SFP+ vs. SFP28
Comparing 2 standards across 10 specifications. 9 key differences identified.
Enhanced Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP+) is a standardized 10 Gbps transceiver form factor defined by SFF-8431 and SFF-8432. Retaining the physical dimensions of standard SFP, it supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE), 8G/16G Fibre Channel, and OTU2 over a single 10.3125 Gbps serial electrical lane.
SFP28 (25G Small Form-Factor Pluggable) is a transceiver standard defined under SFF-8402 and IEEE 802.3by. Using a single 25.78125 Gbps NRZ electrical lane within the standard SFP physical cage size, it provides high-density 25 Gigabit Ethernet and 32G Fibre Channel server-to-switch interconnects.
Specification Comparison Table
10 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Standard / MSA
|
SFF-8431 / SFF-8432 | SFF-8402 / SFF-8432 / IEEE 802.3by |
|
Physical Form Factor
|
SFP+ (Enhanced SFP) | SFP28 |
|
Electrical Channels
|
1-lane (10.3125 Gbps NRZ) | 1-lane (25.78125 Gbps NRZ) |
|
Max Data Rate (Ethernet)
|
10.3125 Gbps | 25.78125 Gbps |
|
Max Data Rate (Fibre Channel)
|
16 Gbps | 32 Gbps |
|
Optical Connector
|
Duplex LC | Duplex LC |
|
Direct Attach Copper (DAC)
|
Supported (Twinax up to 7m passive) | Up to 3m passive (5m with RS-FEC) |
|
Backward Compatibility
|
Accepts 1G SFP in dual-rate ports | SFP+ (10 Gbps) in multi-rate ports |
|
Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM)
|
SFF-8472 standard | — |
|
Forward Error Correction (FEC)
|
— | Clause 74 (BASE-R) / Clause 108 (RS-FEC) |