XBR-000258 Brocade 16 Gbps FC ELWL 25 KM Single Pack Transceiver

Brocade 16Gbps 25 KM Single Pack Transceiver

The Brocade XBR-000258 is a high-performance 16Gbps Fibre Channel ELWL SFP+ transceiver module. Designed for long-distance single-mode fiber communication, this hot-pluggable device ensures reliable connectivity, advanced diagnostics, and energy-efficient operation for enterprise networking and storage infrastructures.

General Information

• Manufacturer: Brocade
• Part Number: XBR-000258
• Device Type: Transceiver Module

Technical Specifications

• Hot-pluggable SFP+ design
• Compact and easy to integrate

Data Link Protocol

• 16Gb Fibre Channel (16GFC ELWL)
• Tri-rate auto-sensing compatibility
• Supports 4G, 8G, and 16G FC

Performance Features

• Bi-directional line rate up to 14.025 Gbps
• Stable and efficient data transmission

Optical Characteristics

• Wavelength: 1310 nm
• Transmitter Type: Distributed Feedback (DFB) laser
• Fiber Cable Type: Single-Mode Fiber (SMF)
• Maximum Reach Distance: Up to 25 km (15.5 miles)

Connector Interface

• Duplex LC connector

Monitoring and Diagnostics

• Built-in Digital Diagnostic Monitoring Interface (DDMI / DOM)
• Real-time telemetry for performance tracking

Power and Efficiency

• Supply Voltage: Single 3.3 V
• Low operational consumption (Typically < 1.3 Watts)

Operating Conditions

• Temperature Range: 0°C to 70°C (Commercial grade)

Key Benefits

• High-speed 16Gb Fibre Channel connectivity
• Backward compatibility with 4G and 8G FC
• Extended long-wave optical transmission up to 25 km
• Energy-efficient with low power usage
• Advanced diagnostics for real-time monitoring
• Hot-swappable design for seamless deployment

Brocade XBR-000258 16GBPS Single Pack Transceiver Overview

The Brocade XBR-000258 16 Gbps FC ELWL 25 KM Single Pack Transceiver is a high-performance optical networking component designed for advanced Storage Area Network (SAN) environments where reliability, distance, and speed are critical. This transceiver belongs to the Extended Long Wavelength (ELWL) category and is engineered to support Fibre Channel communication at a data rate of 16 gigabits per second over distances reaching up to 25 kilometers. It is widely used in enterprise data centers, telecom-grade storage infrastructures, and mission-critical virtualization environments where uninterrupted data flow between storage arrays and switches is essential.

Role in Modern Data Center Architecture

In modern enterprise storage architecture, the demand for high-speed, low-latency, and long-distance data transmission continues to grow. The Brocade XBR-000258 plays a key role in enabling distributed storage environments by providing stable optical connectivity between geographically separated data centers. This capability is especially important in disaster recovery setups and metro-area SAN deployments where data must be replicated in real time without degradation in performance.

Key Technology Behind 16 Gbps Performance

High-Speed Data Transmission Fundamentals

The 16 Gbps Fibre Channel standard represents a significant evolution in storage networking technology. It delivers twice the bandwidth of previous 8 Gbps generations, allowing storage systems to handle higher transaction loads and increased virtualization overhead. The Brocade XBR-000258 transceiver is designed to fully support this throughput while maintaining signal integrity across long-distance optical links.

Low Latency Communication Architecture

Latency is a critical factor in storage networking performance. The architecture of this transceiver ensures minimal delay during data encoding, transmission, and decoding processes. By leveraging advanced optical signal modulation techniques, it supports near real-time data synchronization between storage nodes, making it suitable for high-frequency transactional databases and enterprise resource planning systems.

Optical Design and ELWL Long-Distance Capability

The Extended Long Wavelength technology used in the Brocade XBR-000258 allows for significantly longer transmission distances compared to standard short wavelength modules. Operating typically in the 1550 nm wavelength range, ELWL optics enable stable signal propagation over single-mode fiber infrastructure with minimal attenuation. This makes it ideal for inter-campus and inter-city SAN connectivity.

25 Kilometer Transmission Range Advantage

One of the most important features of this transceiver is its ability to support distances up to 25 kilometers without requiring intermediate signal regeneration. This long-reach capability allows enterprises to design flexible disaster recovery architectures where primary and secondary data centers are separated by large geographical distances while still maintaining synchronous or near-synchronous replication.

Signal Integrity and Dispersion Control

Maintaining signal integrity over long distances requires advanced dispersion compensation techniques. The Brocade XBR-000258 is engineered to minimize chromatic dispersion and maintain optical power levels within acceptable thresholds. This ensures that data packets remain intact and error-free even under high-load transmission scenarios.

Physical Design and Form Factor Characteristics

Compact Hot-Pluggable Architecture

The transceiver features a compact, hot-pluggable SFP+ form factor that allows seamless integration into compatible Brocade switches and directors. This design enables administrators to install or replace modules without shutting down the system, thereby maintaining continuous network availability and reducing downtime in production environments.

Durability and Industrial-Grade Construction

Built for enterprise environments, the Brocade XBR-000258 is designed to withstand temperature fluctuations, electromagnetic interference, and continuous 24/7 operation. Its robust construction ensures long operational life even in high-density rack environments where thermal conditions can be challenging.

Performance in Enterprise Data Center Networks

High Throughput SAN Optimization

In Storage Area Networks, performance bottlenecks can significantly affect application responsiveness. The 16 Gbps capability of this transceiver ensures that storage arrays, backup systems, and virtualization platforms can communicate at optimal speeds. This reduces latency in data retrieval and enhances the overall efficiency of enterprise workloads.

Long-Distance Storage Synchronization

The ability to maintain stable connections over 25 kilometers makes this transceiver particularly valuable in metro cluster configurations. Organizations can synchronize mission-critical data between primary and secondary sites without relying on less secure or higher-latency WAN technologies.

Optimized for Virtualized Environments

Virtualization platforms generate significant storage I/O demands due to multiple virtual machines accessing shared storage resources simultaneously. The Brocade XBR-000258 ensures that virtualized environments maintain consistent performance by reducing congestion and supporting high IOPS workloads efficiently.

Compatibility and Ecosystem Integration

Brocade Switch and Director Compatibility

This transceiver is specifically engineered for compatibility with Brocade Fibre Channel switches and directors. Its firmware and optical specifications are aligned with Brocade ecosystem standards, ensuring seamless integration and optimal performance without requiring additional configuration overhead.

Enterprise Storage Array Integration

The XBR-000258 is widely used with leading enterprise storage arrays from multiple vendors. Its standardized Fibre Channel compliance ensures interoperability across heterogeneous storage environments, allowing organizations to build flexible and scalable SAN infrastructures.

Installation and Deployment Considerations

Plug-and-Play Deployment Model

Deployment of the Brocade XBR-000258 is straightforward due to its plug-and-play design. Once inserted into a compatible port, the transceiver automatically negotiates link parameters with the connected device, reducing configuration complexity and minimizing setup time.

Single-Mode Fiber Cabling Requirements

To achieve optimal performance over 25 kilometers, the transceiver must be used with high-quality single-mode fiber cabling. Proper fiber selection and installation practices are essential to maintaining signal integrity and minimizing loss across the transmission path.

Link Initialization and Synchronization

During initialization, the transceiver performs a handshake process with the remote device to establish synchronization parameters. This includes speed negotiation, error correction alignment, and optical power calibration to ensure stable communication.

Enterprise Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios

Disaster Recovery Infrastructure

One of the primary use cases for this transceiver is in disaster recovery architectures where data must be replicated across geographically distant sites. The 25 km reach ensures that organizations can maintain synchronized backups in real time, minimizing data loss in case of system failure.

Metro Area Storage Networks

In metro SAN deployments, multiple data centers within a city or region are interconnected to form a unified storage infrastructure. The Brocade XBR-000258 provides the high-speed backbone required for such environments, ensuring consistent performance across distributed systems.

Cloud Data Center Connectivity

Cloud service providers rely heavily on high-speed optical interconnects to link storage clusters across availability zones. This transceiver supports the scalability and resilience required in cloud environments, enabling efficient data replication and workload balancing.

Operational Advantages in Enterprise Networking

High Bandwidth Efficiency

The 16 Gbps bandwidth capacity ensures that enterprises can support data-intensive applications such as big data analytics, high-performance computing, and large-scale virtualization without experiencing throughput limitations.

Reduced Infrastructure Complexity

By enabling long-distance connectivity over a single optical link, the Brocade XBR-000258 reduces the need for intermediate networking equipment, simplifying infrastructure design and lowering operational costs.

Scalability for Future Growth

As data demands continue to grow, enterprises require scalable solutions. This transceiver supports expansion of SAN architectures without requiring significant redesign, making it a future-ready investment for growing organizations.

Characteristics and Operational Behavior

Optical Power Budget Management

The transceiver maintains a carefully managed optical power budget to ensure consistent performance over long distances. This includes balancing transmission power and receiver sensitivity to optimize link stability.

Temperature and Environmental Stability

Designed for continuous operation, the module performs reliably under varying environmental conditions. Its internal thermal management ensures that performance remains stable even in high-density deployments.

Protocol-Level Compliance

Full compliance with Fibre Channel standards ensures interoperability across different hardware vendors and software-defined storage systems. This guarantees that enterprises can integrate the transceiver into existing infrastructures without compatibility issues.