DS-SFP-FC16G-SW Cisco 16 Gbps Fibre Channel SW SFP+ LC

Cisco DS-SFP-FC16G-SW 16Gbps Fibre Channel SFP+ Transceiver

The Cisco DS-SFP-FC16G-SW is a high-speed 16Gbps Fibre Channel SFP+ transceiver designed to deliver dependable optical connectivity for enterprise storage networking environments. Built for short-range communication over multimode fiber, this hot-swappable module operates at an 850nm wavelength and supports distances of up to 100 meters. It is an excellent choice for organizations requiring reliable SAN connectivity, low latency, and seamless compatibility with Cisco MDS switches.

General Information

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Model Number: DS-SFP-FC16G-SW
• Product Category: Fibre Channel Transceiver Module
• Form Factor: GBIC-SFP (SFP+)

Optical Performance

• Optical Technology: VCSEL Laser
• Operating Wavelength: 850nm
• Transmit Power: -6 dBm to -1 dBm
• Maximum Receiver Overload: -1 dBm
• Maximum Transmission Distance: 100 meters

Interface Details

• One LC Duplex Fibre Channel interface.
• Dual LC optical connector design.
• Supports high-bandwidth Fibre Channel infrastructure.
• Plug-and-play installation with supported Cisco hardware.

Fiber Compatibility

Supported Cable Types

This Cisco 16Gb Fibre Channel transceiver is engineered for multimode optical fiber installations and delivers consistent signal quality across enterprise storage networks.

• 50µm Multi-Mode Fiber (MMF)
• 62.5µm Multi-Mode Fiber (MMF)
• Short-wave Fibre Channel applications
• Data center and SAN environments

Performance Benefits

• Fast storage networking connectivity.
• Reduced latency for Fibre Channel traffic.
• Stable optical signal transmission.
• Reliable performance for mission-critical applications.
• Efficient communication across storage infrastructure.

DOM Monitoring Includes

• Optical transmit power monitoring.
• Optical receive power measurements.
• Temperature monitoring.
• Voltage status reporting.
• Operational health diagnostics.

Compatible Cisco Platforms

Designed for Cisco MDS Storage Networking

The Cisco DS-SFP-FC16G-SW is specifically qualified for deployment with Cisco MDS 9000 Series Fibre Channel switches, ensuring dependable interoperability and consistent storage network performance.

• Cisco MDS 9000 Series switches.
• Enterprise Storage Area Networks (SAN).
• High-density Fibre Channel environments.
• Business-critical storage infrastructure.

Deployment Scenarios

Ideal Applications

• Enterprise SAN deployments.
• Private and hybrid cloud storage networks.
• Virtualized server infrastructure.
• Data center switching environments.
• High-speed Fibre Channel backbone connections.
• Storage replication and backup systems.

Key Features of Cisco DS-SFP-FC16G-SW

• Supports high-performance 16Gbps Fibre Channel transmission.
• Operates using an 850nm VCSEL optical laser.
• Designed for short-distance communication up to 100 meters.
• Dual LC duplex connector for stable fiber connectivity.
• Compatible with both 50µm and 62.5µm multimode fiber cables.
• Supports Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM) for real-time diagnostics.
• Hot-pluggable SFP+ form factor for simplified installation.
• Optimized for Cisco MDS 9000 Series Fibre Channel switches.

Cisco DS-SFP-FC16G-SW 16Gbps LC SFP+ Transceiver Module

The Cisco DS-SFP-FC16G-SW 16Gbps Fiber 100m 850nm LC Connector SFP+ Transceiver Module is designed for high-speed Fibre Channel networking environments that demand exceptional reliability, low latency, and consistent performance. As organizations continue to expand their storage infrastructure and migrate toward high-bandwidth data center architectures, 16Gbps Fibre Channel transceivers remain an essential component for delivering fast, secure, and dependable connectivity between storage arrays, Fibre Channel switches, directors, and enterprise servers.

Supporting short-wave optical communication over multimode fiber, the Cisco DS-SFP-FC16G-SW module enables data transmission up to 100 meters at an 850nm wavelength using an industry-standard duplex LC connector. This combination makes it an ideal choice for enterprise storage area networks (SANs), virtualization platforms, cloud infrastructure, disaster recovery deployments, and mission-critical applications where uninterrupted data access is essential.

Organizations implementing high-density Fibre Channel environments require optical transceivers that provide seamless interoperability with Cisco MDS switches and compatible networking hardware. The Cisco DS-SFP-FC16G-SW has been engineered specifically to meet these requirements while ensuring stable signal quality, low power consumption, and enterprise-grade durability.

Purpose of Cisco DS-SFP-FC16G-SW Transceiver Modules

The primary purpose of the Cisco DS-SFP-FC16G-SW transceiver is to establish high-speed optical links between Fibre Channel devices within enterprise storage networks. Unlike traditional Ethernet SFP modules, Fibre Channel optics are optimized for storage communication, enabling extremely low latency and highly reliable data transfers.

Storage Area Networks depend on dedicated Fibre Channel infrastructure because it delivers predictable performance, superior reliability, and consistent throughput. The Cisco DS-SFP-FC16G-SW module allows organizations to build scalable SAN environments capable of supporting database servers, virtualization hosts, backup appliances, enterprise storage arrays, and critical business applications.

By converting electrical signals into optical signals and vice versa, the module enables high-speed communication over multimode fiber cabling while minimizing electromagnetic interference and signal degradation.

16Gbps Fibre Channel Technology

High-Speed Storage Communication

16Gbps Fibre Channel represents a significant advancement over previous 8Gbps Fibre Channel standards. It doubles available bandwidth while maintaining backward compatibility with earlier Fibre Channel generations. Organizations upgrading existing SAN infrastructure can introduce Cisco DS-SFP-FC16G-SW optics without completely replacing legacy hardware.

Higher bandwidth translates into improved storage performance, reduced application latency, faster backup windows, accelerated database access, and enhanced virtual machine responsiveness.

Reliable Enterprise Connectivity

Enterprise storage traffic differs significantly from conventional network traffic. Fibre Channel prioritizes deterministic communication, ensuring that storage operations occur with minimal delays and consistent performance. The Cisco DS-SFP-FC16G-SW module supports this environment by providing stable optical communication designed specifically for SAN deployments.

Low Latency Transmission

Modern enterprise workloads require extremely low communication delays between servers and storage devices. The optical design of the Cisco DS-SFP-FC16G-SW contributes to reduced latency, enabling rapid read and write operations that improve application responsiveness across business-critical systems.

Technical Specifications

Maximum Data Rate

The module supports Fibre Channel communication speeds up to 16Gbps while remaining compatible with lower Fibre Channel speeds supported by connected equipment.

Optical Wavelength

Operating at an 850nm short-wave wavelength, the transceiver is optimized for multimode fiber infrastructure commonly found within enterprise data centers.

Maximum Transmission Distance

The Cisco DS-SFP-FC16G-SW supports transmission distances of up to 100 meters when deployed using suitable multimode optical fiber.

Connector Type

A duplex LC connector provides compact, reliable optical connectivity while supporting high-density switch installations.

Fiber Type

The module is intended for multimode fiber cabling, making it suitable for short-distance storage networking inside server rooms, enterprise campuses, and modern data centers.

Hot-Swappable Design

Administrators can install or replace the transceiver without shutting down the host device. This minimizes maintenance downtime and simplifies infrastructure upgrades.

Major Features

Enterprise-Class Reliability

Cisco optical transceivers undergo rigorous testing to ensure stable operation under demanding enterprise workloads. The DS-SFP-FC16G-SW maintains consistent signal quality throughout continuous operation.

Compact SFP+ Form Factor

The Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus (SFP+) design allows network administrators to maximize switch port density while minimizing rack space consumption.

Digital Optical Monitoring

Many supported Cisco platforms utilize Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM), allowing administrators to monitor optical performance parameters such as temperature, transmit power, receive power, voltage, and laser bias current.

Energy Efficiency

Efficient laser technology contributes to lower power consumption while maintaining excellent optical performance. Reduced energy usage becomes increasingly valuable in large-scale data centers operating hundreds or thousands of transceiver modules.

Benefits of Using Cisco Original Optical Modules

Guaranteed Compatibility

Original Cisco transceivers are designed specifically for Cisco networking platforms, minimizing compatibility concerns and simplifying deployment.

Consistent Performance

Enterprise environments require dependable communication between storage infrastructure components. Cisco optical modules provide predictable performance under continuous workloads.

Reduced Network Downtime

Reliable optical communication helps reduce unexpected link failures, minimizing disruptions that could impact storage availability or application performance.

Enhanced Diagnostics

Native compatibility with Cisco management software enables comprehensive monitoring and faster troubleshooting when optical issues occur.

Applications

Storage Area Networks

The Cisco DS-SFP-FC16G-SW is primarily deployed within Fibre Channel Storage Area Networks connecting storage controllers, disk arrays, tape libraries, backup appliances, and enterprise servers.

Virtualization Infrastructure

Virtualized environments rely heavily on shared storage. High-speed Fibre Channel connectivity supports rapid virtual machine migration, efficient storage access, and improved workload balancing.

Cloud Data Centers

Private cloud infrastructure depends upon scalable storage networking. Cisco 16Gbps Fibre Channel optics provide the bandwidth necessary for cloud-based storage architectures.

Database Servers

Mission-critical databases generate intensive storage traffic. The transceiver supports reliable communication that contributes to faster transaction processing and improved database responsiveness.

Backup Solutions

Enterprise backup systems benefit from higher Fibre Channel bandwidth, reducing backup windows while accelerating recovery operations.

Disaster Recovery

Organizations implementing disaster recovery strategies frequently deploy Fibre Channel storage replication. Stable optical communication helps maintain synchronization between primary and secondary storage environments.