How to determine what types of optical transceivers for Cisco switches?

Overview of the Cisco N7K-F348XP-25 48 Ports Expansion Module

The Cisco N7K-F348XP-25 is one of the line cards available for the Cisco Nexus 7000 series. It is part of the F3-Series, known for its high-density, high-performance capabilities. This module is designed to provide 48 portsfor Fiber 1 and 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, making it a powerful addition to the Nexus 7000 series. The Cisco Nexus 7000 Series is a family of data center-class switches designed to deliver high-performance, low-latency, and scalable networking solutions. These switches are ideal for modern data center environments where agility and flexibility are paramount. The Cisco Nexus 7000 Series is a versatile platform that can adapt to various networking requirements, making it a popular choice for enterprises, service providers, and organizations of all sizes.

Key Features of Cisco N7K-F348XP-25

To understand the significance of the Cisco N7K-F348XP-25, let's explore its key features:

• 48 Ports: This expansion module offers 48 ports, ensuring ample connectivity for a variety of devices within your network.

• SFP (mini-GBIC) Compatibility: The module supports SFP (mini-GBIC) interfaces, allowing you to connect various optical modules and cables.

• SFP+ Expansion: In addition to SFP compatibility, it supports SFP+ expansion, providing you with even greater versatility in optical network connectivity.

• High-Speed Ethernet: The module supports both Fiber 1 and 10 Gigabit Ethernet, offering flexibility in network speeds.

• Cisco Nexus 7000 Compatibility: The N7K-F348XP-25 is designed to seamlessly integrate with Cisco Nexus 7000 switches, making it an ideal choice for expanding your existing network infrastructure.

Benefits of the N7K-F348XP-25 Cisco Nexus 48 Ports

• High-density port capacity enables efficient use of rack space and reduces cabling complexity

• Support for both SFP+ and SFP transceivers provides flexibility in connecting to different types of devices

• Unified Fabric architecture allows convergence of LAN and SAN traffic, simplifying network management and reducing costs

• Line-rate performance with low latency and jitter ensures fast and responsive network performance

• Support for Cisco vPC provides high availability and scalability for mission-critical applications

• Dynamic Buffering technology enables efficient handling of bursty traffic, reducing packet loss and improving application performance

• Advanced QoS features enable the prioritization of critical applications, ensuring consistent network performance and user experience

• Support for Cisco FabricPath enables efficient scaling of Layer 2 networks, reducing the need for complex and expensive Layer 3 routing.

Performance and Reliability

The N7K-F348XP-25 Cisco Nexus 48 Ports 1 and 10G Ethernet Expansion Module is designed to provide high-performance and reliable connectivity for data center networks. Here are some details on the performance and reliability of the module:

Performance

• The module supports line-rate performance on all ports, with low latency and jitter, ensuring fast and responsive network performance.

• It supports both SFP+ and SFP transceivers, enabling flexibility in connecting to different types of devices and networks.

• Dynamic Buffering technology allows for efficient handling of burst traffic, reducing packet loss and improving application performance.

• Advanced QoS features enable prioritization of critical applications, ensuring consistent network performance and user experience.

• The module supports Cisco Virtual PortChannels (vPC) for increased availability and scalability, allowing for seamless network expansion and redundancy.

Reliability

• The module is built with high-quality components and undergoes rigorous testing to ensure reliable and stable performance.

• It supports hot-swappable modules, allowing for easy replacement of failed modules without disrupting network traffic.

• The module is designed to work seamlessly with Cisco Nexus switches, providing a reliable and scalable network solution.

• Advanced features like FabricPath and FCoE enable efficient and reliable network architectures, simplifying network management and reducing costs.

Use Cases

The Cisco N7K-F348XP-25 module is a versatile solution that can be used in various scenarios within optical networking:

• Data Centers: In data center environments, high-performance, low-latency networking is crucial. The N7K-F348XP-25 can be used to connect servers, storage devices, and other networking equipment, ensuring reliable data transmission.

• Enterprise Networks: Large enterprises with extensive network infrastructure can benefit from the high port density and scalability of this module. It can be used to create a backbone for the network, connecting different departments and locations.

• Service Providers: Telecom and service providers often require high-capacity networking solutions to meet the demands of their customers. The N7K-F348XP-25 can be used to build optical networks that offer high-speed internet and data services.

• Research and Education: Universities and research institutions rely on fast and reliable networks for data sharing and collaboration. This module can be part of a high-performance network that serves the needs of researchers and students.

Applications of Cisco N7K-F348XP-25

The Cisco N7K-F348XP-25 is a versatile expansion module that finds applications in a wide range of networking scenarios. Here are some common applications for this module:

• Data Centers: Cisco Nexus 7000 Series switches, with the N7K-F348XP-25 module, are widely used in data centers to provide high-speed and reliable network connectivity for servers, storage devices, and other infrastructure components. The 48 ports of Fiber 1 and 10 Gigabit Ethernet provide the necessary capacity for data-intensive operations.

• Virtualization: In virtualized environments, where multiple virtual machines (VMs) share the same physical hardware, high-speed networking is crucial to ensure seamless communication between VMs and the outside world. The Cisco N7K-F348XP-25 module enables efficient connectivity for virtualized servers.

• Cloud Computing: Cloud service providers and enterprises running private clouds require robust networking solutions to deliver services and applications. The N7K-F348XP-25 module can handle the increased network traffic and ensure low latency, which is critical in cloud computing environments.

• High-Performance Computing (HPC): Scientific research, simulations, and complex computations demand high-performance networking. The module's support for 10 Gigabit Ethernet ensures that data can be transferred quickly, enabling researchers and organizations to process data faster.

• Network Consolidation: For organizations looking to streamline their network infrastructure and reduce complexity, the Cisco N7K-F348XP-25 allows them to consolidate their networking equipment by providing numerous ports in a single module.

Compatibility with Optical Network Components

To fully understand the role of the Cisco N7K-F348XP-25 module in optical networks, it's essential to explore its compatibility with optical network components. Optical networks rely on optical transceivers and fiber-optic cabling to transmit data using light signals. Let's take a closer look at the compatibility aspects:

Optical Transceivers

Optical transceivers, often referred to as optical modules, are crucial components in optical networking. They convert electrical signals from networking equipment into optical signals that can be transmitted over fiber-optic cables. The Cisco N7K-F348XP-25 module is compatible with a range of SFP and SFP+ transceivers, allowing network administrators to choose the appropriate transceiver for their specific needs.

• SFP Transceivers: When connecting devices that require 1 Gigabit Ethernet, SFP transceivers can be used with the module. These transceivers are available in various types, including SX (short-range), LX (long-range), and ZX (extended range), allowing network designers to choose the right one for the distance and environment.

• SFP+ Transceivers: For 10 Gigabit Ethernet connections, SFP+ transceivers are the go-to choice. They come in different variants like SR (short-range), LR (long-range), and ER (extended range), enabling network administrators to match the transceiver to the specific network requirements.

Fiber-Optic Cabling

The use of optical transceivers necessitates the use of fiber-optic cabling to transmit data. Fiber-optic cables are designed to carry optical signals over long distances with minimal signal loss. The compatibility of the Cisco N7K-F348XP-25 module with fiber-optic cabling is crucial for building reliable optical networks.

• Single-Mode Fiber: Single-mode fiber (SMF) is used for long-distance connections. It has a smaller core size and is optimized for the transmission of a single mode of light. The module is compatible with SMF, making it suitable for applications that require connectivity over extended distances.

• Multi-Mode Fiber: Multi-mode fiber (MMF) is typically used for shorter connections within data centers and office environments. The module can also work with MMF, providing flexibility in network design.

General Information of the Cisco N7K-F348XP-25

• Manufacturer: Cisco

• Part Number or SKU# N7K-F348XP-25

• Product Type: Expansion Module

Technical Information

• Application/Usage: Data Networking

• Application/Usage: Optical Network

I/O Expansions

• Number of Total Expansion Slots: 48

• Expansion Slot Type: SFP+

• Expansion Slot Type: SFP (mini-GBIC)

In summary, the Cisco N7K-F348XP-25 Nexus 7000 F3-Series 48 Ports Fiber 1 and 10 Gigabit Ethernet Module SFP and SFP+ Expansion Module is a valuable component for building high-performance optical networks. Its compatibility with various optical transceivers and fiber-optic cabling options, along with its high port density, scalability, and flexibility, make it a versatile choice for a wide range of network applications.

The N7K-F348XP-25 module ensures the reliability and performance of its optical networks. With the increasing demand for high-speed data transmission and low-latency connectivity, the Cisco Nexus 7000 series, in combination with modules like the N7K-F348XP-25, continues to play a crucial role in modern data centers and enterprise networking.

The Cisco Nexus® 7000 F3-Series 48-Port 1 and 10 Gigabit Ethernet Module offers outstanding flexibility and wire-rate performance on each port for high-density, low-latency, scalable data center architectures.

The 7000 F3-Series module is based on the Cisco Nexus F3-Series switch-on-a-chip (SoC) ASIC, which increases performance and lowers the module’s power and cooling requirements. The F3-Series SoC is powered by a flexible packet engine, making it an excellent solution for building public and private cloud environments. The F3-Series module supports all of the foundational networking protocols needed to build Layer 2 and Layer 3 networks. It also supports highly virtualized environments with virtual overlay networking and hardware support for Cisco Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) and Locator/ID Separation Protocol (LISP) technology. The 7000 F3-Series modules let customers transparently interconnect their data centers with protocols such as Overlay Transport Virtualization (OTV), Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), and Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS).

The 7000 F3-Series module delivers 720 million packets per second (mpps) of distributed Layer 2 and Layer 3 forwarding and up to 480 Gbps of data throughput. A 7000 18-Slot Switch fully populated with the 7000 F3-Series module can deliver up to 11.5 bpps and 15.4 Tbps of switching performance.

The 7000 F3-Series module integrates a broad set of data center switching technologies and combines the benefits of classical fabric interface line cards with the advanced routing features of edge interface modules. It offers exceptional investment protection for organizations consolidating data center environments as they migrate to dense multiservice 10 Gigabit Ethernet networks.

Summary