Cisco SFP Transceivers | GLC-EX-SMD= GLC-EX-SMD SFP 1000BASE-EX, SMF, 40km Distance

Product overview

     The industry-standard Cisco Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) Gigabit Interface Converter (Figure 1) links your switches and routers to the network. The hot-swappable input/output device plugs into a Gigabit Ethernet port or slot. Optical and copper models can be used on a wide variety of Cisco products and intermixed in combinations of 1000BASE-T, 1000BASE-SX, 1000BASE-LX/LH, 1000BASE-EX, 1000BASE-ZX, or 1000BASE-BX10-D/U on a port-by-port basis.

Cisco Optical Gigabit Ethernet SFP

Cisco 1000BASE-T Copper SFP

Cisco 2-Channel 1000BASE-BX Optical SFP

Features and benefits

●      Hot swappable to maximize uptime and simplify serviceability

●      Flexibility of media and interface choice on a port-by-port basis, so you can “pay as you populate”

●      Robust design for enhanced reliability

●      Supports Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM) capability

1000BASE-T SFP for copper networks

The 1000BASE-T SFP operates on standard Category 5 unshielded twisted-pair copper cabling of link lengths up to 100 m (328 ft). Cisco 1000BASE-T SFP modules support 10/100/1000 auto negotiation and Auto MDI/MDIX.

1000BASE-SX SFP for multimode fiber only

The 1000BASE-SX SFP, compatible with the IEEE 802.3z 1000BASE-SX standard, operates on legacy 50 μm multimode fiber links up to 550 m and on 62.5 μm Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI)-grade multimode fibers up to 220 m. It can support up to 1km over laser-optimized 50 μm multimode fiber cable.

1000BASE-LX/LH SFP for both multimode and single-mode fibers

The 1000BASE-LX/LH SFP, compatible with the IEEE 802.3z 1000BASE-LX standard, operates on standard single-mode fiber-optic link spans of up to 10 km and up to 550 m on any multimode fibers. When used over legacy multimode fiber type, the transmitter should be coupled through a mode conditioning patch cable.

1000BASE-EX SFP for long-reach single-mode fibers

The 1000BASE-EX SFP operates on standard single-mode fiber-optic link spans of up to 40 km in length. A 5-dB inline optical attenuator should be inserted between the fiber-optic cable and the receiving port on the SFP at each end of the link for back-to-back connectivity.

1000BASE-ZX SFP for long-reach single-mode fibers

The 1000BASE-ZX SFP operates on standard single-mode fiber-optic link spans of up to approximately 70 km in length. The SFP provides an optical link budget of 21 dB, but the precise link span length depends on multiple factors such as fiber quality, number of splices, and connectors.

When shorter distances of Single-Mode Fiber (SMF) are used, it might be necessary to insert an inline optical attenuator in the link to avoid overloading the receiver. A 10-dB inline optical attenuator should be inserted between the fiber-optic cable plant and the receiving port on the SFP at each end of the link whenever the fiber-optic cable span loss is less than 8 dB.

100/1000BASE-LX SFP for long-reach single-mode fibers

The dual-rate 100M/1G 10Km SFP is interoperable with the IEEE 100BASE-LX and 1000BASE-LX/LH standards.

The GLC-GE-DR-LX SFP also supports Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM) functions according to the industry-standard SFF-8472 Multisource Agreement (MSA). This feature gives the end user the ability to monitor real-time parameters of the SFP, such as optical output power, optical input power, temperature, laser bias current, and transceiver supply voltage.

SFP Operation at 100M

The GLC-GE-DR-LX SFP can interoperate with other 100M SFPs/interfaces as long as those are based on 100BASE-LX10 standard. A 5dB attenuator is needed on the path of dual-rate SFP Tx and 100BASE-LX10 interface Rx. No attenuator is needed on the other fiber strand.

SFP Operation at 1G

The GLC-GE-DR-LX SFP can interoperate with other 1G SFPs/interfaces as long as those are based on 1000BASE-LX/LH standard. No attenuator is needed in any fiber strand.

1000BASE-BX10-D and 1000BASE-BX10-U SFP for single-fiber bidirectional applications

The 1000BASE-BX-D and 1000BASE-BX-U SFPs, compatible with the IEEE 802.3ah 1000BASE-BX10-D and 1000BASE-BX10-U standards, operate on a single strand of standard SMF.

A 1000BASE-BX10-D device is always connected to a 1000BASE-BX10-U device with a single strand of standard SMF with an operating transmission range up to 10 km. The communication over a single strand of fiber is achieved by separating the transmission wavelength of the two devices as depicted in Figure 2: 1000BASE-BX10-D transmits a 1490-nm channel and receives a 1310-nm signal, whereas 1000BASE-BX10-U transmits at a 1310-nm wavelength and receives a 1490-nm signal. As shown, the presence of a Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM) splitter integrated into the SFP to split the 1310-nm and 1490-nm light paths.

Bidirectional transmission of a single strand of SMF

         The GLC-BX-D and GLC-BX-U SFPs also support Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM) functions according to the industry-standard SFF-8472 Multisource Agreement (MSA). This feature gives the end user the ability to monitor real-time parameters of the SFP, such as optical output power, optical input power, temperature, laser bias current, and transceiver supply voltage.

The GLC-BX-D-I and GLC-BX-U-I are the Industrial temperature rated (IND) counterparts of GLC-BX-D and GLC-BX-U SFPS. This allows link operation in harsh environmental conditions where the module case temperature can be in the range -40°C to 85°C.

2-Channel 1000BASE-BX10-D for single-fiber bidirectional applications

The 2-channel 1000BASE-BX-D SFP module, also known as Compact SFP, integrates two IEEE 802.3ah 1000BASE-BX10-D interfaces in one SFP module. The GLC-2BX-D or GLC-2BX-D-I is always connected to two 1000BASE-BX10-U interfaces over two single strands of standard SMF with an operating transmission range up to 10km.

GLC-2BX-D or GLC-2BX-D-I is designed to connect to any standard-based Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) in FTTx links (Figure 3).

Compact SFP deployment with Cisco Catalyst 4500

1000BASE-BX40-D and 1000BASE-BX40-U for single-fiber bidirectional applications

The Cisco GLC-BX40-D-I, GLC-BX40-DA-I, and GLC-BX40-U-I SFPs operate on a single strand of standard SMF.

A GLC-BX40-D-I or GLC-BX40-DA-I device connects to a GLC-BX40-U-I device with a single strand of standard SMF with an operating transmission range up to 40 km.

The communication over a single strand of fiber is achieved by separating the transmission wavelength of the two devices. The GLC-BX40-D-I, GLC-BX40-DA-I, and GLC-BX40-U-I SFPs also support Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM) functions according to the industry-standard SFF-8472 Multisource Agreement (MSA). This feature gives the end user the ability to monitor real-time parameters of the SFP, such as optical output power, optical input power, temperature, laser bias current, and transceiver supply voltage.

1000BASE-BX80-D and 1000BASE-BX80-U for single-fiber bidirectional applications

The Cisco GLC-BX80-D-I and GLC-BX80-U-I SFPs operate on a single strand of standard SMF.

A GLC-BX80-D-I device is always connected to a GLC-BX80-U-I device with a single strand of standard SMF with an operating transmission range up to 80 km.

The communication over a single strand of fiber is achieved by separating the transmission wavelength of the two devices. The GLC-BX80-D-I and GLC-BX80-U-I SFPs also support Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM) functions according to the industry-standard SFF-8472 Multisource Agreement (MSA). This feature gives the end user the ability to monitor real-time parameters of the SFP, such as optical output power, optical input power, temperature, laser bias current, and transceiver supply voltage.

1000BASE-X modules for 10G ports

1000BASE-SX SFP for multimode fiber only

The SFP-1G-SX module operates in 10G, 10/25G dual rate and 10/25/50G tri-rate ports of Cisco switches and routers, but provides 1G connectivity. The SFP-1G-SX interoperates with 1000BASE-SX modules.

The SFP-1G-SX module will only operate in 10G capable ports and will not operate in 1G only ports.

1000BASE-LX/LH SFP for single-mode fiber and multi-mode fiber

THE SFP-1G-LH module operates in 10G, 10/25G dual rate and 10/25/50G tri-rate ports of Cisco switches and routers, but provides 1G connectivity. The SFP-1G-LH interoperates with 1000BASE-LX/LH modules.

The SFP-1G-LH module will only operate in 10G capable ports and will not operate in 1G only ports.

Product specifications

Cabling and connectors

Connectors include the following:

●      Dual LC/PC connector (1000BASE-SX, 1000BASE-LX/LH, 1000BASE-EX and 1000BASE-ZX)

●      Single LC/PC connector (1000BASE-BX-D and 1000BASE-BX-U)

●      RJ-45 connector (1000BASE-T)

Note:      Only connections with patch cords with PC or UPC connectors are supported. Patch cords with APC connectors are not supported. All cables and cable assemblies used must be compliant with the standards specified in the standards section.

          provides cabling specifications for the SFPs that you install in the Gigabit Ethernet port. Note that all SFP ports have LC-type connectors, and the minimum cable distance for all SFPs listed (multimode and single-mode fiber) is 6.5 feet (2 m).

SFP Port cabling specifications

Main optical parameters

Operating temperature range:

●      Commercial temperature range (COM): 0 to 70°C (32 to 158°F)

●      Extended temperature range (EXT): -5°C to 85°C (23 to 185°F)

●      Industrial temperature range (IND): -40 to 85°C (-40 to 185°F)

●      Storage temperature range: -40 to 85°C (-40 to 185°F)

Cisco SFP modules typically consume up to 1W per SFP port., The Compact SFP (GLC-2BX-D) consumes up to 1.5W. The SFP-1G-LH and SFP-1G-SX consume up to 2W.

Temperature range and DOM support