Optical module

In the early networks, PCs and switches were connected and communicated through network cables. As the network scale grows larger and larger, the physical distance between devices also gets farther and farther away. But the network cable has become the bottleneck restricting the expansion of the network scale- the farthest effective transmission distance of the network cable is only 100 meters.

Of course, it cannot be an obstacle for a smart engineer. When the distance between the two switches exceeds 100 meters, we replaced the original network cable with optical fiber and used optical fiber transceivers for photoelectric conversion.

With the miniaturization of optical fiber transceivers, an idea became a reality- switches provide optical interfaces, and optical transceivers reduce the size to become optical modules; optical fibers are inserted into optical modules, and optical modules are inserted into optical interfaces of switches.

This improvement not only reduces the number of faulty nodes (the hidden danger of disconnection of the network cable connecting the switch and the optical fiber transceiver, and the hidden danger of the power failure of the optical fiber transceiver) which beautifies the environment and saves costs.

After replacing the optical fiber transceiver, the optical module has grown and expanded with the needs of the network, and has become a huge family.

As an optional accessory of the switch, members of this family frequently appear in the configuration list. So, how to choose the right optical module?