FAQs for SFP+
What does SFP+ stand for?
Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus. It is the second generation of the SFP interconnect systems designed for 10-14G performance.
What is your standard turnaround time for delivery?
Standard lengths (1M, 2M, 3M, 5M, and 7M) are in stock, other lengths available in 4 weeks.
What gauges and lengths do you offer?
30 AWG, 28 AWG, 26 AWG and 24 AWG cables are available. Standard lengths are 0.5m, 1m, 1.5m, 2m, 2.5m, 3m, 5m, and 7m. Custom lengths are available upon request.
Can I use SFP+ cables in SFP ports?
Yes, SFP+ cables are compatible to SFP ports and will work fine. SFP cables are not compatible to SFP+ ports. SFP+ receptacles have a mechanical feature to prevent engaging SFP plugs.
What is the difference between SFP+ and SFP?
The pinouts of SFP and SFP+ connectors are identical. However, SFP has a maximum data rate of 5Gb/s whereas SFP+ is designed for 10Gb/s. The SFP receptacles and plugs are not as well impedance matched as SFP+ receptacles and plugs. Also SFP+ cable is designed for 10Gb/s whereas SFP cable may not be able to satisfactorily transmit that rate.
Do you offer custom EEPROM programming?
Yes, upon request. Cables with custom EEPROMs will be supplied under a different part number.
What product documentation do you offer?
Product specification sheets, customer use drawings, signal integrity reports and standard EEPROM programming table are available on our website.
Do these products support 10G per lane data rate and for what standards?
Yes, per SFF-8431 and SFF-8083, these cables support 10G Ethernet, 8G FibreChannel, 10G FCoE, 10G InfiniBand and various unified architecture link applications.
Are you a member of the SFF committee that helps to specify and standardize SFP+?
Yes, we are also involved with the Fibre Channel T11 committee.
Are you a member of the InfiniBand Trade Association (IBTA)?
Yes. Although the current QDR spec does not list SFP+ interconnect yet, the specification and architecture does specifically define single lane QDR links. The single lane SFP+ InfiniBand links are being deployed in the Vision Systems and Digital Signage market segments.
Do you have design qualification test data?
Siemon’s performance testing exceeds industry requirements. Mechanical and electrical test data is available upon request.
What are the other key product attributes?
Due to our automated termination process our cable assemblies exhibit best in class impedance and cross talk performance.
What is dWDP?
dWDP refers to difference Waveform Dispersion Penalty. It is the function dWDP = WDPo
– WDPi where “o” refers to output and “i” refers to input. WDP is a wave shape metric for waveform filtering and/or nonlinear distortion. WDP uses a procedure defined in IEEE 802.3. It is a way to determine how much a digital signal is distorted as it passes thru a transmission line, in this case, a cable assembly.
What is VMA?
VMA refers to Voltage Modulation Amplitude. VMA loss is the attenuation of a digital signal as it passes thru a transmission line or, in this case, a cable assembly. It is the ratio of VMA o /VMA i, where VMA is the difference between the nominal one and zero levels of an electrical signal. The average voltage level in the central 20% of each one and zero is measured. The difference between the two levels (a positive voltage) is the VMA.
What is VCR?
VCR refers to VMA loss to Crosstalk Ratio. It is a ratio of the attenuation or loss thru the cable assembly and the crosstalk within the assembly. In the case of SFP+, the crosstalk is near end crosstalk only since there is only one receive pair at each end.
What cable jacket color is available?
Our standard jacket color is black. Blue can be provided, however, initial lead time may be 14 weeks. A minimum order quantity may apply.
Do you have LSZH cable jacket available?
Yes, LSZH jacketed cable is available; however, initial lead time may be 14 weeks. A minimum order quantity may apply.
Where do you manufacture these cables?
China. Contact Siemon if you require assemblies made in North America.
Where are these cable assemblies used?
These are “point-to-point” cables that are used to directly connect two pieces of active equipment like SAN, LAN, Vision systems and digital video signage. They are most commonly used in data centers for top of rack or middle of row installations.
Can I use Siemon’s SFP+ cables with Cisco Switches?
Starting with Cisco NX-OS Software release 4.1(3)N2.1, Siemon’s cable will function properly with the Nexus 2000 and 5000 series switches* An evaluation of Siemon’s SFP+ performance with a Nexus 5020 switch was successfully completed at the University of New Hampshire’s InterOperability Lab.
Can I use Siemon’s SFP+ cables with HP ProCurve Switches?
No. HP programs their equipment to reject 3rd party cables.*
Can I use Siemon’s SFP+ cables with Arista, Blade Networks, or Extreme Networks equipment?
Yes. These companies do not block 3rd party cables out of their equipment.* Siemon’s cables comply with all the appropriate industry standards and should function properly with this hardware.
Are SFP+ cables returnable?
Standard lengths are returnable within 90 days. Non-standard lengths are not returnable.
* The information provided is accurate to the best of our knowledge.
Contact Siemon Interconnect Solutions Technical Support for a additional assistance.