[c-nsp] SFP+ modules in Catalyst switches (was: Nexus 7000)

[Marian Ďurkovič]

On Mon, Jan 28, 2008 at 11:07:13PM -0500, David Prall wrote:
> It uses SFP+'s, they supposedly will be available in both 1GE and 10GE.

While the move to SFP+ for the Nexus7000 is clearly the only solution
(datacenter needs high density & low cost 10GE links and Nexus has
the potential for 500 Gbps per slot), the SFP+ datasheet says it will
also be adopted in Cat6000/4000/3000 series.

Could someone please explain the motivation for this?

>From the customer's perspective, it's a nightmare to see fourth different
10GE form factor coming into e.g. Cat6500, especially when XFPs were
already used on 10GE SPAs and ES20 cards. Consolidation on XFP form
factor would be IMHO much better for several reasons:

- it's also XFI-based
- all types are available *now* (including CX4, ZR and DWDM which are not
  planned for SFP+)
- supports both LAN and WAN PHY
- offers sufficient port density (24) for 80 Gbps per slot backplane
- has the widest adoption rate as it's used in SONET/SDH, DWDM and ethernet
  equipment
- is subject to continuos inovation (tunable XFPs, ultra long reach XFPs
  etc.)

Any thoughts/comments?


     With kind regards,

		M.  


--------------------------------------------------------------------------
----                                                                  ----
----   Marian Ďurkovič                       network  manager         ----
----                                                                  ----
----   Slovak Technical University           Tel: +421 2 571 041 81   ----
----   Computer Centre, Nám. Slobody 17      Fax: +421 2 524 94 351   ----
----   812 43 Bratislava, Slovak Republic    E-mail/sip: md at bts.sk    ----
----                                                                  ----
--------------------------------------------------------------------------