Tag: 25g sfp28

25G SFP28 Transceivers for Data Center and Enterprise Applications

With the rapid expansion of data centers, faster speed and higher bandwidth are required for better experience. To meet the demands, data center operators are now turning to 25G Ethernet technology. 25G SFP28 transceivers, as high-bandwidth data switching fiber optics, play an important role in 25G fiber-optic communication systems. This article will reveal the 25G SFP28 transceivers for data center and enterprise applications.

What Is the Definition and Type of 25G SFP28 Transceiver?

25G SFP28 transceiver is the enhanced version of SFP+, which is 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. Therefore, the pinouts of SFP28 and SFP+ connectors are compatible. Compared to SFP+ optics, SFP28 has higher bandwidth, superior impedance control, and less crosstalk. 25G SFP28 transceiver module can be divided into Short-Range (SR) and Long-Range (LR) transceivers. The SR SFP28 is mainly used with OM3\OM4 multi-mode fibers to transfer data over a short distance (up to 100m), while the LR SFP28 is mainly used with OS2 single-mode fibers for long distance transmission (up to 10 km). 25G SFP 28 DAC/AOC cables are also popular on the market and both used for transmission distance below 30m.

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25G SFP28 Transceivers for Data Center Applications

The data center architecture is undergoing tremendous changes. Previously, the data center mainly composed of 1/10G servers and 1/10/40G EOR-MOR-TOR (End-of-Row, Middle-of-Row, Top-of-Rack) switches. Today, data centers are built using high-performance 10/25G servers and 10/25/40/100G EOR-MOR-TOR switches. Moreover, many data center operators choose SFP28 transceivers with SMF/MMF (Single-Mode Fiber/Multi-Mode Fiber) over SFP28 DAC/AOC (Direct-Attach Cable/Active Optical Cable) cables for 25G cabling solutions. That’s because by using the pluggable modules and fibers, data center operators can easily replace transceivers or upgrade TOR, MOR and EOR switches, servers, and cables without changing the cabling infrastructure.

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25G SFP28 Transceivers for Enterprise Applications

The traditional enterprise network includes workstations, desktop computers, access points or video walls, and local computer rooms. Generally, these networks consist of a building backbone cabling based on IEEE 802.3 MMF 10G-SR or SMF 10G-LR transceivers. Due to the increase in video conferencing and business applications, the enterprise campus traffic continues to grow, requiring faster speed than traditional 10G networks. In response to the needs, the enterprise campus is transforming from a backbone that was based on a 10G network to new high-performance 25G network. Since the 25G SFP28 transceivers are compatible with 10G equipment, it enables the 10G connectivity infrastructure to remain and achieve a seamlessly upgrading from 10G to 25G. The upgrading of the 25G network not only brings higher speed and bandwidth than 10G network but also saves money for the enterprise networks.

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Conclusion

25G SFP28 transceivers enable data centers and enterprises to reach a higher speed, scalability and performance level. To meet your interconnection needs, FS provides a variety of 25G SFP28 transceivers include 25GBASE-SR, 25GBASE-LR, CWDM SFP28 transceivers, 25G DAC/AOC Cables, and 100G QSFP28 to 4x25G SFP28 DAC/AOC cables. For all the transceivers, FS provides a lifetime warranty to ensure product quality and they are all compatible with major brand companies.

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FS 25G Portfolio for Data Center 25G/100G Leaf-Spine Network
Taking an In-depth Look at 25G SFP28

How Far Can 25G Ethernet Go?

Seeing from the evolution of data transmission speed and size of data centers, it is not difficult to find that the pressure on the data centers to manage data quality and transmission speed continues to grow, which leads to the need for faster data transmission over the network. Ethernet industry has laid a path to higher networking speeds like 100GbE, and 25G Ethernet has been developed to provide a simpler path to future Ethernet speeds of 50 Gbps, 100 Gbps and beyond. The release of the 25GbE specification provides cost-effective solution for server-to-switch connectivity. However, network will not stop the pace of development. How far can 25G Ethernet go? This article is going to focus on the question.

Overview of 25G Ethernet

25G Ethernet is a standard for Ethernet connectivity in a datacenter environment, developed by IEEE 802.3 task force P802.3by. The IEEE 802.3by standard uses technology defined for 100 Gigabit Ethernet implemented as four 25 Gbps lanes (IEEE 802.3bj). In 2016, 25G Ethernet equipment was available on the market, such as 25G SFP28 transceiver and DAC cable. In addition, 25G Ethernet supports for 100G using QSFP ports that can be converted to 4 lanes of 25 Gbps, like 100G QSFP28 transceiver. Here is a table of 25G Ethernet specification for you.

25G Ethernet specification

Advantages of 25G Ethernet

For 10G ToR to 10G Server connectivity, the simplest cabling solution is to use two 10G SFP+ transceivers and one fiber optic cable. When the network has to be upgraded to 25G Ethernet, the data center manager only needs to replace 10G SFP+ transceivers with 25G SFP28 transceivers. In the same way, we know that in 40G ToR to 10G Server connectivity, one 40G QSFP+ transceiver, four 10G SFP+ transceivers and one MTP to LC breakout cable are utilized. When this network deployment is upgraded to 100G ToR to 25G Server connectivity, the work can be quickly finished by replacing 40G QSFP+ transceiver with 100G QSFP28 transceiver, four 10G SFP+ transceivers with four 25G SFP28 transceivers. It can be easily found that there are some advantages when upgrading from 10G to 25G or 40G to 100G:

  • It can offer both CapEx and OpEx savings through backward compatibility, for investment protection and seamless migrations with consistent rack-design and reuse of the existing cabling infrastructure, avoiding costly and complex changes.
  • The technology utilized in 100G to 25G connectivity is similar to that in 40G to 10G connectivity, but the performance is increased by 2.5 times, thus reducing the power and cost per gigabit significantly.
  • 25G Ethernet provides higher port and system density than a comparable 40G solution.
  • Both power savings and higher density results in lower cooling requirements and operational expenditure for data center operators.

advantages of 25G Ethernet

How Far Can 25G Ethernet Go?

Considering the significant benefits and compelling economics of 25G Ethernet, it is no surprise that the move to 25G is accelerating—a recent five-year forecast by industry analysts at the Dell’Oro Group predicts 25G Ethernet will be the dominant Server port speed for new systems by 2018. You can learn about it from the following figure.

forecast for 25G Ethernet

However, never underestimate the need for industry consensus building. At present, 25G is mainly used for switch-to-server applications. If it can realize switch-to-switch application, 25G Ethernet may go further.

Conclusion

To be frank, 25G Ethernet indeed gains ground in some aspects compared to 10G and 40G Ethernet. If you plan to deploy 25GbE network, you can visit FS.COM which provides quality 25G SFP28 transceiver and various fiber optic cables.

Related articles:

Taking an In-depth Look at 25G SFP28

25G Vs. 40G Ethernet: Who Is the Winner?

25G SFP28 Cable: The Most Economical Option for ToR Server Connection

The Changing Network Architecture in 25G/100G Data Center