Ethernet Interfaces
We support a wide variety of Ethernet connection types to our equipment, for our connectivity services.
Types of optical connections
For optical connections, there are two main types:
- Multimode (commonly, SR or “short range”)
- Single-mode (commonly, LR or “long range”)
Multimode fibre can normally be identified by aqua (or blue) coloured patch leads, whereas single-mode fibre is usually yellow.
Many vendors supply multimode transceivers at substantially lower cost than their single-mode equivalents. For short distances (less than 100m) or in instances where equipment is directly connected (not via patch panels), multimode can be a cost-efficient choice.
Duplex connections (most common) use two fibres, one for transmit and one for receive (tx and rx). Simplex connections or “single fibre” connections operate bi-directionally over a single fibre.
10Gbps interfaces
10Gbps Single-mode LR
This is the standard hand-off used by most of our customers. It is compatible with a wide range of equipment.
This uses a standard duplex LC/UPC single-mode fibre connector, operating at 1310nm and based on the 10GBASE-LR IEEE 802.3ae standard.
10Gbps Multimode SR
This is a common choice for customers, especially in cases where their router or firewall is installed in the same rack as our termination device.
This uses a standard duplex LC/UPC multimode fibre connector, operating at 850nm and based on the 10GBASE-SR IEEE 802.3ae standard.
10Gbps Copper
This is a very common choice for customers with equipment that only supports copper connections.
This uses a standard RJ45 BASE-T connection (essentially, just a standard wired Ethernet port).
It is based on the 10GBASE-T IEEE 802.3 standard.
10Gbps Single-mode bi-directional LR
This is useful in places where your equipment isn’t located in the same rack or room as our termination equipment, and where you have limited structured cabling available. Only a single simplex single-mode fibre is required to connect to our equipment.
This uses a standard simplex SC/UPC single-mode fibre connector, operating at 1270nm and 1330nm. There is no formal IEEE standard for these connections.
25Gbps interfaces
25Gbps Single-mode LR
This is a common choice for 25Gbps customers, especially in cases where their router or firewall is installed in the same rack as our termination device.
This uses a standard duplex LC/UPC multimode fibre connector, operating at 850nm and based on the 25GBASE-LR IEEE 802.3cc standard.
25Gbps Multimode SR
This is a common choice for 25Gbps customers. It is compatible with a wide range of equipment.
This uses a standard duplex LC/UPC multimode fibre connector, operating at 850nm and based on the 25GBASE-SR IEEE 802.3by standard.
100Gbps interfaces
100Gbps Multimode SR
This is the standard hand-off used by most of our 100Gbps customers. It is compatible with a wide range of equipment.
The SR4 standard uses 4 lanes of 25Gbps each and is delivered over an MPO connector.
This uses a standard duplex MPO-12/UPC single-mode fibre connector, with each lane operating at 1310nm and based on the 100GBASE-SR4 IEEE 802.3bm standard.
100Gbps Single-mode LR4
This is a common choice for our 100Gbps customers. It is compatible with a wide range of equipment.
The LR4 standard uses 4 lanes of 25Gbps each and is delivered over a standard LC/UPC duplex connector using 1295nm, 1300nm, 1304nm and 1309nm wavelengths.
This is based on the 100GBASE-LR4 IEEE 802.3bm standard.
100Gbps Single-mode CWDM
Operates with 4 lanes of 25Gbps over a duplex fibre pair using 4 wavelengeths of 1270nm, 1290nm, 1310nm, and 1330nm.
This uses a standard LC/UPC duplex connector.
There is no formal IEEE standard for these connections.
Legacy 1Gbps interfaces
1Gbps Single-mode LX
This 1Gbps connection is compatible with a wide range of equipment.
This uses a standard duplex LC/UPC single-mode fibre connector, operating at 1310nm and based on the 1000BASE-LX IEEE 802.3z standard.
1Gbps Multimode SX
This 1Gbps connection is compatible with a wide range of equipment.
This uses a standard duplex LC/UPC multimode fibre connector, operating at 850nm and based on the 1000BASE-SX IEEE 802.3z standard.
1Gbps Copper
This is a very common choice for customers with equipment that only supports copper connections
This uses a standard RJ45 IEEE 802.3ab 1000BASE-T connection (essentially, just a standard wired Ethernet port).
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my own optical transceiver in the Vorboss demarcation device?
To ensure reliability of our demarcation device and the diagnostic information we receive from the transceivers, we only support the optical transceivers we provide and install. If you ever need extra transceivers for multi-port services, or run into any issues with the ones supplied, just let us know — we’ll be happy to help.
If a third party transceiver module is used on our service, this will limit our ability to provide SLAs on this element of the service.
Can I use a DAC (Direct Attach Cable) or AOC (Active Optical Cable) connecting into the Vorboss demarcation device?
We do not support connecting using DACs or AOCs connecting into Vorboss demarcation devices as these cables can behave differently depending on the manufacturer and type. We only use thoroughly tested transceiver modules to ensure reliability of our demarcation device and the diagnostic information we receive from the transceivers.
If a third party transceiver module is used on our service, this will limit our ability to provide SLAs on this element of the service.