Sfp and sfp+ difference

What is an SFP Transceiver?

SFP stands for small form-factor pluggable. It is also known as a “mini-GBIC” (gigabit interface converter). An SFP transceiver is a tiny transceiver that links fiber optic cables to various networking devices such as switches, routers, network cards, and wireless access points. Multiple SFP transceivers are available, depending on data rate and application, including 155M SFP, 622M SFP, 1G SFP, 2.5G SFP, 2G/4G Fiber Chanel SFP, 3G SFP, and 6G SFP. They are used in fiber-optic Ethernet networks, particularly common in commercial networks. SFP transceivers are one of the most widely utilized fiber-optic networking equipment nowadays.

What is an SFP+ Transceiver?

Compared to SFP transceivers, SFP+ transceivers are a more advanced version of the technology. SFP+ transceivers are most typically offered at 8Gbps, 10Gbps, or 16Gbps. They have the exact dimensions of SFPs, making it simple to integrate them into existing infrastructure. SFP+ transceiver is one of the most popular data center cabling applications.

SFP vs. SFP+ What is the difference?

SFP and SFP+ transceivers are virtually identical in size and appearance. The primary difference is that SFP+ is an updated version that supports higher speeds up to 10Gbps. The difference in data rate also accounts for a difference in transmission distance—SFP typically has a longer transmission distance. SFP+ specifications are based on SFF-8431. In terms of SFP vs SFP+ compatibility, SFP+ ports often accept SFP optics but at a reduced speed of 1Gbps. Be aware, however, that you cannot plug an SFP+ transceiver into an SFP port because SFP+ does not support speeds less than 1Gbps.
 
 
 

FORMS	STANDARD	DATA RATE	WAVELENGTH	FIBER TYPE	MAX DISTANCE	TYPICAL CONNECTOR	DOM	SIZE	POWER CONSUMPTION	APPLICATION	PRICE
SFP	SFP MSA	155M 622M 1.25G 2.125G 2.5G 3G 4.25G 6G	850nm 1310nm 1550nm CWDM DWDM BiDi Copper	MMF SMF	180km	LC RJ-45	Yes/No	Smallest	Low	Ethernet Fiber Channel CPRI	$
SFP+	SFP+ MSA	8.5G 10G	850nm 1310nm 1550nm CWDM DWDM BiDi Copper	OM3 OM4 SMF	120km	LC RJ-45	Yes	Similar to SFP	Slightly bigger than SFP	Ethernet Fiber Channel CPRI Datacenter	$$

 
 
SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) and SFP+ (Small Form-factor Pluggable Plus) are both modular optical transceivers used in optical communications. They look very similar, but they have several key differences:

1.Data Rate:

SFP: The data rate for standard SFP modules typically ranges up to 1 Gbps (Gigabit per second) for Ethernet applications, though there are variations like 2.5G SFP designed for specific tasks.
SFP+: This module is an enhanced version of SFP and supports data rates up to 10 Gbps.

2.Applications:

SFP: Commonly used for Gigabit Ethernet and other applications such as Fibre Channel.
SFP+: Designed for 10G Ethernet, 8G Fibre Channel, and other higher-speed applications.

3.Physical Appearance:

At first glance, the SFP and SFP+ might appear identical. However, due to the enhanced electromagnetic interference (EMI) provisions required for 10Gbps, the SFP+ might have more metal on the exterior, and the "cage" (the socket they plug into) might be slightly different. However, they share the same form factor.

4.Backward and Forward Compatibility:

Some SFP+ ports can accept SFP modules for lower-speed tasks, but this depends on the switch or router specifications. However, an SFP cannot support SFP+ speeds.

5.Power Consumption:

SFP+ typically consumes less power than a 10G XFP, making it a more energy-efficient option for 10G connectivity.

6.Protocols:

SFP+ supports additional protocols such as 10G SONET and OTN G.709, which standard SFPs might not.

7.Cable Types:

Both SFP and SFP+ modules are available for different types of cables and wavelengths, including copper cables, short-wavelength multimode fiber, and long-wavelength single-mode fiber.

8.Cost:

Due to the difference in data rates and internal components, SFP+ modules typically cost more than SFP modules. But as with all technology, prices can change based on factors like supply, demand, and advancements in technology.

In conclusion, while SFP and SFP+ might seem similar externally, they cater to different networking speeds and applications, with SFP+ designed for faster, 10 Gbps tasks.

Conclusion:

SFP and SFP+ have the same size and appearance. From the price, SFP+ is usually more expensive than SFP. The main difference between SFP and SFP+ is that the SFP+ is used in Gigabit Ethernet applications while SFP is for 100Bse or 1000Base applications. SFP doesn't support 10G transmission data rate, which means they can't be used in the same network. SFP+ transceivers use the same dimensions of pluggable transceivers in the 10Gbs Ethernet and 8.5Gbs fiber channel with SFP. SFP comply with standards of IEEE802.3 and SFF-8472 while SFP+ is based on SFF-8431.

Expand knowledge:

 
 

What does SFP stand for?

The acronym SFP stands for Small Form Factor Pluggable, and transceivers which were developed following the SFP Multi-Source Agreement are compact hot-pluggable modules which enable easy connection and data transfer via copper or fiber cables to and from a large range of networking devices. As they are able to connect a network device to a wide variety of cable types (Ethernet, single-mode or multi-mode optical fiber), and are flexible to use when network modifications are required, SFP modules are the most popular of all optical transceiver formats.
Since the first SFP form factor was launched, there have been upgrades to account for the unrelenting demand for higher bandwidth and increased data rates, leading to development of the SFP+, SFP28, SFP56 and SFP-DD (not forgetting the QSFP) modules.

SFP transceivers history

SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) transceivers were launched in 2002, about 5 years after GBIC, as a smaller ”mini” version, achieving typical speeds of 1 Gbps for Ethernet and 4Gbps for Fibre Channel. SFP modules are still sometimes referred to as ”mini GBIC”. In 2006 the SFP+ (Enhanced Small Form-factor Pluggable) was launched, with speeds of up to 10 Gbps. SFP+ is still a dominant industry format today, with data transmission available up to 16 Gbps. The SFP and SFP+ have the same physical dimensions, and were followed by SFP28 in 2014, which was designed to bring speeds up to 25 Gbps.
 

Are SFP and SFP+ modules interchangeable?

SFP optical transceivers can be used in SFP+ ports from some suppliers (such as Cisco), however, the data rate will be reduced to the level of the SFP module, for example, down to 1 Gbps, rather than 10 Gbps. SFP+ modules can be used in SFP ports but the data rate will then lower to the maximum that the port supports.