See How 2.5GBASE-T SFP Stands Out From the Rest!

Nowadays, data centers have upgraded from 10G to 40G, 40G to 100G, and even 100G to 400G, however, for some small business data centers with 1G infrastructure, upgrading directly from 1G to 10G is a huge challenge. Thus, the emergence of 2.5 Ethernet has emerged to fill in the gaps. So what do you know about 2.5GBASE-T optical modules? This article will introduce you to 2.5GBASE-T SFP from the aspects of the definition, working principle, application, and FAQs.

What Is 2.5GBASE-T SFP?

Generally speaking, 2.5GBASE-T SFP is a kind of multi-vendor MSA compatible 2.5G copper SFP ( Small Form-factor Pluggable) transceiver, operating over twisted pair Cat5e or better cable with maximum distance up to 80m. Featuring low power consumption and 2.5 times faster than 1G SFP, the 2.5G SFP transceiver is ideal for those networking places using copper connections.

Figure 1: 2.5GBASE-T SFP Transceiver Module

2.5GBASE-T SFP Transceiver Working Principle

If we want to learn more about the 2.5GBASE-T SFP, then it is inevitable to figure out how it works. As we all know, the optical module works at the physical layer, the bottom layer in the OSI model. It has a transmitter (Tx) and a receiver (Rx), whose role is to implement the optoelectronic conversion. But do you know how the 2.5GBASE-T copper transceiver works?

2.5G SFP transceiver has an RJ45 interface used for connecting copper cables, thus there is no signal conversion during the transmission. The network switch transmits the electrical signal to the 2.5G SFP module directly and then the 2.5GBASE-T SFP transceiver transmits the electrical signal through a copper cable. That's the whole working principle for the 2.5GBASE-T module.

Application of 2.5GBASE-T SFP

2.5GBASE-T SFP is widely used for enterprise networking for LAN applications, data centers, servers, storage appliances, WIFI Access Point interconnections and aggregation, and other networking places using the copper infrastructure. The following picture shows the interconnections of the FS 2.5G SFP module with the S5860-24XB-U PoE++ switch.

Figure 2: 2.5GBASE-T SFP Module Interconnected with S5860-24XB-U PoE++ Switch

2.5GBASE-T SFP Module FAQs

Q: Does existing cable equipment support 2.5GBASE-T?

A: 2.5GBASE-T is primarily used to support 802.11ac Wi-Fi devices over already installed Category 5e and Category 6 cables. As more and more 802.11ac-enabled devices enter the market, many enterprises are deploying this technology in hopes of getting faster Wi-Fi without having to upgrade their existing fixed cabling. However, not all cabling merchants have similar capabilities. Moving, adding, and adjusting cables over the years can cause physical damage, which in turn can affect performance. Therefore, before investing in new WiFi equipment, it is best to find out if existing cables support 2.5GBASE-T.

Q: Can 10G SFP+ Run 2.5G?

A: Yes. The 10GBASE-T SFP+ copper modules can support up to 200m, and auto-negotiate to 100mbps, 1000mbpsG, 2.5G, 5G data rates. 10GBASE-T SFP+ transceivers, terminated with RJ45 connectors, support 10G bandwidth over existing infrastructure and reuse Ethernet cables.

Q: Why is 2.5GBASE-T emerging?

A: Because the transmission rate of WiFi 6 is 2.5Gbps and it has solved the problems of reading and writing data information of multiple terminals at any time, making WiFi 6 more popular with network users. Thus resulting in the emergence of 2.5GBASE-T Ethernet.

Q: What are the different types of SFP modules?

A: SFP can be divided into 3G-SDI video SFP, PON SFP, CWDM/DWDM SFP, BIDI SFP, Fibre Channel SFP, SONET/SDH SFP, and other types. More information about SFP types can be found here: How Many Types of SFP Transceivers Do You Know?

Q: What are the advantages of the 2.5G SFP module?

A: The 2.5GBASE-T SFP has lower power consumption and transmits 2.5 times faster than 1G SFP, and can be backward compatible with 1000base/100base, making it an ideal and cost-effective solution for connections using copper cables.

Conclusion

The 2.5GBASE-T SFP is a really cost-effective solution for short-distance transmission over copper cabling. Through the above introduction, you may have more understanding of the 2.5GBASE-T module, and hope it can help you answer the doubts in your mind.