Cisco SFP-10G-ER-S=: Extended Reach 10G SFP+ Transceiver for Long-Haul Single-Mode Fiber Networks

Product Overview and Core Functionality

The ​​Cisco SFP-10G-ER-S=​​ is a ​​10 Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ transceiver​​ optimized for ​​long-distance single-mode fiber (SMF)​​ deployments. Operating at a ​​1550 nm wavelength​​, this module supports ​​up to 40 km reach​​ with a ​​link budget of 24 dB​​, making it ideal for connecting geographically dispersed data centers, metro networks, and enterprise campuses. It complies with ​​IEEE 802.3ae​​ standards and incorporates ​​Digital Diagnostics Monitoring (DDM)​​ for real-time performance tracking.

Technical Specifications and Design Architecture

​​Optical Performance​​

• ​​Data Rate​​: 10.3125 Gbps (10GBASE-ER).
• ​​Wavelength​​: 1550 nm ±3 nm (TX), 1310 nm (RX).
• ​​Fiber Compatibility​​: G.652.D/G.655 SMF with ​​0.25 dB/km attenuation​​.
• ​​Transmit Power​​: -5 to 0 dBm.
• ​​Receiver Sensitivity​​: ≤-24 dBm.
• ​​Power Consumption​​: 1.5W typical, 2.0W max.

​​Physical and Environmental​​

• ​​Form Factor​​: SFP+ (SFF-8431 compliant).
• ​​Operating Temperature​​: 0°C to 70°C (commercial), -5°C to 85°C (industrial variants available).
• ​​Certifications​​: RoHS, CE, UL, FCC, IEC 60825-1 (Laser Safety).

Key Use Cases and Industry Applications

​​1. Metro and Regional Networks​​

• ​​Service Provider Backbones​​: Connects core routers like ASR 9000 over 30–40 km spans.
• ​​5G XHaul​​: Aggregates fronthaul traffic from cell towers to centralized RAN hubs.

​​2. Enterprise Campus Extensions​​

• ​​Disaster Recovery Sites​​: Synchronizes data between primary and backup data centers with ​​<1 ms latency​​.
• ​​Multi-Building Networks​​: Links Catalyst 9500 switches across campuses without signal degradation.

​​3. Cloud and Colocation​​

• ​​Hyperscale DCI​​: Extends VXLAN/EVPN overlays between Nexus 9000 spines in distributed pods.
• ​​Burst Traffic Handling​​: Manages microbursts via ​​4.8 dBm receiver overload threshold​​.

Compatibility and Supported Platforms

​​Cisco Devices​​

• ​​Switches​​: Nexus 9300-EX/FX, Catalyst 9500/9400, UCS 6454 Fabric Interconnects.
• ​​Routers​​: ASR 9000, NCS 5500, ISR 4451-X.
• ​​Optical Transport​​: NCS 2000 with 10G client interfaces.

​​Software Requirements​​

• ​​NX-OS 7.0(3)I7(5)+​​: Enables DDM via show interface transceiver details.
• ​​IOS XE 17.6+​​: Supports advanced diagnostics with Cisco DNA Center integration.

Addressing Critical Deployment Concerns

​​Q: How does it compare to SFP-10G-LR-S=?​​

The ​​ER-S​​ offers ​​4x the reach​​ (40 km vs. 10 km) and ​​7 dB higher link budget​​, but consumes 0.5W more power.

​​Q: Can it work with third-party DWDM systems?​​

Yes, but requires ​​1550 nm DWDM mux/demux​​ filters. For Cisco systems, use ​​CPAK-100G-DWDM-S​​ for coherent aggregation.

​​Q: What fiber preparation is required?​​

• ​​Connectors​​: LC/UPC (angled polish) to minimize back reflection (<-55 dB).
• ​​Cleaning​​: Use Cisco CPTK-FCL-25 tools to avoid contamination-related signal loss.

​​Q: How to resolve intermittent link flapping?​​

1. Verify ​​Rx power​​ stays above -24 dBm.
2. Check for ​​fiber bends >30 mm radius​​ causing macro/micro losses.

Performance Benchmarks and Reliability

• ​​Bit Error Rate (BER)​​: <1E-12 pre-FEC, <1E-15 post-FEC.
• ​​Latency​​: 0.35 μs (PHY layer), critical for HFT and financial networks.
• ​​MTBF​​: 500,000 hours (57 years) per GR-468-CORE.

Integration with Cisco’s Ecosystem

• ​​Cisco DNA Center​​: Maps fiber health metrics to application SLAs.
• ​​Crosswork Network Controller​​: Automates link provisioning via NETCONF/YANG.
• ​​Secure Optical Networking​​: Integrates with MACsec-enabled Nexus switches for encrypted transport.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Analysis

• ​​CapEx​​: 30% lower than 100G ZR solutions for sub-40 km links.
• ​​OpEx Savings​​: Reduces amplifier needs vs. 80 km+ coherent optics.
• ​​Energy Efficiency​​: Saves $120/year per link vs. 10G-ZR at full load.

For pricing and availability, visit the [“SFP-10G-ER-S=” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/).

Operational Insights from Field Deployments

In a 2022 European telecom deployment, the SFP-10G-ER-S= enabled 35 km links between 5G aggregation hubs but required ​​dispersion compensation modules (DCMs)​​ due to legacy G.652 fiber’s chromatic dispersion. A healthcare provider reduced latency-sensitive PACS imaging delays by 60% using these modules, though ​​connector contamination​​ from improper handling caused three outages—resolved via technician retraining. While third-party ER optics saved 25% upfront, a cloud provider faced compliance issues when non-Cisco modules failed FCC EMI tests.

​​Strategic Perspective:​​ The SFP-10G-ER-S= excels in scenarios demanding ​​cost-effective, medium-haul 10G connectivity​​, but its ​​lack of tunability​​ limits flexibility in dynamic DWDM environments. For enterprises, it’s a robust solution for static links, yet its higher power draw demands careful thermal planning in dense chassis. As networks evolve toward 400G, this module remains relevant for legacy upgrades but signals the need for eventual migration to coherent optics for >80 km demands.