DS-SFP-FC4G-MR Cisco Fibre Channel Transceiver 4.25GBPS

Cisco DS-SFP-FC4G-MR 4.25Gbps FC Transceiver Module

The Cisco DS-SFP-FC4G-MR is a high-performance Fibre Channel transceiver engineered for enterprise storage networking and SAN environments. Designed to deliver dependable high-speed optical connectivity, this Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) module supports 4 Gbps Fibre Channel communication while maintaining backward compatibility through its auto-sensing capability. It is an excellent solution for organizations seeking reliable data transmission over single-mode fiber infrastructure.

Product Specifications

General Information

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Model: DS-SFP-FC4G-MR
• Product Category: Fibre Channel Transceiver Module
• Form Factor: Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP)

Optical Interface

Connector Details

• Connector Type: LC Duplex
• Interface: Fibre Channel
• Hot-swappable installation
• Reliable optical signal transmission

Fiber Compatibility

• Media Type: Optical Fiber
• Fiber Mode: Single-Mode Fiber (SMF)
• Fiber Core Size: 9 µm

Performance Specifications

• Maximum Transfer Rate: 4 Gbit/s
• Automatic speed detection for enhanced compatibility
• Low-latency optical communication
• Optimized for SAN infrastructures

Long-Distance Optical Connectivity

Transmission Characteristics

• Operating Wavelength: 1310 nm
• Longwave laser technology
• Maximum Reach: Up to 4 km
• Stable long-distance optical performance

Enterprise Networking Applications

• Storage Area Networks (SAN)
• Enterprise data centers
• High-performance storage networking
• Optical backbone connections
• Business-critical Fibre Channel infrastructure

Cisco Switch Compatibility

Supported Cisco MDS 9000 Fibre Channel Switching Modules

• Cisco DS-X9112 Switching Module
• Cisco DS-X9124 Switching Module
• Cisco DS-X9148 Switching Module
• Cisco DS-C9020-20K9 Switching Module

Benefits of the Cisco DS-SFP-FC4G-MR

Reliable Optical Performance

• Consistent Fibre Channel connectivity
• High signal integrity over extended distances
• Enterprise-grade durability and reliability
• Supports uninterrupted storage communications

Simple Integration

• Plug-and-play installation
• Compatible with existing Cisco Fibre Channel hardware
• Hot-swappable module minimizes downtime
• Reduces maintenance complexity

Key Features

• Original Cisco Fibre Channel SFP transceiver
• Part Number: DS-SFP-FC4G-MR
• Supports data rates up to 4.25 Gbps
• Designed for single-mode optical fiber
• LC duplex optical connector
• 1310 nm long-wavelength optical technology
• Transmission distance up to 4 km
• Auto-sensing for multiple Fibre Channel speeds
• Ideal for Storage Area Network (SAN) deployments

Cisco DS-SFP-FC4G-MR 4.25Gbps Fibre Channel SFP Transceiver

The Cisco DS-SFP-FC4G-MR 4.25Gbps Fibre Channel Transceiver Module is a hot-swappable Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) optical transceiver designed to deliver dependable Fibre Channel connectivity for enterprise storage networking environments. Built to support high-speed Storage Area Network (SAN) infrastructures, this optical module enables reliable data transmission between Fibre Channel switches, storage arrays, blade servers, and host bus adapters. Organizations that require uninterrupted storage communication rely on Cisco Fibre Channel transceivers to provide stable connectivity, low latency, and consistent performance across mission-critical workloads.

As organizations continue expanding virtualization, cloud computing, disaster recovery, backup infrastructure, and enterprise storage solutions, dependable optical transceivers have become essential components within modern SAN deployments. The Cisco DS-SFP-FC4G-MR addresses these requirements by providing compatibility with 1Gbps, 2Gbps, and 4Gbps Fibre Channel applications while maintaining signal integrity across multimode fiber optic cabling. Its intelligent design supports seamless deployment in Cisco MDS Series switches and various compatible Fibre Channel networking devices, helping organizations maximize infrastructure efficiency while reducing maintenance complexity.

Designed for enterprise-class networking, the Cisco DS-SFP-FC4G-MR provides reliable optical performance for medium-range Fibre Channel communication. Its standardized SFP interface simplifies installation and replacement, allowing network administrators to upgrade or replace modules without interrupting production environments. Hot-pluggable functionality minimizes downtime and improves operational flexibility, making it suitable for environments where availability remains a top priority.

Understanding Fibre Channel Optical Transceivers

Fibre Channel transceivers serve as the physical interface between networking equipment and fiber optic cabling. These modules convert electrical signals into optical signals for transmission through fiber optic cables and convert incoming optical signals back into electrical data for networking hardware. Within enterprise storage environments, Fibre Channel technology has long been recognized for delivering predictable performance, low latency, high reliability, and dedicated bandwidth.

The Cisco DS-SFP-FC4G-MR belongs to a category of enterprise optical modules engineered specifically for storage networking rather than traditional Ethernet networking. Fibre Channel networks are optimized for block-level storage communication, enabling servers to efficiently access centralized storage arrays while maintaining exceptional throughput and dependable data delivery.

Purpose Within Storage Area Networks

Storage Area Networks separate storage traffic from standard LAN communication, creating dedicated pathways for storage devices and servers. The Cisco DS-SFP-FC4G-MR enables these dedicated optical connections, ensuring storage traffic experiences minimal congestion, reduced latency, and predictable performance even during periods of heavy workload activity.

Organizations implementing enterprise SAN infrastructures often deploy Fibre Channel switches to connect storage arrays, tape libraries, virtualization clusters, backup appliances, and mission-critical servers. Optical transceivers like the Cisco DS-SFP-FC4G-MR form the essential communication links that allow these devices to exchange data efficiently.

Key Features of Cisco DS-SFP-FC4G-MR

4.25Gbps Fibre Channel Performance

The Cisco DS-SFP-FC4G-MR supports Fibre Channel communication speeds up to 4.25Gbps, making it suitable for demanding enterprise storage workloads. Its support for multiple Fibre Channel data rates provides flexibility when integrating with mixed-speed SAN environments.

Backward Compatibility

One of the significant advantages of this Fibre Channel transceiver is its backward compatibility with lower Fibre Channel speeds. Organizations upgrading storage infrastructure can continue using existing equipment while gradually migrating toward higher-performance SAN architectures.

Support for multiple transmission rates simplifies infrastructure planning by allowing new deployments to coexist alongside legacy Fibre Channel hardware without requiring complete network replacement.

Multimode Fiber Support

The Cisco DS-SFP-FC4G-MR is engineered for multimode fiber optic cabling, providing dependable communication over medium-range distances commonly found within enterprise data centers. Multimode fiber remains one of the most widely deployed optical media types because of its balance between performance, affordability, and installation flexibility.

This compatibility enables organizations to utilize existing fiber cabling while expanding SAN infrastructure without significant additional investment.

Hot-Swappable Operation

Hot-swappable functionality allows administrators to install or remove the Cisco DS-SFP-FC4G-MR without shutting down switches or storage systems. This capability significantly reduces maintenance windows while supporting continuous business operations.

Large enterprise environments frequently rely on hot-pluggable optical modules to perform maintenance, replace defective components, or expand connectivity with minimal operational disruption.

Benefits for Enterprise Storage Networks

Reliable Data Transmission

Enterprise storage environments require consistent and dependable communication. The Cisco DS-SFP-FC4G-MR helps maintain signal integrity across optical connections, supporting accurate data transmission between interconnected storage devices.

Reliable optical communication contributes to improved application availability, faster backup operations, and stable virtualization performance.

Reduced Downtime

Because the module supports hot insertion and removal, organizations can minimize planned downtime associated with infrastructure upgrades or hardware replacement. Reduced downtime directly benefits organizations operating around the clock, including financial institutions, healthcare providers, cloud service operators, manufacturing companies, and educational institutions.

Improved Storage Performance

Dedicated Fibre Channel connectivity enables storage traffic to operate independently from traditional Ethernet traffic. This separation helps reduce congestion while maintaining predictable performance levels for storage-intensive applications.

Applications Across Enterprise Environments

Virtualization Platforms

Virtualized environments generate substantial storage traffic as multiple virtual machines simultaneously access shared storage resources. Cisco DS-SFP-FC4G-MR modules support the optical connectivity required to maintain stable communication between virtualization hosts and centralized storage arrays.

Enterprise Data Centers

Modern enterprise data centers rely heavily on Fibre Channel SANs for centralized storage infrastructure. Optical transceivers enable reliable communication between storage controllers, Fibre Channel switches, server clusters, and backup systems.

Database Servers

High-performance database environments demand low-latency storage communication. Fibre Channel optical connectivity supports rapid database access while maintaining consistent performance under heavy transactional workloads.

Backup Infrastructure

Enterprise backup systems frequently transfer large volumes of information between servers and storage devices. Cisco DS-SFP-FC4G-MR modules facilitate efficient communication required for backup windows, replication processes, and long-term archival operations.

Disaster Recovery Sites

Disaster recovery environments require dependable connectivity between replicated storage systems. Fibre Channel optical modules contribute to reliable synchronization and replication processes that protect business-critical information.

Technical Characteristics

Small Form-Factor Pluggable Design

The compact SFP form factor enables high port density within enterprise Fibre Channel switches. Network administrators can deploy numerous optical connections while conserving valuable rack space inside data centers.

Optical Communication

Optical transmission offers significant advantages over copper connectivity, including reduced electromagnetic interference, improved signal quality, and enhanced reliability across supported transmission distances.

Medium-Range Connectivity

The DS-SFP-FC4G-MR supports medium-range communication over multimode fiber, making it well suited for intra-building data center deployments where storage equipment is distributed across multiple racks or rooms.

Advantages of Genuine Cisco Optical Modules

Consistent Manufacturing Standards

Original Cisco optical modules undergo rigorous engineering, manufacturing, and quality assurance processes designed to meet enterprise networking standards. Consistent production quality contributes to dependable long-term operation.

Optimized Hardware Integration

Using Cisco-designed transceivers helps ensure compatibility with supported Cisco Fibre Channel networking platforms. Optimized integration simplifies deployment while reducing interoperability concerns.

Enterprise Reliability

Organizations investing in enterprise networking infrastructure prioritize reliability. Cisco Fibre Channel optical modules are engineered to support demanding production environments where continuous operation remains essential.

Deployment Best Practices

Maintain Clean Fiber Connectors

Dust and contamination can significantly impact optical performance. Cleaning fiber connectors before installation helps maintain signal quality and minimizes communication errors.

Verify Cable Compatibility

Administrators should confirm that installed multimode fiber cables meet deployment requirements and remain free from excessive bending, damage, or connector contamination.

Monitor Optical Performance

Many enterprise networking platforms provide diagnostic information regarding optical signal strength, transmit power, receive power, and module health. Regular monitoring assists in identifying potential issues before service disruption occurs.

Label SAN Connections

Proper cable labeling simplifies maintenance, troubleshooting, capacity planning, and infrastructure documentation, particularly in large enterprise environments containing hundreds of Fibre Channel connections.

Scalability for Growing Organizations

Supporting Infrastructure Expansion

As storage requirements increase, organizations often expand Fibre Channel connectivity by installing additional switches, storage arrays, or servers. The Cisco DS-SFP-FC4G-MR supports incremental growth while maintaining standardized optical connectivity across the SAN.

Simplified Capacity Planning

Standardized SFP modules streamline inventory management and reduce the complexity of supporting expanding storage infrastructures. Organizations can maintain spare optical modules for rapid replacement whenever required.

Role in Business Continuity

Business continuity strategies depend heavily on dependable storage communication. Fibre Channel optical modules support the continuous movement of information between servers and storage platforms, helping organizations maintain application availability, backup integrity, and disaster recovery readiness.

Reliable storage networking contributes directly to organizational resilience by reducing communication failures that could interrupt critical business processes. Whether supporting financial transactions, healthcare records, manufacturing systems, government applications, or educational services, stable Fibre Channel connectivity remains a fundamental requirement.