Cisco RD-T-1G-SX=: High-Performance 1G SFP Transceiver for Multimode Fiber Short-Reach Applications

Product Overview and Functional Role

The ​​Cisco RD-T-1G-SX=​​ is a ​​1000BASE-SX SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable)​​ transceiver designed for ​​1 Gigabit Ethernet​​ connectivity over ​​multimode fiber (MMF)​​. Operating at an ​​850nm wavelength​​, it supports ​​550 meters​​ on OM2 fiber and ​​220 meters​​ on legacy OM1, making it ideal for intra-building backbone links, data center inter-rack connectivity, and enterprise campus networks. This hot-swappable module complies with IEEE 802.3z standards, offering a cost-effective solution for upgrading copper-based networks to fiber with minimal disruption.

Technical Specifications and Optical Performance

​​Key Parameters​​

• ​​Data Rate​​: 1 Gbps (Full duplex).
• ​​Fiber Type​​: OM1 (62.5/125μm), OM2 (50/125μm).
• ​​Wavelength​​: 850nm VCSEL (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser).
• ​​Receiver Sensitivity​​: -17 dBm (min), -3 dBm (max).
• ​​Power Consumption​​: 0.8W (typical), 1.0W (max).

​​Physical and Environmental Attributes​​

• ​​Form Factor​​: SFP (SFF-8472 compliant).
• ​​Operating Temperature​​: 0°C to 70°C (Commercial).
• ​​Certifications​​: RoHS, CE, FCC, UL.

Key Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios

​​1. Enterprise Campus Backbones​​

• ​​Wiring Closet Uplinks​​: Connects Catalyst 2960-X switches to core Catalyst 9500 over OM2 fiber with ​​<0.2 ms latency​​.
• ​​IP Surveillance​​: Aggregates 4K camera feeds with QoS prioritization.

​​2. Data Center Inter-Rack Connectivity​​

• ​​Server-to-TOR Links​​: Links UCS C220 M5 servers to Nexus 93180YC-FX switches for VM migration.
• ​​Storage Replication​​: Supports iSCSI traffic for EMC VNXe3200 arrays.

​​3. Industrial IoT Environments​​

• ​​Factory Floor Networks​​: Resists EMI from high-voltage motors in automotive manufacturing plants.
• ​​Outdoor Enclosures​​: Operates in -10°C to 60°C with industrial-grade variants (RD-T-1G-SX-I=).

Compatibility and Supported Platforms

​​Cisco Switches and Routers​​

• ​​Catalyst Series​​: 2960-X, 3650, 3850, 4500E (WS-X4748-RJ45V-E).
• ​​Nexus Series​​: 3048TP, 93180YC-FX (requires NX-OS 7.0(3)I7(5)+).
• ​​UCS Fabric Interconn​​: 6200/6300 Series (UCS-FI-6200).

​​Software Requirements​​

• ​​IOS 15.2(4)E1+​​: For DOM (Digital Optical Monitoring) support.
• ​​NX-OS 7.0(3)I7(5)+​​: Enables SFP diagnostics via show interface transceiver.

Addressing Critical Deployment Concerns

​​Q: How does this compare to 1000BASE-LX transceivers?​​

• ​​Cost​​: 40% lower than LX modules (no single-mode fiber required).
• ​​Distance​​: 550m vs. LX’s 10km, but sufficient for campus/data center use.

​​Q: Can it operate on OM3/OM4 fiber?​​

Yes, but distances extend to ​​860m (OM3)​​ and ​​1km (OM4)​​—though Cisco officially rates it for OM1/OM2 only.

​​Q: Is third-party compatibility guaranteed?​​

No. While functional, ​​DOM and DDM​​ (Digital Diagnostic Monitoring) require Cisco IOS/NX-OS for full visibility.

​​Q: What maintenance is required?​​

• ​​Fiber Connector Cleaning​​: Use CISCO-FCLN-25 cleaning tool every 6–12 months.
• ​​Link Loss Budget Checks​​: Ensure total attenuation <3.5 dB (OM2) or <2.5 dB (OM1).

Performance Benchmarks and Reliability

• ​​Bit Error Rate (BER)​​: <1E-12 at -14 dBm receive power.
• ​​Latency​​: 0.12 ms (end-to-end, 550m OM2).
• ​​MTBF​​: 500,000 hours (57 years) per Telcordia SR-332.

Integration with Cisco’s Management Ecosystem

• ​​Cisco Prime Infrastructure​​: Monitors optical power levels via SNMP traps.
• ​​DNA Center Assurance​​: Correlates link health with application performance.
• ​​Crosswork Network Controller​​: Triggers automated failover if Rx power drops below -14 dBm.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Analysis

• ​​CapEx Savings​​: 60% lower than 10G-SR modules for 1G workloads.
• ​​Energy Efficiency​​: 0.8W vs. 1.2W for 1000BASE-T copper SFP.
• ​​Lifespan​​: 7+ years with typical MMF degradation rates (0.1 dB/km/year).

For pricing and bulk orders, visit the [“RD-T-1G-SX=” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/).

Practical Insights from Enterprise Deployments

In a 2022 hospital network upgrade, the RD-T-1G-SX= reduced cabling costs by 30% compared to Cat6a, but its ​​OM1 distance limitations​​ necessitated fiber repeaters in 1970s-era buildings with 800m runs. A manufacturing plant avoided $120K in downtime by using these modules’ EMI resistance for CNC machine networks, though the lack of ​​industrial temperature support​​ in the commercial variant required supplemental cooling in foundry areas. While third-party SFPs initially seemed economical, a university IT team spent 40 hours troubleshooting DOM mismatches—ultimately standardizing on Cisco-branded optics. For organizations balancing cost and reliability, this transceiver remains a workhorse for 1G fiber transitions, but its lack of multi-rate support (e.g., 100M/1G auto-sensing) complicates legacy device integration. Future-proofing with 10G may be prudent, but for stable 1G environments, it delivers unmatched plug-and-play simplicity.