Cisco's industry-standard Gigabit Interface Converter (GBIC) is a hot-swappable input/output device that plugs into a Gigabit Ethernet port/slot, linking the port with the fiber-optic network. GBICs can be used and interchanged on a wide variety of Cisco products and can be intermixed in combinations of IEEE 802.3z- compliant 1000BaseSX, 1000BaseLX/LH, or 1000BaseZX interfaces on a port-by-port basis.
Furthermore, Cisco is providing a 1000BaseLX/LH interface that is fully compliant with the IEEE 802.3z 1000BaseLX standard, but has the ability to go up to 10,000m over single-mode fiber, 5 km further than garden-variety 1000BaseLX interfaces. As additional capabilities are developed, these modules make it easy to upgrade to the latest interface technology, maximizing investment protection.
Cisco GBICs Models
Now, Cisco provides five models:
Cisco 1000BASE-LX/LH GBIC
The WS-G5486, 1000BaseLX/LH interfaces fully comply with the IEEE 802.3z 1000BaseLX standard. However, their higher optical quality allows them to reach 10 km over single-mode fiber (SMF) versus the 5 km specified in the standard.
Cisco 1000BASE-SX GBIC
The WS-G5484, 1000BaseSX operates on ordinary multimode fiber optic link spans of up to 550 m in length.
Cisco 1000BASE-T GBIC
The Cisco 1000BASE-T Gigabit Interface Converter (GBIC) is an ideal solution for Catalyst ® 6500, 4000, 3550, 2950, 3500 XL and 2900 XL Series switch customers, providing full-duplex Gigabit Ethernet connectivity to high-end workstations and between wiring closets over existing copper network infrastructures.
Cisco 1000BASE-ZX GBIC
The WS-G5487, 1000BaseZX operates on ordinary single mode fiber optic link spans of up to 70 km in length.
Cisco Gigastack Stacking GBIC
The Cisco Systems GigaStack® Gigabit Interface Converter (GBIC) is a versatile, low-cost, Gigabit Ethernet stacking GBIC that offers high-speed interconnectivity between Catalyst® 3550, 2950G, 3500 XL and modular Catalyst 2900 XL Switches.
1000BASE-SX vs. 1000BASE-LX/LH vs. 1000BASE-ZX
|
GBIC |
Wavelength (nm) |
Fiber Type |
Core Size (Micron) |
Modal Bandwidth (MHz/km) |
Cable Distance |
|
Cisco 1000BASE-SX |
850 |
MMF |
62.5 62.5 50.0 50.0 50.0 |
160 200 400 500 2000 |
722 ft (220 m) 902 ft (275 m) 1640 ft (500 m) 1804 ft (550 m) 3281 ft (1000 m) |
|
Cisco 1000BASE-LX/LH |
1310 |
MMF |
62.5 50.0 50.0 |
500 400 500 |
1804 ft (550 m) 1804 ft (550 m) 1804 ft (550 m) |
|
SMF |
9/10 |
N/A |
6.2 miles (10 km) |
||
|
Cisco 1000BASE-ZX |
1550 |
SMF |
9/10 |
N/A |
43.4 to 62 miles (70 to 100 km) |
Cisco GBIC Product Numbers
Table 2 shows the Cisco GBIC Product Numbers. There are four products.
|
GBIC |
Product Number |
|
Copper (Cisco 1000BASE-T) |
|
|
Short wavelength (1000BASE-SX) |
|
|
Long wavelength/long haul (1000BASE-LX/LH) |
|
|
Extended distance (1000BASE-ZX) |