Most Bigleaf routers support high-speed fiber connections using a small form-factor pluggable (SFP) module. The module connects your fiber cable to a square-shaped SFP port on the Bigleaf router and helps provide fast communication on a fiber network. Some Bigleaf routers are shipped with SFP modules, although you can use your own.

An SFP module can be a standard size, with speeds up to 1 Gbps, or an SFP+ that accommodates speeds of 10 Gbps or more. Most Bigleaf router models can be used with an SFP, although the BLR-108 supports only the standard size SFP, and the BLR-112 with an expansion card supports only SFP+.

Here are some general guidelines for using an SFP module with Bigleaf routers:

• The same size SFP module must be used on each end of the cable. For example, 10Gbps SFP+ modules can’t negotiate with 1Gbps SFP standard modules on the same cable.
• You can’t connect an SFP module into an Ethernet port and an SFP port for the same interface on the router at the same time.
• You can’t connect an ethernet cable directly into an SFP port. You must use an SFP or SFP+ transceiver that enables an ethernet cable to be used with an SFP port.
• 1Gbps SFPs do not work in the Bigleaf 10Gbps SFP+ ports, which are not backward compatible on the Bigleaf routers.
• A multi-mode SFP module must be used with multi-mode fiber, and single-mode SFP module must be used with single-mode fiber.