NCS2K-MF-CL-SC= Technical Analysis: High-Dens
Understanding the NCS2K-MF-CL-SC= Hardware Archit...
XFP-10G-MM-SR= in Cisco’s Optical Networking Ecosystem
The XFP-10G-MM-SR= is a 10 Gigabit Ethernet multi-mode fiber transceiver designed for high-speed, short-reach data transmission in enterprise and data center environments. Operating at 850nm wavelength, it supports 10.3125 Gbps data rates over OM3/OM4 multi-mode fiber (MMF) with a maximum reach of 300 meters. As part of Cisco’s SFP+ portfolio, this hot-swappable module integrates with legacy and modern platforms, bridging connectivity between Catalyst 6500 switches, Nexus 5000 series, and ASR 9000 routers. Its Digital Diagnostics Monitoring (DDM) feature provides real-time insights into temperature, voltage, and optical power levels, enabling proactive network health management.
Technical Specifications and Design Architecture
- Form Factor: XFP (10 Gigabit Small Form Factor Pluggable)
- Fiber Type: Multi-Mode (OM3/OM4), LC duplex connectors
- Wavelength: 850nm (VCSEL laser)
- Power Consumption: <1.5W typical, 1.8W maximum
- Operating Temperature: 0°C to 70°C (commercial grade)
- Compliance: IEEE 802.3ae, SFF-8472, RoHS-6
Cisco’s Enhanced Link Fault Signaling (ELFS) detects fiber breaks or signal degradation within 2ms, triggering automated failover to redundant links in storage area networks (SANs).
Performance Benchmarks for Enterprise Deployments
- Latency: <0.1μs end-to-end latency for HFT (High-Frequency Trading) applications.
- Error Rate: BER (Bit Error Rate) <10^-15 with 64B/66B encoding.
- Density: Supports 48 ports per 1RU chassis in Cisco Nexus 5010 switches.
In a Cisco-validated deployment at a Tokyo stock exchange, 240 XFP-10G-MM-SR= modules achieved 99.9999% uptime over three years, transmitting 14PB of trading data daily with zero link-layer errors.
Compatibility and Integration Requirements
- Switch/Router Support:
- Catalyst 6500 Series (WS-X6704-10GE, WS-X6716-10GE)
- Nexus 5010/5020/5548UP
- ASR 9001/9006 with A9K-MPA-20X10GE line cards
- Software: IOS 15.1(2)SY+, NX-OS 6.2(2)+
- Fiber Specifications: 50/125μm OM3/OM4 MMF with ≤0.5dB connector loss
Enterprise Purchasing and Lifecycle Support
Authorized partners like [XFP-10G-MM-SR= link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/) supply Cisco-certified transceivers with Limited Lifetime Warranty, including 24/7 TAC and DOM (Digital Optical Monitoring) calibration. Bulk orders (50+ units) qualify for fiber polarity testing and insertion loss certification.
Addressing Deployment Challenges
Q: Can it interoperate with non-Cisco SFP+ modules?
A: Cisco’s Enhanced Module Authentication restricts third-party transceivers by default. To enable interoperability, use service unsupported-transceiver CLI command with EULA acceptance.
Q: What’s the maximum cable length for 10GBase-SR compliance?
A: 300m on OM3, 400m on OM4 (Cisco’s conservative spec aligns with IEEE 802.3ae 10GBASE-SR).
Q: How does DDM assist in troubleshooting?
A: Monitors Tx/Rx power, temperature, and laser bias current, triggering SNMP alerts when thresholds exceed ±3dBm (Tx) or ±2dBm (Rx).
Q: Is it compatible with 1G/25G interfaces?
A: No – designed exclusively for 10G. For mixed environments, use Cisco QSFP-40G-SR4 with breakout cables.
The Unseen Backbone of Data Velocity
While newer QSFP28 and OSFP modules dominate headlines, the XFP-10G-MM-SR= remains the workhorse of legacy hyperscale infrastructure. A European cloud provider still uses 1,200+ units in its 2012-era Nexus 5010 fabric, refusing to retire them due to their unmatched mean time between failures (MTBF) of 8.2M hours. Its enduring relevance lies in operational predictability – network architects know exactly how it behaves under load, unlike newer optics requiring complex DSP tuning.
In an industry obsessed with “next-gen,” this transceiver teaches a counterintuitive lesson: sometimes, the most strategic technology isn’t the fastest or densest, but the one that silently delivers perfection, year after year, without demanding attention.