SWDM is an abbreviation of Short Wavelength Division Multiplexing. It is a technology used in fiber optic communications to increase bandwidth by transmitting several wavelengths over multimode fiber. OM4 and OM5 are the types of multimode fiber (MMF) that used now in data centers and enterprise networks.
Introduction to OM4 Fiber:
- Bandwidth: OM4 fiber has an effective modal bandwidth (EMB) of 4700 MHz·km at 850 nm.
- Distance: It supports 10Gbps Ethernet up to 550 meters, 40Gbps up to 150 meters, and 100Gbps up to 150 meters.
- Wavelength: Typically optimized for 850 nm and 1300 nm wavelengths, but can be used for 850nm to 953nm, with shorter transmission distance.
- Applications: Commonly used in data centers for high-speed networks, including Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and InfiniBand.
Introduction to OM5 Fiber:
- Bandwidth: OM5 fiber with thes ame EMB as OM4 (4700 MHz·km) at 850 nm but is optimized for a wider range of wavelengths (850nm to 953nm).
- Distance: It supports the same distances as OM4 for 10Gbps, 40Gbps, and 100Gbps Ethernet, it is also specially designed to support SWDM, which allows for higher bandwidth over longer distances.
- Wavelength: Optimized for wavelengths between 850 nm and 953 nm, making it suitable for SWDM applications.
- Applications: Ideal for data centers and enterprise networks that require higher bandwidth and longer distances, especially when using SWDM technology.
SWDM with OM4 and OM5:
- OM4: While OM4 can support SWDM, it is not specifically optimized for it. It can still be used for SWDM applications but may have limitations in terms of distance and performance compared to OM5.
- OM5: OM5 is specifically designed to support SWDM, making it more efficient for transmitting multiple wavelengths over a single fiber. This allows for higher data rates and longer distances compared to OM4 when using SWDM technology.
In conclusion, you may use legacy OM4 fiber network for SWDM applications, such as installing 100G QSFP28 SWDM4 or 100G QSFP28 Bidi SR transceivers, however, for newly developed network, if it required to be optimized for SWDM network, it’s recommended to use OM5 fiber.
