Definition:

A gigabit interface converter (GBIC) is a standard for transceivers, commonly used with Gigabit Ethernet and fibre channel in the 2000s.[citation needed] By offering a standard, hot swappable electrical interface, one gigabit port can support a wide range of physical media, from copper to long-wave single-mode optical fiber, at lengths of hundreds of kilometers. A variation of the GBIC called the small form-factor pluggable transceiver (SFP), also known as mini-GBIC, has the same functionality but in a smaller form factor. Announced in 2001, it largely made the GBIC obsolete.

The 10-Gigabit Ethernet X2 transceiver module is a hot-swappable I/O device that plugs into 10-Gigabit Ethernet ports. Figure 1 shows an X2 transceiver module with the major features identified. The X2 transceiver module connects the electrical circuitry of the system with the optical or copper network.

Difference between GBIC and X2

GBIC

• Gigabit Ethernet 1000base-SX/LX/XD/ZX at 1.25Gbs/s Optional 
  
• Wavelength: 850nm/1310nm/1550nm
  
• Single +3.3V or +5V power supply
  
• Ho-pluggable Duplex SC
  
• Eye safety, meet laser class 1, compliant with IEC60825-1
  
• Compliant with Tecordia (Bellcore) GR-468-CORE
  
• Compliant with specification for IEEE-802.3
  
• Compliant with ANSI spec. for Fiber channel applications at 1.06Gb/s
  

X2 10G

• Compatible with SENPAK MSA Rev 3.0
  
• Support of IEEE 802.3ae 10GBASE-L
  
• XENPAK MSA package with duplex LC connector
  
• With Digital Diagnostic Monitor Interface
  
• Operating temperature range 0 to 70 degrees Celsius
  
• Hot Pluggable 70-PIN Connector with XAUI Electrical Interface
  

X2 to SFP+

The X2 to SFP+ Converter Module offers investment protection for 10 Gigabit Ethernet X2 ports of X2 switches by enabling migration from X2 to Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus (SFP+) form factor without having to upgrade or replace the switches. This Module converts a 10 Gigabit Ethernet X2 port into a 10 Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ port. With the X2 to SFP 10G Converter Module, customers have the flexibility to use the 10 Gigabit X2 interface port of a switch with X2 modules or SFP+ modules. This flexibility is critical when the specific type of interface is not available in one or the other form factor or when user want to use the same form factor for interfaces across multiple platforms deployed in their network. Based on X2 to SFPplus converter can produce: BIDI X2, CWDM X2, DWDM X2 and common X2.

Conclusion:

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-swapable (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.

X2 optics always shave a Tx (sending laser) and a Rx side (receiver). The difference between the sending power (in dB) and the receiving power (in dB) is called the power budget and will determine the distance an optic can cover, where the laser light (in nanometers) also has an important role.