Gigabit Interface Converter

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1000BaseSX-GBIC with the protective cap removed
Opened 1000BaseSX GBIC

The English term Gigabit Interface Converter ( GBIC ) describes a modular interface to support various transmission media and is used in network technology to make interfaces more flexible.

A GBIC is a matchbox-sized module that is inserted into an electrical interface, for example to convert it into an optical interface. With the help of GBICs, the type of signal to be transmitted can be adapted to the needs of the transmission.

GBICs are often found in the area of backbone networks or SANs . The host's interface card or the central distributor (such as the switch ) do not provide their interfaces in a rigid manner, but rather flexibly.

In the field of computer networks, a GBIC can be used to flexibly operate an interface as Gigabit Ethernet using twisted pair cables or fiber optic cables without having to replace the system's interface card, as was the case in the past.

Interface types

  • SX (500 m range with 50/125 glass fiber, 220 m with 62.5 / 125 glass fiber )
  • LX (10 km range with 9/125 fiber optics)
  • LH (X) (40 km range with 9/125 fiber optics)
  • ZX (80 km range with 9/125 fiber optics)
  • BX (10 km range with 9/125 fiber optics)
  • T ("copper" 100 m range from Cat.5 - UTP cable)
  • CWDM
  • DWDM
  • SONET (as OC48 or OC192)

Further developments

An SFP (mini-GBIC, right) compared in size with a GBIC (open, left)
Intel XFP transceiver

The idea of ​​new designs arose from the need to accommodate more connections in the same area and so, in addition to GBIC, several other interface types or form factors for hot-swappable transceivers in the Ethernet and storage area have established themselves:

  • SFP ( Small Form-factor Pluggable , also known as Mini-GBIC, SFF GBIC, GLC or "New GBIC" or "Next Generation GBIC")
  • SFP + (also SFP Plus, currently the smallest pluggable transceiver format for 10 Gigabit Ethernet and 8 or 16 Gigabit FibreChannel applications)
  • SFP28
  • XFP (structured like SFP, but larger and for 10GbE)
  • XENPAK (for 10GbE)
  • X2 (successor to XENPAK)
  • QSFP
  • QSFP +
  • QSFP28

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Andrew Oliviero, Bill Woodward: Cabling: The Complete Guide to Copper and Fiber-Optic Networking . 4th edition. John Wiley & Sons, 2009, ISBN 978-0-470-47707-6 , pp. 329 f . ( limited preview in Google Book search).
  2. ^ A b Tom Clark: Designing Storage Area Networks: A Practical Reference for Implementing Fiber Channel and IP SANs . 2nd Edition. Addison-Wesley Longman, 2003, ISBN 978-0-321-13650-3 , pp. 106 ff . ( limited preview in Google Book search).