What are SFP ports? What is an SFP+ port?

Solution:

SFP is an interface that needs to be plugged into an SFP module in order to be used. SFP modules are available in optical and electrical port types, plugging in an optical port module allows you to connect optical fibre and plugging in an electrical port module allows you to connect network cables.

SFPs are small form-factor pluggable modules that support Gigabit Ethernet, SONET, Fibre Channel and other communications standards and plug into the switch's SFP ports. By selecting different wavelengths and ports for the SFP module, the same electrical port on the switch can be connected to different connectors and different wavelengths of fibre.

Since SFPs only support a transmission rate of 4.25 Gbps, which does not meet the increasing demand for higher and higher internet speeds, the SFP+ was created. the SFP+ is capable of transmission rates up to 16 Gbps and is, in fact, an enhanced version of the SFP. the SFP+ specification is based on SFF-8431. in most applications today, SFP+ modules typically support 8 With its small size and ease of use, the SFP+ module has replaced the XENPAK and XFP modules, which were more commonly used in early 10 Gigabit Ethernet, and has become the most popular optical module for 10 Gigabit Ethernet.

After analysing the above definitions of SFP and SFP+, it can be concluded that the main difference between SFP and SFP+ is the transmission rate. And due to the different data rates, the applications and transmission distances are also different.