A data center is a facility for information storage, consolidation, and transmission, including servers, routers, firewalls, switches, and other equipment. Optical modules play an important role in the information transmission process of the data center. In this article, we will introduce common 10G optical modules, their related products, and their selections.
10GBASE-T RJ45 Module
The 10GBASE-T RJ45 module complies with SFF-8431 and SFF-8432 MSA standard protocols, uses RJ45 connectors, and supports shielded twisted pair and unshielded twisted pairs. The module mainly uses CAT6 and CAT7 network cables for wiring, and the maximum transmission distance is 100m. The cost of using network cable cabling is lower than that of using fiber optic cabling, and the maintenance cost is also relatively low. In addition, the RJ45 electrical port module can be seamlessly migrated with 10G Ethernet and directly connected to other commonly used network equipment, which also saves deployment costs. So the overall cost is more economical.
10G SFP+ MMF Optical Module
There are various types of 10G SFP+ MMF optical modules, which are connected by multi-mode fiber patch cords, and the maximum transmission distance can be up to 500m.Of course, with fiber optic cabling, the cost is slightly higher. However, due to the high requirements for servers or storage devices to be connected to switches, high-performance 10G SFP+ optical modules with high reliability and scalability are required. 10G optical transceivers, 10G AOC, and 10G DAC are all commonly used optical components for top-of-rack (ToR) cabling in data centers.
10G AOC
10 Gigabit SFP+ AOC i.e. 10G SFP+ Active Optical Cable. 10 Gigabit AOC is a low-cost solution for replacing optical modules with a distance of up to 100m for connecting racks of ToR and EoR switches. Therefore, 10G SFP+ AOC is often used for switch-to-switch connectivity to meet the needs of data transmission between different racks in the data center.
10G DAC
The price of the 10G DAC is the lowest among the above products. The direct connection of the DAC with copper cables results in low latency and low cost. However, the transmission distance of the DAC is very limited, reaching at most only ten meters. Therefore, when there is a requirement for a long transmission distance, the 10G DAC will not be suitable.
How to Choose?
Distance
If you require a long transmission distance and want to save wiring, the 10G electrical port module is the best choice. But if you only require a few meters or even a dozen meters for the transmission distance, you can choose a 10G DAC. Transmission requirements within 300m, 10G optical modules are definitely your best choice.
Power Consumption
The 10G optical module has low power consumption, and it can achieve higher transmission speed in lower power. The 10 Gigabit electrical port module has high power consumption because it uses electrical signal transmission.
Delay
The direct connection of the 10G DAC to the network equipment results in low latency. The 10 Gigabit optical module uses optical fiber transmission, so the latency is relatively low. The 10 Gigabit electrical port module has a higher latency than the above two.
Cost
The issue of cost is definitely something you have to consider when choosing. At the same transmission distance, the price of 10 Gigabit electrical port modules is higher than that of 10 Gigabit optical modules, and the price of 10 Gigabit DACs is the cheapest. Judging only by appearances, you may wonder why the price of DACs is cheaper than 10G multi-mode optical modules. In fact, the lack of a photoelectric conversion device inside the DAC naturally reduces the cost.
Summary
There are many factors to consider when choosing the right device, and you should make the best choice based on the actual needs of your data center.
