Optical module types include 1 × 9, SFF, SFP, GBIC, XENPAK, XFP, SFP+ and 10G optical modules above.

GBIC package - hot swappable gigabit interface to optical modules, using SC connectors. GBIC (Gigabit Interface Converter) is a gigabit electrical signal into an optical signal interface device. GBIC use hot-swap design. GBIC is an international standard interchangeable products. Using GBIC Gigabit switch interface design since the flexible exchange account for a large market share in the market.

SFP package - hot-plug small package module, the highest rate of up to 4G, use of LC interfaces. SFP (SMALL FORMPLUGGABLE) can be simply understood as an upgrade version of the GBIC. SFP module volume ratio reduced by half GBIC module can be configured more than double the number of ports on the same panel. Other features SFP and GBIC modules basic agreement. Some switch vendors said the SFP module as small GBIC (MINI-GBIC).

10G module has gone from 300Pin, XENPAK, X2, XFP development, and ultimately with the same size and SFP, which is SFP+. SFP+ and XFP distinction as follows:

1, SFP+ and XFP are 10G fiber modules, and other types of 10G modules can communicate;

2, SFP+ is smaller than the XFP form factor;

3, due to the volume becomes smaller, SFP+ signal modulation function, serial / deserializer, MAC, clock and data recovery (CDR), as well as electronic dispersion compensation (EDC) function from the module over the motherboard card;

4, XFP protocol compliance: XFP MSA agreement;

5, SFP+ protocol compliance: IEEE 802.3ae, SFF-8431, SFF-8432;

6, SFP+ is more mainstream design.

CFP and QSFP 40G and above are two optical modules implementation. CFP optical module series CFP, CFP2, CFP4, which CFP2, CFP4 are two product solutions 100G optical modules. QSFP optical modules series has QSFP, QSFP+, QSFP28. QSFP and QSFP+ 40G optical interface is realized, QSFP28 support 100G optical module interfaces.