Cisco DS-SFP-FC32G-LW
32 Gbps Fibre Channel LW SFP+. LC, Original Cisco
Product Highlights
Extending your storage area network across buildings or campus facilities demands an optic that delivers both distance and throughput without compromise. The Cisco DS-SFP-FC32G-LW is a 32 Gbps Fibre Channel longwave SFP+ transceiver designed to meet exactly that need.
Operating at a 1310 nm wavelength over single-mode fiber (SMF), this transceiver supports link distances of up to 10 km — making it ideal for inter-building SAN fabrics, disaster-recovery replication links, and extended data center interconnects. It features 8/16/32 Gbps autosensing Fibre Channel capability, allowing it to negotiate the optimal link speed with the remote end and ensuring backward compatibility with existing 8G and 16G infrastructure.
The DS-SFP-FC32G-LW uses a duplex LC connector and is built for the Cisco MDS 9000 Series platform. Built-in Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM) provides real-time diagnostics — including transmit power, receive power, temperature, and supply voltage — so network engineers can proactively identify and resolve fiber link issues before they impact production workloads. As a genuine Cisco original transceiver, it is fully encoded and validated for use in Cisco MDS switches, ensuring seamless NX-OS recognition and eligibility for Cisco TAC support.
Features & Benefits
Tri-Rate Autosensing (8/16/32G FC)
The DS-SFP-FC32G-LW supports 8.5, 14.025, and 28.05 Gbps line rates, automatically negotiating the highest common speed with the far-end device. This tri-rate flexibility protects your investment during phased SAN upgrades — deploy today at 16G and seamlessly move to 32G when your switches and HBAs are ready.
Extended Reach over Single-Mode Fiber
With a 1310 nm DFB laser transmitter and support for distances up to 10 km over SMF, this longwave optic is purpose-built for campus and metro SAN links. It bridges the gap between buildings, data halls, or disaster-recovery sites where short-wave multimode optics simply cannot reach.
Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM/DDM)
Integrated DOM functionality exposes real-time operating parameters — including transmit power, receive power, temperature, supply voltage, and laser bias current — directly through the switch CLI or management plane. This enables proactive fault detection and simplifies troubleshooting, reducing mean time to repair.
Hot-Swappable, Plug-and-Play Design
The SFP+ form factor allows hot insertion and removal without powering down the host switch. Combined with Cisco's EEPROM encoding for automatic identification in NX-OS, deployment is as simple as seating the module and connecting the fiber patch cord.
Genuine Cisco OEM Quality
As an original Cisco transceiver, the DS-SFP-FC32G-LW is factory-encoded with the correct vendor ID, serial number, and CLEI code. This guarantees full NX-OS compatibility validation and eligibility for Cisco TAC support — eliminating the risk of unsupported-optic warnings in production environments.
Deployment Scenarios
Inter-Building SAN Extension
Connect SAN fabrics across multiple buildings on a campus with up to 10 km of single-mode fiber. The longwave optic ensures reliable, low-latency Fibre Channel links for storage replication, backup traffic, and shared storage pools between geographically separated data halls.
Data Center Core-to-Edge SAN Fabric
Deploy in Cisco MDS 9000 Series directors and fabric switches to link core SAN directors to edge or top-of-rack FC switches. The 32G speed tier maximizes per-port bandwidth for all-flash array environments where storage I/O demands are highest.
Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
Use longwave optics on dedicated DR replication links between primary and secondary data centers within metro distances. The autosensing capability allows the link to fall back to 16G or 8G if the remote site uses older-generation switches, ensuring connectivity during staged upgrades.
Phased SAN Migration (16G to 32G)
Organizations upgrading from 16G to 32G Fibre Channel can deploy the DS-SFP-FC32G-LW immediately. The tri-rate autosensing negotiates at 16G with legacy peers today and automatically steps up to 32G as the far-end infrastructure is refreshed — no optic swap required.
General
Performance
Physical
Environmental
Compliance
Compatibility Notes
Supported Platforms:
- Cisco MDS 9000 Series switches and directors with 32G-capable ports (e.g., MDS 9132T, MDS 9148T, MDS 9396T, MDS 9706, MDS 9710, MDS 9718)
Software Requirements:
- Cisco NX-OS Release 8.x or later (refer to the Cisco MDS 9000 Series Compatibility Matrix for your specific platform and NX-OS version)
Cabling:
- Single-mode fiber (SMF), 9/125 µm
- Duplex LC connectors
- Minimum cable distance: 2 m (6.5 ft); Maximum: 10 km (6.2 mi) at 32G
Note: Use only genuine Cisco SFP+ transceivers in Cisco MDS Series switches. Each Cisco SFP+ is encoded with serial number and vendor information that NX-OS validates at insertion.
Downloads & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
| Part Number | Product | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| DS-SFP-FC32G-SW | Cisco 32G FC Shortwave SFP+ | 850nm shortwave for multimode fiber; max 100m on OM4 — lower cost for short intra-rack/row links |
| DS-SFP-FC32G-ELW | Cisco 32G FC Extended Longwave SFP+ | Extended longwave for distances beyond 10 km — choose when inter-site links exceed LW reach |
| DS-SFP-FC16G-LW | Cisco 16G FC Longwave SFP+ | 16 Gbps max FC speed at 1310nm over SMF — budget option if 32G throughput is not yet required |
| DS-SFP-FC8G-LW | Cisco 8G FC Longwave SFP+ | 8 Gbps max FC speed at 1310nm over SMF — legacy replacement for older MDS line cards |