Compabitily between GBIC and 10G SFP+ SR

[Jairo Sarmiento Garzon]

Hello,

I need to connect a fiber between a WS-X6708-10GE module of a 6500-e chassis to a third-party Firewall. The Firewall has 10G SFP+ SR transceiver. I need to connect the two devices through a 10 Gbps link. I'm not sure if I can connect a GBIC to a SFP without problems and what model I should use. Some Reading, I have seen that the two modules must work in the same wavelength and type of fiber (MMF or SMF).

Currently, I have only 10GBase-LR installed at 6500:

Port         Name               Status       Vlan       Dúplex  Speed Type
Te1/1        CONEXION TRONCAL C connected    trunk        full    10G 10Gbase-LR
Te1/2        SW_6509_VEN_A TE1/ connected    trunk        full    10G 10Gbase-LR
Te1/3        connect to ASR01VE connected    routed       full    10G 10Gbase-LR
Te1/4        PUERTO LIBRE, CONF disabled     1            full    10G 10Gbase-LR

But optionally I have some XENPAK-10GB-SR transceivers that I could use.

Please give me some advice about how can I do that connection?

Thanks a lot.

[Leo Laohoo]

They will work as long as both fibre optic modules are of the same wavelength.

[Tom Randstrom]

The selection of the optical transceiver to use is typically based upon the fiber distance between the devices being interconnected.  

10GBASE-SR interface (which your firewall has installed) will support various link lengths, depending upon the grade of optical fiber connection the devices:

10GBASE-SR Module supports a link lengths of

• 26m using standard 62.5um FDDI grade OM1 Multi-Mode Fiber (MMF)
• 300m  using 50um OM3 MMF (2000 MHz*km)
• 400m using 50um OM4 MMF (4700 MHz*km)  MMF (OM4), up to 400m link lengths are possible.

If one of the above distances/fiber type matches your current installation, then use a Cisco 10GBASE-SX module, X2-style module for your 6708.  If the above distances are not sufficient for your needs, you will need to move to a different optical module that meets your network.