to help you pick the right transceiver for the job. So, if you decide that fiber optic gigabit Ethernet is what you need for your future business communications, the GLC-SX-MMD transceiver is truly simple to install and use. Simply plug it into your switch or other device, plug in the new network cable, and it should recognize the network in a few moments.

Conclusion

For those who still use copper network or lower-bandwidth application, it’s time for them to think about upgrading their infrastructure. And there are several different gigabit Ethernet standards out there, you can see which best fits your vision for the future of your business. Just keep in mind that you will need an optical transceiver like the GLC-SX-MMD to connect your existing devices to the new network. Fiberstore manufactures high-quality fiber optical transceivers, like 100BASE SFP, 1000BASE SFP, BiDi SFP, CWDM/DWDM SFP Transceiver Module and SONET/SDH SFP, besides Compatible GLC-SX-MMD transceiver with lower price. GLC-SX-MM-RGD and GLC-SX-MM are also offered. If you have any requirement of our products, please contact us directly.

Why Needs Cisco GLC-LH-SM Transceiver

Fiber optic technology has proven itself as an indispensable component for network backbone and other high-demand applications as it generally offers greater bandwidth than traditional copper cable. However, fiber optic cables are made of a specialized glass-like material that costs more to manufacture than traditional copper networking cables. Additionally, the interfaces on either end of the cable have often been required to be highly complex transceivers that required a large amount of intricate configuration to perform optimally. That’s the main obstacle that has remained to widespread adoption of fiber optic networking.

But recently, as technology has improved, the price of fiber optic media has fallen to the degree, thus with its obvious advantages over copper cable, fiber optic cable are feasible and affordable for networking applications. As for the optical interfaces, with Cisco GLC-LH-SM fiber optic transceivers, those obstacles are a thing of the past. Here explains why the GLC-LH-SM transceiver makes fiber optic networking possible.

Brief Overview of Cisco GLC-LH-SM

Cisco GLC-LH-SM is a 1000BASE-LX/LH SFP for both multimode and single-mode fibers. The 1000BASE-LX/LH SFP, compatible with the IEEE 802.3z 1000BASE-LX standard, operates on standard single-mode fiber-optic link spans of up to 10 km and up to 550 m on any multimode fibers. So now let’s move on the next part. Figure 1 shows a Cisco GLC-LH-SM transceiver module.

Every Network needs Cisco GLC-LH-SM

One thing that makes optical transceivers so special is that they are hot swappable—a huge development in fiber optic technology. In the past, if designers had to repair a transceiver failure, he would redesign the whole system, which meant a lengthy amount of network downtime. But with Cisco GLC-LH-SM, the whole process will be quite easy. You can leave the power on, remove the device, pop in the replacement, then you network is back off to races as shown in Figure 2.

It is necessary to make sure the configuration of an optical transceiver before operating. But this GLC-LH-SM transceiver is preferred by most designers because it doesn’t need to be configured to begin functioning. It is ideal for network designers as it reduces the number of steps required to achieve the desired goal. Sometimes, external calibration is required, but this is not always the case. The most stringent applications will require it, and most other applications will not. This significantly reduces the number of steps or requirements necessary for designing an optimal network.

Cisco GLC-LH-SM is compatible with 1000BASE-LX/LH, which makes it possible for both single-mode and multimode fiber. When you need a network solution that covers a long distance, this transceiver operating over single-mode fiber is available for a link span of up to 10km. It is ideal to be deployed in Hospitals, university campuses, and large research facilities. And multimode opens the data floodgates, giving you maximum throughput upwards of 1.25 Gbps.

Conclusion

There lists three reasons why every network needs GLC-LH-SM transceiver. GLC-LH-SM fiber optic transceiver makes it so much easier to redesign fiber optic technology into your network. It does this, simply, by making it just as easy as to incorporate a traditional Ethernet router. And it doesn’t need to be configured. But besides those reasons, there are countless other reasons, which will help designers recognize why they should select the devices and design them into their networking solutions.

If you are in the market for GLC-LH-SM optics, ask an expert for help. He will help you select the proper technology and design what you need to achieve your goals. Every network needs GLC-LH-SM optics, you just have to find the best manufacturer and type to meet your needs. In fact, Cisco original fiber optics are too costly, the similar Cisco GLC-LX-SM-RGD are also very expensive. Thus find a reliable vendor will solve all your problems. As you know Fiberstore would love to answer any questions about GLC transceivers or any other networking questions you may have. Please contact us if you may have any questions.

Single-mode vs. Multi-mode Transceiver

We are quite familiar with difference between single-mode fiber (SMF) and multi-mode fiber (MMF), but we know little about single-mode and multi-mode transceiver. So what are they? And how to choose between them. Actually single-mode and multi-mode fiber are the transport media of a transceiver module. Besides this, here are certain things you need to know before making that decision which can prevent additional costs in the future.

The key differences between single-mode and multi-mode transceiver lie in the following expects—distance and cost, speed, how they work and compatibility issue. The following text will explain them one by one.

Distance and Cost
The single-mode fiber based transceivers work mainly in 1310nm and 1550nm wavelength and have a transmission distance of 2 km to 120 km. While multi-mode fiber based transceivers work in 850nm wavelength and are only used for short distance defined from 150 meters to 5 kilometers. The difference in transmission distance is owing to different transmitter power, receiver sensitivity and the wavelength in operation.

The cost difference between single-mode and multi-mode transceiver mainly arises from the cost difference between single-mode fiber and multi-mode fiber. It is known that the optic for single-mode is nearly twice the cost of multi-mode fiber. But the cost of a single-mode transceiver is negligible when installed as part of a project. Therefore, multi-mode transceivers are typically used when the distance involved is not long.

Speed
Both single-mode transceiver and multi-mode transceiver can transmit 10G speed. You just need to consider the distance requirement. Multi-mode can only support 300 to 400 meters. Single-mode transceiver can support link lengths up to 120 km. But prices go up accordingly.

How They Work
Single-mode fiber has a smaller core (9 micron) and narrower wavelength, which means that SMF has the capability for higher bandwidth and much longer distances in transmission. And because of its smaller core, single-mode fiber has less light diffraction over distance than multi-mode fiber (50, 62.5 micron). That’s the reason why single-mode transceiver can support link length up to 120 km. Figure 1 shows a compatible Cisco GLC-LX-SM-RGD and a single-mode patch cable.

 

In contrast, multi-mode fiber has a much bigger core and uses a longer wavelength of light, resulting in MMF having higher numerical apertures which means they are better at collecting light than single-mode fibers. In fact, this refers to the optics is cheaper. Due to the modal dispersion in the fiber, multi-mode fiber has higher pulse spreading rates than single mode fiber, limiting multi-mode fiber’s information transmission capacity. Thus multi-mode transceiver can only support shorter distance. Figure 2 shows a compatible Cisco GLC-SX-MMD and a multi-mode patch cable.

Compatibility Issue
Can I use single-mode fiber over multi-mode transceiver or vice versa? This is the question we have heard so many times from our customers. The answer is not that easy.

We all knew that single-mode fiber and multi-mode fiber are not compatible. The main reason is that they possess distinct wavelength of the laser and core size of the fiber. Take Cisco SFP as an example, there is a type of SFP transceiver module (GLC-LX-SM-RGD) which can support both single-mode and multi-mode fiber. But a mode conditioning patch cable is always required when using single-mode transceiver (like GLC-ZX-SMD) with 62.5-micron MMF, and only at distances that would have worked using multi-mode transceivers. It does not work when we are exceeding the distance specified for multi-mode fiber. The result could be an elevated bit error rate.

Summary
When we choose between single-mode transceiver and multi-mode transceiver, we must take all the above factors into consideration. Budget of course is the number one factors considered by many users. To save more, we are able to choose the compatible modules without sacrificing any quality or reliability but only with a low cost. Fiberstore supplies compatible fiber optic transceiver modules of many brands, such as Cisco, HP, Juniper, Brocade, Finisar etc. You are welcomed to contact us for more information.

Basic Information About SFP Transceiver Modules

SFP (small form-factor pluggable) transceivers, as one of the most useful technological advancements on the market are warmly welcomed by subscribers. These transceivers are some of the most reliable devices in the market because the designs are derived from a multi-source agreement (MSA) and are a pluggable form of SFF. They are hot-swappable, which is highly beneficial to designers in the industry. Besides these helpful information, here are some things you need to know about SFP transceiver modules.

Types of SFP Transceivers
SFP transceivers are available with a large amount of transmitter and receiver types. Customers can select the appropriate transceiver to provide the required optical reach over multi-mode fiber (MMF) or single-mode fiber (SMF).

Optical SFP module is commonly offered in several different categories: SX, LX, ZX, 1000BASE-T, and DWDM, etc. Each category supports a different distance that will transmit data both upstream and downstream. For instance, the SX model will transmit for 10 km, ZX will transmit up to 80 km and DWDM transceiver will achieve various distance at various wavelengths. Take Cisco SFP as an example.

• For copper twisted pair cabling

Cisco 1000BASE-T SFP module (Cisco GLC-T) operates on category 5 unshielded twisted-pair copper cabling of link lengths up to 100 m.

• For multi-mode fiber

GLC-SX-MMD operates on 1000BASE-SX standard links up to 550 m

• For single-mode fiber

GLC-LH-SMD 1310 nm, for distances up to 10 km
GLC-EX-SMD 1310 nm, for distances up to 40 km
GLC-ZX-SMD 1550 nm, for distances up to 80 km

Where Transceivers Are Used?
Most SFP transceivers can be found in popular networking systems such as Wide Area Networks (WANs), Metro Access Network, and Metro Core Network. SFP transceivers support fiber networking standards such as Fibre Channel, SONET, and Gigabit Ethernet. They also support a variety of other communications standards as well. A compact and hot-swappable optical transceiver can be used in all types of optical communications and telecommunications applications. These devices will connect a switch, router, or other network device.

Advantages of an SFP Transceiver
SFP transceiver is hot-swappable, which make it easy to change and easy for maintenance compared with traditional modules. SFP transceiver modules make the fiber optic network or fiber-Ethernet network easier to upgrade or maintain users can replace a single SFP module during the process instead of replacing the whole board with many modules on it.

Digital optical monitoring (DOM) is based on the new and modern optical transceiver design. Consumers have the ability to monitor real-time parameters of the SFP module. Optical inputs and output power, laser bias, and supply voltage will allow designers to monitor real-time.

In addition, A SFP transceiver is capable of transferring data rates up to 4.25 Gpbs. The XFP form factor is similar to the SFP type. But compared to XFP (10 Gigabit Small Form Factor Pluggable) transceiver, the functionality of SFP module increases about three times at 10 Gpbs. SFP transceivers have a higher optical reliability and will permit higher soldering temperatures. SFP transceivers are recommended by fiber optic component providers to ensure proper data transmission.

Conclusion
SFP modules are some of the best in the industry and will ensure that your design operates at full capacity with low failure rates. This article mainly analyzes three expects of SFP transceiver modules, namely the category of SFP module, application and advantage. Fiberstore offers an exceptional amount of SFP modules that are fully compatible with major brand (Cisco, HP, Finisar, Juniper, etc.). Not only GLC-SX-MMD, GLC-ZX-SMD, DS-SFP-FC8G-SW and EX-SFP-1GE-SX, but also GLC-T SFP are all available in Fiberstore. I cannot list all the compatible SFP transceivers here. If you are interested, you can contact us directly.