XFP vs SFP+: What's the difference?

Optical Type	XFP	SFP+
Standard	IEE802.3ae; XFP MSA	IEE802.3ae; SFF-8431; SFF-8432
Publish Time	2002	2006
Size	Bigger	Smaller
Data Rate	6Gbps; 8.5Gbps; 10Gbps	6Gbps; 8.5Gbps; 10Gbps
Wavelength	850nm; 1310nm; 1550nm; CWDM; DWDM; BIDI; Tunable; Copper	850nm; 1310nm; 1550nm; CWDM; DWDM; BIDI; Tunable; Copper
Fiber Type	OM3; OM4; OS1; OS2	OM3; OM4; OS1; OS2
Typical Connector	LC	LC
Max Distance	120km	120km
Cost	Higher	Lower

Through comparing XFP vs SFP+, it is clear that SFP+ shares some advantages over XFP:
10G SFP+ optics has a smaller footprint than the XFP modules, which can also enable greater port density. That is because SFP+ transceivers leave more circuitry to be implemented on the motherboard instead of its inside — it moves some functions to the motherboard, including signal modulation function, MAC, CDR and EDC. Moreover, XFP technology is relatively older but more expensive, that's also the reason 10G SFP+ modules have been gaining more market share.
 
XFP and SFP+ are both optical transceiver modules used in high-speed networks, but there are key differences between them:
1.Form Factor:
· XFP: Stands for "10 Gigabit Small Form Factor Pluggable". It's a standard for transceivers for high-speed computer network and telecommunication links that use optical fiber. XFP modules are larger than SFP+ modules.
· SFP+: An enhanced version of the SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) that supports data rates up to 10 Gbps (10 Gigabit per second) or more. It's physically smaller than XFP, allowing for greater port density.
2.Speed:
· XFP: Originally designed for 10 Gbps networks.
· SFP+: Primarily used for 10 Gbps connections, but can also be used in some cases for faster connections (like 16 Gbps in Fibre Channel networks).
3.Electrical Interface:
· XFP: Uses a standardized electrical interface called XFI (10 Gigabit Attachment Unit Interface).
· SFP+: Uses a differential interface. Its electrical interface is more in line with the original SFP modules but at higher speeds.
4.Applications:
· XFP: Earlier to market, found in slightly older 10 Gbps equipment.
· SFP+: Became the dominant 10 Gbps transceiver module because of its smaller form factor and compatibility with 1 Gbps SFP modules.
5.Interchangeability:
· XFP and SFP+ modules are not interchangeable because of their size difference and electrical interface.
6.Evolution:
· XFP: An older standard compared to SFP+.
· SFP+: Evolved from the SFP standard to support higher data rates.
In summary, while both XFP and SFP+ modules serve similar roles in providing high-speed optical data links, they are distinct in terms of their physical form factors, internal interfaces, and the range of applications they are suited for. When designing or expanding a network, it's essential to ensure compatibility of the modules with the intended networking hardware.
 

What are XFP and SFP+?

 

What is XFP?

XFP stands for "10 Gigabit Small Form Factor Pluggable". It is a standard for optical transceiver modules used in high-speed computer network and telecommunication links that operate over optical fiber. Here are some key points about XFP:
1.Purpose: XFP modules are designed for use in 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) links, 10 Gbit/s Fiber Channel, and other high-speed applications.
2.Form Factor: XFP has a larger physical form factor compared to SFP or SFP+ modules, but it's smaller than older 10GbE transceiver designs.
3.Electrical Interface: XFP uses a standardized electrical interface called XFI (10 Gigabit Attachment Unit Interface).
4.Variety: Like other types of optical transceivers, XFP modules are available for different types of optical fiber (e.g., single-mode, multimode) and various transmission distances, ranging from very short links (within a data center) to long-distance links (between different cities or even continents).
5.Interchangeability: Due to its distinct form factor and electrical interface, XFP modules are not interchangeable with other transceivers like SFP or SFP+.
6.Evolution: While XFP was one of the early standards for 10GbE transceivers, it has been largely superseded by the smaller and more versatile SFP+ form factor in many applications.
In summary, XFP is a type of optical transceiver module designed for 10Gbps data transmission across various network applications. When it was introduced, it offered a compact solution compared to the existing 10GbE optics but has since been overtaken by smaller, more efficient designs like the SFP+.
XFP modules are hot swappable and support multiple physical layer variants. They typically operate at near-infrared wavelengths (colors) of 850 nm, 1310 nm or 1550 nm. XFP modules use an LC fiber connector type to achieve higher density.
Principal applications include 10 Gigabit Ethernet, 10 Gbit/s Fibre Channel, synchronous optical networking (SONET) at OC-192 rates, synchronous optical networking STM-64, 10 Gbit/s Optical Transport Network (OTN) OTU-2, and parallel optics links. They can operate over a single wavelength or use dense wavelength-division multiplexing techniques. They include digital diagnostics that provide management that were added to the SFF-8472 standard.
 

What is SFP+?

SFP+ stands for "Small Form-factor Pluggable Plus". It is an enhanced version of the SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) optical transceiver module that supports data rates higher than the standard SFP. Here are some key points about SFP+:
1.Data Rates: SFP+ modules are designed to support data rates up to 10 Gigabits per second (10 Gbps), making them suitable for 10 Gigabit Ethernet applications. Some variants can also support 8 Gbit/s Fibre Channel and 16 Gbit/s Fibre Channel.
2.Form Factor: SFP+ has the same physical form factor as the standard SFP, but the internal electronics are optimized for higher data rates.
3.Variety: Like the SFP, the SFP+ modules are available for different types of optical fiber, such as single-mode and multimode. They can be used for various transmission distances, from very short reaches (like in a data center) to long-distance transmissions (over several kilometers).
4.Direct Attach Cables: SFP+ interfaces also support passive and active copper cables, known as Direct Attach Copper (DAC) cables. These are often used for short-range, high-speed interconnects between devices in a data center.
5.Low Power Consumption: SFP+ transceivers typically consume less power than older 10GbE transceiver designs, like the XFP.
6.Applications: SFP+ modules are commonly used in data centers for high-speed connections between servers, switches, and storage. They are also used in enterprise networks and telecommunications networks.
7.Interchangeability: While SFP+ has the same physical dimensions as the standard SFP, it's essential to ensure compatibility with the network device and desired data rate when selecting modules.
In summary, SFP+ is a compact, hot-pluggable optical module used for high-speed telecommunications and data communications applications. It has largely become the standard for 10GbE optics due to its size, power efficiency, and versatility.
 

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.