Is it possible to interconnect sfp, sfp+ and xenpak, x2…? More questions and answers here...

1. Interconnecting SFP, SFP+ and XENPAK/X2
Is It Possible to Interconnect SFP, SFP+ and XENPAK/X2…?
Can we interconnect the SFP, SFP+ and XENPAK/X2? Is it possible to
connect X2-10GB-LR to 10GBASE-SR with 4-5 metre patch cord? And can LC-
SC patch cord connect X2-10GB-SR between SFP-10G-SR?
These questions were asked by Cisco users? They are also common questions
often asked by Cisco clients and users…
What did the users say and how to solve these problems? Let’s read these
discussion in detail from the Cisco Support Community…
The Q1:
“Is it possible to interconnect:
1. SFP+ and XENPAK/X2, e.g. SFP-10G-SR (Cat2960X or Cat3560X) and
XENPAK-10GB-SR (Cat6500) or X2-10GB-SR (Cat3750E)?
I do not mean cabling, I am asking about whether those two modules would
"see" each other (establish a link)
2. SFP+ and SFP, e.g. SFP-10G-SR (Cat2960X or Cat3560X) and GLC-SX-MM
(Cat6500 or Cat3750G/E)?
It seems that SFP-10G-SR cannot "downgrade" itself to 1 Gbps speed.
3. Will GLC-SX-MM or GLC-LH-SM work in SFP+ slots (Cat2960X or
Cat3560X)?
Will 1Gbps modules work in SFP+ slots?”
“1”and”3”, the answer is Yes. The”2”, you cannot.
Because "The SFP-10G-SR is 10 Gbps only." It runs at 10 Gbps link rate and
no other speed.
Actually, the SFP+ requires LC connector; the X2 may require an SC
connector. Using two fibers with LC-SC terminations solve the issue. (LC
connector on one fiber end, SC connector on the other fiber end).
You just need the correct optic on each side. Also, if your optics are
Single mode you need single mode patch cord. If your optics are Multimode
than you need Multimode patch cord.

2. The SFP-10G-SR is 10 Gbps only. The GLC-SX-MM is 1 Gbps only. You cannot
interconnect them.
The GLC-SX-MM is multimode LED-based. The GLC-LH-SM is singlemode
laser-based. They may (sometimes) work with Mode conditioning patch (MCP)
cables but it's not generally a good idea unless it's completely unavoidable.
That means one cannot force SFP-10G-SR to use 1Gbps speed? This is a very
common question and the response will always be the
same: GBIC, SFP/SFP+, X2, XENPAK, QSFP, CSFP modules will only negotiate
to one speed and one speed only.
More about Connect X2-10GB-LR to 10GBASE-SR
The Q2:
“Is it possible to connect X2-10GB-LR to 10GBASE-SR with 4-5 metre patch
cord?”
Cisco X2-10GB-LR
The Cisco 10GBASE-LR Module supports a link length of 10 kilometers on
standard single-mode fiber (SMF, G.652).
Сisco X2
Wavelength
(nm)
Cable
Type
Core Size
(Microns)
Modal
Bandwidth
(MHz*km)
Cable
Distance*
Cisco X2-
10GB-
LRM
1310
MMF
62.5
50.0
50.0
500
400
500
220m
100m
220m
SMF G.652 - 300m
The Cisco 10GBASE-SR Module supports a link length of 26m on
standard Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI)-grade multimode
fiber (MMF). Using 2000MHz*km MMF (OM3), up to 300m link lengths are
possible. Using 4700MHz*km MMF (OM4), up to 400m link lengths are
possible.
Cisco
SFP+
Wavelength
(nm)
Cable
Type
Core Size
(Microns)
Modal
Bandwidth
(MHz*km)***
Cable
Distance*

3. Cisco
SFP-
10G-
SR
Cisco
SFP-
10G-
SR-X
850 MMF
62.5
62.5
50.0
50.0
50.0
50.0
160 (FDDI)
200 (OM1)
400
500 (OM2)
2000 (OM3)
4700 (OM4)
26m
33m
66m
82m
300m
400m
The Answer is: Not possible. You need to use modules with the same
wavelengths, i. e. SR to SR or LR to LR.
The Q3:
“Can LC-SC patch cord connect X2-10GB-SR between SFP-10G-SR?
This is my customer's N7K.
sw7010a2# sh module
Mod Ports Module-Type Model Status
--- ----- ----------------------------------- ------------------ ----------
1 32 1/10 Gbps Ethernet Module N7K-F132XP-15 ok
3 48 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet XL Module N7K-M148GT-11L ok
5 0 Supervisor module-1X N7K-SUP1 active *
6 0 Supervisor module-1X N7K-SUP1 ha-standby
9 8 10 Gbps Ethernet XL Module N7K-M108X2-12L ok
10 8 10 Gbps Ethernet XL Module N7K-M108X2-12L ok
The module 1 was no empty port.
Is anybody using LC-SC patch cord connect X2-10GB-SR (on N7K-M108X2-
12L) between SFP-10G-SR (on N5K)?”
Yes, it'll work fine as long as your fibre patch cord is Multi-Mode.
If your fiber patch is LC to SC (Single Mode) it should work just fine. I have
not used LC to SC between Nexus platforams but have used LC to SC to
connect 5Ks and 7ks to 6500.

4. “Should work just fine as long as it's multi-mode, as stated above.
Also, if there are any jumpers in between, make sure you're not mixing
62.5/50 micron together.”
“I would like to know which patch cord should I be using between X2-10GB-
SR and IBM 10GBase-SR 10GbE 850 nm Fiber SFP+ Transceiver.” You need
LC to SC Multimode
More Related Topics…
The Questions about the Cisco 10GBASE X2 Module & SFP Compatibility
Cisco OneX Converter Module: the CVR-X2-SFP10G & CVR-X2-SFP10G=
Cisco S-Class Optics vs. Non-S-Class Optics
Cisco 10GBASE SFP+ Modules Overview
Cisco XFP vs. SFP vs. SFP+
About Transceiver & Cisco Transceiver Modules
Introducing Cisco S-Class 10GBASE SFP+ Modules