25GbE Ethernet and 25GbE Products FAQs

25GbE Ethernet has been an eye-catching topic ever since its introduction in 2016. After its appearance, the upgrade path to 100G has a new option — 10G-25G-100G. Although 25G has already been released, it’s still a new thing for many people. Here collect some common questions which will help you to better know 25GbE Ethernet and 25GbE Products.

alt 25GbE Ethernet and 25GbE Products FAQs

25GbE Ethernet FAQs

What is 25GbE Ethernet?

25GbE Ethernet is a standard for Ethernet connectivity that benefits cloud and enterprise data center environments. It uses technology defined for 100GbE Ethernet, which implemented as four 25 Gbit/s lanes running on four fibers or copper pairs.

25GbE VS 10GbE, which is better?

As data centers require faster speed and higher bandwidth, 10GbE is not fast enough for switch-server connections. 25GbE was proposed to provide 2.5 times the performance of 10GbE as well as offers higher bandwidth at the same power consumption. 25GbE Ethernet supports 10GbE technology advancements in packaging and silicon. All these benefits contribute the existing switch architectures to supporting link speeds faster than 10GbE without the need to add cable/trace interconnects. At the same time, the architectures can keep up with the growth of the network bandwidth and become faster and richer.

25GbE VS 40GbE, who is the winner?

Compared to 40GbE, 25GbE can provide a higher port density with maximum switch I/O performance and fabric capability, enabling the network bandwidth to be effectively scaled in cloud and web-scale data center environments. What’s more, the 25G-100G (4x25G lanes) networking migration path provides a lower cost per unit of bandwidth by fully utilizing switch port capabilities when compared to 40G-100G upgrade path.

What makes 25GbE a choice for next-generation switch-server connections?

25GbE technology has two major advantages. First, by offering a single-lane 25Gbps variant, 25GbE allows for optimization of the bandwidth available from switch-fabric design, which is typically viewed from a per-pin and therefore per-lane standpoint. Another major advantage is that it takes existing module form factors and optical plants factors, such as SFP28 and QSFP28, and allows for a breakout connection that is configurable as either 25GbE per lane or the full 100GbE without changing the port on the front of switches and the wholes physical infrastructure.

Will the upgrade path of 100GbE be 10G-25G-100G?

Before the 25GbE specification was released, the 10G-40G-100G upgrade path is predominantly adopted by data centers to upgrade to 100GbE. However, due to the appearance of 25GbE, the 10G-25G-100G upgrade path has gained more recognition by offering the cost per bit, power consumption and server rack density advantages. 25GbE provides another option for 100GbE upgrade, and its prospect is bright.

alt25GbE Ethernet-10G-25G-100G

25GbE Products FAQs

What kinds of 25GbE products are on the market today?

Currently, 25GbE products on the market are relatively complete. These 25GbE switch, 25GbE NIC, 25GbE SFP28, 25GbE DAC/AOC cable are all available on the market.

alt25GbE Ethernet products

What does SFP28 stand for?

SFP28 is the enhanced version of SFP+, designed for 25G signal transmission. It has the same physical structure as SFP and SFP+, but its electrical interface is upgraded to handle 25Gbps per lane. The pinouts of SFP28 and SFP+ connectors are compatible. Compared to SFP+ solution, SFP28 has higher bandwidth, superior impedance control, and less crosstalk. In addition, the SFP28 copper cable has greater bandwidth and lower loss than the SFP+ version.

Can SFP28 cables be plugged into SFP+ ports?

Yes. SFP28 is backward compatible with SFP+ ports and can work sufficiently. SFP+ cables can be plugged into SFP28 ports but they are not designed for 25Gb/s data rates.

Can 10G SFP+ and 1G SFP transceivers be plugged into the associated 25G SFP ports?

Yes. The associated 25G SFP ports can run multiple speeds and support 10G SFP+ and 1G SFP transceivers. However, some port level restrictions may occur during speed mixing and matching.

Are branded 25G transceivers interoperable with third-party 25G transceivers?

Yes. Third-party 25G transceivers are compliant with relevant industry standard specifications and can be fully interoperable as long as compatibility is guaranteed.

Where can customers buy split cables for 100G to 4x25G connectivity?

Large vendors can supply volumes of MTP-LC multimode fiber breakout cables to customers for 100G to 4x25G connectivity. FS also provides 100G QSFP28 to 4x25G SFP28 DAC/AOC cables for you to choose.

Summary

25GbE Ethernet is considered an incremental update of 10GbE Ethernet, which supports 100GbE Ethernet with single lane at 25Gbps. Due to the booming of 25GbE, data centers will gradually turn to 25GbE networks. Knowing the above information is essential for you to deploy 25GbE Ethernet networks and avoid some problems when purchasing 25GbE products. FS offers a wide variety of high-quality and cost-effective 25GbE Ethernet portfolios such as 25gbe switch, 25G NIC, 25G SFP28 transceiver, and 25G DAC/AOC cables to meet your needs of 25GbE devices and connectivity options.

Related Articles:
FS 25G Portfolio for Data Center 25G/100G Leaf-Spine Network
Taking an In-depth Look at 25G SFP28
25G NIC – the Highly Effective Path Towards 100G Network