What is a Router?

A router is a device that forwards data packets along networks. A router is connected to at least two networks, commonly two LANs or WANs or a LAN and its ISP's network. Routers are located at gateways, the places where two or more networks connect, and are the critical device that keeps data flowing between networks and keeps the networks connected to the Internet.

What is a Switch?

A switch is used in a wired network to connect Ethernet cables from a number of devices together. The switch allows each device to talk to the others. Switches aren't used in networks with only wireless connections, since network devices such as routers and adapters communicate directly with one another, with nothing in between.

Although you can use the ports on the back of a router or modem to connect a few Ethernet devices together, depending on the model, switches have a number of advantages:

• Switches allow dozens of devices to connect.
• Switches keep traffic between two devices from getting in the way of your other devices using the same network.
• Switches allow control of who has access to various parts of the network.
• Switches allow you to monitor usage.
• Switches allow communication (within your network) that's even faster than the Internet.
• High-end switches have pluggable modules to tailor them to network needs.

What is Gigabit Ethernet?

Gigabit Ethernet, a transmission technology based on the Ethernet frame format and protocol used in local area networks (LANs), provides a data rate of 1 billion bits per second (one gigabit). Gigabit Ethernet is defined in the IEEE 802.3 standard and is currently being used as the backbone in many enterprise networks.

Gigabit Ethernet is carried primarily on optical fiber (with very short distances possible on copper media).

What is a GBIC?

Short for Gigabit Interface Converter, a transceiver that converts serial electric signals to serial optical signals and vice versa. In networking, a GBIC is used to interface a fiber optic system with an Ethernet system, such as Fibre Channel and Gigabit Ethernet.

Why use a GBIC?

GBIC modules allow technicians to easily configure and upgrade electro-optical communications networks. The typical GBIC transceiver is a plug-in module that is hot-swappable (it can be removed and replaced without turning off the system). The devices are economical, because they eliminate the necessity for replacing entire boards at the system level. Upgrading can be done with any number of units at a time, from an individual module to all the modules in a system.

What is an SFP?

SFP stands for small form-factor pluggable. They function the same as a GBIC however, they are much smaller in size.

What is a XENPAK?

XENPAK is a standard that defines a type of fiber-optic or copper transceiver module which is compatible with the 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GE) standard.

What is an X2?

In effect, an X2 functions the same as a XENPAK but is smaller in size and package.

What is XFP?

XFP is a small form factor pluggable 10Gbps transceiver. Functions the same as XENPAK and X2, but comes in a much smaller package.

What is an SFP ?

SFP is a Small Form Factor Pluggable 10Gbps transceiver. Functions the same as XENPAK, X2, and XFP but in a smaller package.

How far can a 1000BASE GBIC transmit data?

Depending on the transceiver and type of fiber used, data can be transmitted up to distances of 120km. Below are the standard distances for each type.

• T-Based or Copper transceivers can transmit 10/100/1000Mbps of data up to 100M over standard Category 5 unshielded twisted pair copper cabling.

• SX or Short Wave transceivers can transmit 1000Mbps of data up to 550m over multi-mode duplex fiber. Standard wavelength for SX transceivers is 850nm

• LX or LH Long Wave transceivers can transmit 1000Mbps of data up to 550m over multi-mode duplex fiber and up to 10km over single-mode duplex fiber. Standard wavelengths for LX transceivers is 1310nm

• EX or Extended Reach transceivers can transmit 1000Mbps of data up to 40km over single-mode duplex fiber. Standard wavelength for EX transceivers is 1310nm

• ZX or Extended reach transceivers can transmit 1000Mbps of data up to 70km over single-mode duplex fiber. Standard wavelength for ZX transceivers is 1550nm

• BX or Bi-Directional transceivers can transmit 1000Mbps of data up to 10km over a single strand of single-mode simplex fiber. Longer distances up to 80km can be achieved through custom builds. Bi-Directional transceivers are sold with their inverse pair. There is an "Upstream" and "Downstream" version of each where they transmit and receive opposite their counterpart allowing a bidirectional flow of data over the same strand of fiber.

• CWDM (Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing) transceivers can transmit 1000Mbps of data up to 80km over single-mode duplex fiber. There are 8 standard wavelengths for CWDM transceivers. 1470nm, 1490nm, 1510nm, 1530nm, 1550nm, 1570nm, 1590nm, and 1610nm. Lower wavelengths are possible through custom builds.

• DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) transceivers can transmit 1000Mbps of data up to 80km over single-mode duplex fiber. Approximately 80 wavelengths or channels are possible ranging from 1519.48nm to 1577.03nm

How Far can a 10GB (XENPAK, X2, XFP, and SFP ) transceiver transmit data?

• SR or Short Reach transceivers can transmit 10Gbps of data up to 300m over multi-mode duplex fiber. Standard wavelength for SR transceivers is 850nm

• LRM transceivers can transmit 10Gbps of data up to 220m over FDDI multi-mode duplex fiber. Standard wavelength for LRM transceivers is 1310nm

• LR or Long Reach transceivers can transmit 10Gbps of data up to 10km over single-mode duplex fiber. Standard wavelength for LR transceivers is 1310nm

• ER or Extended Reach transceivers can transmit 10Gbps of data up to 40km over single-mode duplex fiber. Standard wavelength for ER transceivers is 1550nm

• ZR also Extended Reach transceivers can transmit 10Gbps of data up to 80km over single-mode duplex fiber. Standard wavelength for ZR transceivers is 1550nm.

• CWDM (Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing) transceivers can transmit 10Gbps of data up to 80km over single-mode duplex fiber. There are 8 standard wavelengths for CWDM transceivers. 1470nm, 1490nm, 1510nm, 1530nm, 1550nm, 1570nm, 1590nm, and 1610nm. Lower wavelengths are possible through custom builds.

• DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) transceivers can transmit 10Gbps of data up to 80km over single-mode duplex fiber. Approximately 80 wavelengths or channels are possible ranging from 1519.48nm to 1577.03nm

If you have any concerns or questions, please send an e-mail to info@cablesplususa.com. We will make every reasonable effort to address your concerns and remedy any problems you bring to our attention.