Editing Small Form-factor Pluggable (section)

==={{anchor|SFP+}}{{nowrap|10 Gbit/s}} SFP+<!--[[Enhanced small form-factor pluggable transceiver]] redirects here-->===
[[File:10_Gbit_XFP_and_SFP_transceivers.jpg|thumb|350px|right|A [[10 Gigabit Ethernet]] [[XFP transceiver]], ''top'', and a SFP+ transceiver, ''bottom'']]

The '''SFP+''' ('''enhanced small form-factor pluggable''') is an enhanced version of the SFP that supports data rates up to 16&nbsp;[[Gbit/s]]. The SFP+ specification was first published on May 9, 2006, and version 4.1 was published on July 6, 2009.<ref name="spec">{{cite web|url=https://members.snia.org/document/dl/25891|title=SFF-8431 Specifications for Enhanced Small Form Factor Pluggable Module SFP+ Revision 4.1|date=July 6, 2009|access-date=2023-09-25}}</ref> SFP+ supports {{nowrap|8 Gbit/s}} [[Fibre Channel]], [[10 Gigabit Ethernet]] and [[Optical Transport Network]] standard OTU2. It is a popular industry format supported by many network component vendors. Although the SFP+ standard does not include mention of {{nowrap|16 Gbit/s}} Fibre Channel, it can be used at this speed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tek.com/primer/characterizing-sfp-transceiver-16g-fibre-channel-rate|title=Characterizing an SFP+ Transceiver at the 16G Fibre Channel Rate |author=Tektronix | date= November 2013 }}</ref> Besides the data rate, the major difference between 8 and {{nowrap|16 Gbit/s}} Fibre Channel is the encoding method. The [[64b/66b encoding]] used for {{nowrap|16 Gbit/s}} is a more efficient encoding mechanism than [[8b/10b encoding|8b/10b]] used for {{nowrap|8 Gbit/s}}, and allows for the data rate to double without doubling the line rate. 16GFC doesn't really use {{nowrap|16 Gbit/s}} signaling anywhere. It uses a 14.{{nowrap|025 Gbit/s}} line rate to achieve twice the throughput of 8GFC.<ref>{{cite web
 |title       = Roadmaps
 |url         = https://fibrechannel.org/roadmap/
 |publisher   = Fibre Channel Industry Association
 |access-date  = 2023-03-05
}}</ref>

SFP+ also introduces [[10 Gigabit Ethernet#SFP+ direct attach|direct attach]] for connecting two SFP+ ports without dedicated transceivers. Direct attach cables (DAC) exist in passive (up to 7&nbsp;m), active (up to 15&nbsp;m), and active optical (AOC, up to 100&nbsp;m) variants.

{{nowrap|10 Gbit/s}} SFP+ modules are exactly the same dimensions as regular SFPs, allowing the equipment manufacturer to re-use existing physical designs for 24 and 48-port switches and modular [[line card]]s. In comparison to earlier [[XENPAK]] or [[XFP]] modules, SFP+ modules leave more circuitry to be implemented on the host board instead of inside the module.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/print/volume-23/issue-4/technology/10-gigabit-ethernet-camp-eyes-sfp-53428172.html|title=10-Gigabit Ethernet camp eyes SFP+ |work=LightWave |date=April 2006 }}</ref> Through the use of an active electronic adapter, SFP+ modules may be used in older equipment with [[XENPAK]] ports <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flexoptix.net/en/10-gigabit-xenpak-sfp-plus-adapter.html|title=SFP+ to XENPAK adapter}}</ref> and [[X2 transceiver|X2]] ports.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.optcore.net/product/cisco-cvr-x2-sfp10g-compatible-10gbase-x2-to-sfp-converter-module/|title=10GBASE X2 to SFP+ Converter|date=December 27, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unoptix.com/collections/10g-sfp|title=SFP Transceiver}}</ref>

SFP+ modules can be described as ''limiting'' or ''linear'' types; this describes the functionality of the inbuilt electronics. Limiting SFP+ modules include a signal amplifier to re-shape the (degraded) received signal whereas linear ones do not. Linear modules are mainly used with the low bandwidth standards such as [[10 Gigabit Ethernet#10GBASE-LRM|10GBASE-LRM]]; otherwise, limiting modules are preferred.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.lightwaveonline.com/general/the-road-to-sfp-examining-module-and-system-architectures-54884162.html |title=The road to SFP+: Examining module and system architectures |date= January 22, 2008 |author= Ryan Latchman and Bharat Tailor |work= Lightwave |access-date=2011-07-26 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128011127/http://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/2008/01/the-road-to-sfp-examining-module-and-system-architectures-54884162.html |archive-date=2013-01-28 }}</ref>