XFP and SFP are both transceiver standards for fiber optic networking. XFP was defined in 2002 for 10 Gigabit connections and uses an LC connector. It is hot-swappable and supports applications like 10 Gigabit Ethernet and OC-192 SONET. SFP was developed for smaller form factor pluggable transceivers up to 5 Gbps for easy upgrading of networks. It supports standards like Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and SONET. Due to its smaller size, SFP replaced the GBIC transceiver standard.

1. Difference Between XFP &
SFP

2. What is XFP…?
The XFP (10 Gigabit Small Form Factor Pluggable)
is a standard for transceivers for high-
speed computer network and telecommunication
links that use optical fiber.
 It was defined by an industry group in 2002, along
with its interface to other electrical components
which is called XFI.
 A transceiver is a device comprising both a
transmitter and a receiver which are combined
and share common circuitry or a single housing.

3. XFP Detail
1. XFP modules are hot-swappable and protocol-
independent.
2. They typically operate at optical wavelengths (colors) of
850 nm, 1310 nm or 1550 nm.
3. 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.
4. They can operate over a single wavelength or use dense
wavelength-division multiplexing techniques.
5. They include digital diagnostics that provide management
that were added to the SFF-8472 standard.
6. XFP modules use an LC fiber connector type to achieve
high density.

4. What is SFP…?
The small form-factor pluggable (SFP) is a
compact, hot-pluggable transceiver used for both
telecommunication and data communications
applications.
It interfaces a network device mother board (for
a switch, router, media converter or similar
device) to a fiber optic or copper networking
cable. It is a popular industry format jointly
developed and supported by many network
component vendors.

5. SFP Detail
1. SFP transceivers are expected to perform at data
speeds of up to five gigabits per second (5
Gbps), and possibly higher.
2. Because SFP modules can be easily
interchanged, electro-optical or fiber optic
networks can be upgraded and maintained more
conveniently than has been the case with
traditional soldered-in modules.
3. Rather than replacing an entire circuit board
containing several soldered-in modules, a single
module can be removed and replaced for repair
or upgrading. This can result in a substantial cost
savings, both in maintenance and in upgrading
efforts.

6. Count…
 SFP transceivers are designed to support
SONET, Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre
Channel, and other communications
standards.
 Due to its smaller size, SFP obsoletes the
formerly ubiquitous gigabit interface
converter (GBIC); the SFP is sometimes
referred to as a Mini-GBIC although no device
with this name has ever been defined in the
MSAs.

7. Kashif Latif