SFP vs. SFP+ : What's the difference?

SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) and SFP+ (Small Form-factor Pluggable Plus) are both compact, hot-pluggable transceiver modules used in telecommunications and data communications. They play a critical role in interfacing networking hardware (like switches and routers) with the physical network medium (like copper or optical fiber). While they share some similarities, they also have notable differences: 1.Data Rate:
· SFP: Typically supports data rates up to 1 Gbps (Gigabit per second), making it suitable for Gigabit Ethernet applications.
· SFP+: Designed to support data rates up to 10 Gbps, and thus it's used for 10 Gigabit Ethernet applications.
2.Protocol Support:
· SFP: Supports a variety of protocols, including Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and more.
· SFP+: While primarily designed for 10 Gigabit Ethernet, it can also support other protocols, including 8G Fibre Channel and 16G Fibre Channel.
3.Power Consumption:
· SFP+: Generally has a higher power consumption than SFP due to its higher data rate. However, this increase is minimal and optimized for energy efficiency.
4.Backward Compatibility:
· Some SFP+ ports are backward compatible, meaning they can accept SFP modules. However, when an SFP module is plugged into an SFP+ port, the speed will be limited to 1 Gbps. Not all equipment may support this, so it's essential to check the device's documentation.
5.Applications:
· SFP: Primarily found in Gigabit Ethernet and other sub-10G applications.
· SFP+: Primarily used for 10G network applications, but with Direct Attach Copper (DAC) cables, it can also be used for stacking switches and short-distance connections.
6.Physical Appearance:
· Both SFP and SFP+ share the same form factor and can fit into the same slots, but, as mentioned, the data rate and other internal specifications differ.
In summary, while SFP and SFP+ might look similar at a glance, their differences in data rate capabilities make them suitable for distinct applications in networking environments. The choice between SFP and SFP+ depends on the specific requirements of the network, including speed, distance, and budget.
 

Here is a table of comparison between SFP and SFP+

Item	SFP	SFP+
Stands for	Small Form-factor Pluggable	Small Form-factor Pluggable plus (standard form)
Data rate	155M/622M/ 1.25G/ 2.5G/3G/ 4.25G	6G/8.5G/10G
Terms	Dual fiber Single Fiber/WDM CWDM DWDM	Dual fiber Single Fiber/WDM CWDM DWDM
Distance	300m/2km/ 10km/15km/ 20km/40km/ 60km/80km/ 100km/120km/ 150km	220m/300m/ 2km/10km/ 20km/40km/ 60km/80km
Wavelengths	850nm/1310nm/1550nm 1310nm/1490nm/1550nm 1270nm-1610nm ITU17~ITU61	220m/300m/ 2km/10km/ 20km/40km/ 60km/80km/ 120km

 

What do SFP and SFP represent respectively?

SFP stands for small form-factor pluggable, also know as mini-gbic (gigabit interface converter).
An SFP module is simply a small modular transceiver that plugs into an SFP port on a network switch or server. SFP module has replaced the GBIC module in most applications because of its small size, allowing it to be used in tight networking spaces to provide fast communication between switches and important networking components. And, SFP module is hot-pluggable, which makes it easy to adjust existing networks without having to redesign the entire cable infrastructure.

What is SFP used for?

Small form-factor pluggable, or SFP, devices are hot-swappable interfaces used primarily in network and storage switches. The SFP ports on a switch and SFP modules enable the switch to connect to fiber and Ethernet cables of different types and speeds.
The Small Form Factor Committee, a group consisting of major equipment vendors, created the SFP specification and first published it in 2001. SFP modules built to the initial specifications support data rates of up to 1 Gb. The specification has since been updated to support increased data rates.
Almost all enterprise-class switches include two or more SFP ports, enabling them to become part of a ring- or star-based network topology spread among different buildings, floors or areas, connected via fiber optic cabling.

What is an SFP+ module?

Simply speaking, SFP+ is an enhanced SFP form factor supporting a higher speed of 8G/10G/16G. An SFP+ module is an enhanced small form factor pluggable transceiver that fits into the SFP+ port of the switch or other networking device. A complete SFP+ system comprises of SFP+ module, SFP+ port, and SFP+ connector in the hosting device.
The SFP+ module is also called the SFP+ transceiver, SFP+ optical module, SFP+ optics, or SFP+ fiber transceiver. Although with several different names, they are the same product. However, most vendors referred to it as an SFP+ module and transceiver. When you search it on Google, you will find plenty of SFP+ suppliers, vendors, or shops.
Compared with the SFP module, the SFP+ module supports a higher speed of 8GFC, 10Gbps, and 16GFC. Furthermore, it also features a required built-in DDM/DOM (digital optical monitor) per SFF-8472. Whilersrose, the SFP module has no requirement for this function.
A typical SFP+ module comprises a cage, PCBA, chip, and optical TOSA+ROSA (sometimes BOSA for BiDi transceiver). See the below image.

Choose SFP or Advanced SFP+?

According to the transmission speed, the most common SFP module on the market today is the 1Gb, including 1000base-T/TX, 1000base-SX, 1000base-LX/LX10, 1000base-BX10, 1000base-LX/LH, 1000base-EX, and 1000base-ZX.
With the expansion of networks and ever-increasing demand for bandwidth, the 10Gb SFP+ module is becoming more and more popular. 10Gb SFP, also know as SFP+, a newer version with faster speeds of the same form factor. In the SFP+ family, you will primarily find SFP+ SR, SFP+ LR, SFP+ ZR modules for 10 Gigabit ethernet networking.