Only the most common types will be included. No old or special stuff like FDDI, angled connectors, MTRJ…
Multimode fiber
Multimode has a bigger core compared to single-mode fiber (see table below). This means that multiple rays of light are sent through the core. This creates a limitation compared to single-mode: each beam of light has an individual path and can reach the end of the fiber at a different time (= modal dispersion) which creates a limit on data and distance.
Multimode uses LED (850nm) as light source, which is cheaper. VCSEL operates at 1300nm.
| Type | Core | Optics | Distance 1G | Distance 10G | Distance 40G | Distance 100G |
| OM1 | 62,5 μm | SX, LX*, LRM* | 300m / 984ft | 30m / 98ft | Not supported | Not supported |
| OM2 | 50 μm | SX, LX*, LRM* | 600m / 1968ft | 150m / 492ft | Not supported | Not supported |
| OM3 | 50 μm | SX, SR, LX4, LRM | 1000m / 3280ft | 300m / 984ft | 100m / 328ft | 100m / 328ft |
| OM4 | 50 μm | SX, SR, LX4, LRM | 1100m / 3608ft | 550m / 1804ft | 150m / 492ft | 150m |
* = requires mode-conditioning patch cord
Single-mode fiber
Single-mode has a smaller core (9 micrometer), which allows only one ray of light. This allows larger distance. Single-mode used laser as light source, which is more expensive. Single-mode operates at 1310 or 1550nm wavelength.
| Type | Core | Optics | Distance 1G | Distance 10G | Distance 40G | Distance 100G |
| OS1/OS2 | 9 μm | LX, LH, ZX | 100km | 40km | 40km | 40km |
Connectors
| Type | Name | Image |
| LC | Little Connector, Lucent Connector |  |
| SC | Square Connector, Subscriber Connector,… |  |
| ST | Straight Tip, Stab-Twist |  |
Pluggables
I won’t discuss GBICs, XFP’s, MT-RJ…
- SFP: 100Mbps or 1Gbps (small form-factor pluggable)
- available in fiber (LC connector) or copper (RJ45)
- SFP+: same size as SFP, 10Gpbs
- SFP’s should work fine in SFP+ ports
- available in fiber (LC connector) or copper (RJ45 connector)
- SFP28: enhanced SFP+, same zize, 25Gbps
- LC connector
- QSFP+: 4 channels of each 10Gbps = 40Gbps
- larger than SFP(+)
- LC connector
- QSFP28: (quad small form-facotr pluggable 28); 4 channels of 25gbps = 100Gbps
- same size as QSFP+
- LC connector
