Cisco GLC-ZX-SM-RGD
1000BASE-ZX Single Mode Rugged SFP, Original Cisco
Product Highlights
Connecting remote facilities, industrial plants, or distributed campus buildings over long fiber runs demands an optic that can handle both distance and environmental extremes. The Cisco GLC-ZX-SM-RGD is an original Cisco 1000BASE-ZX rugged SFP transceiver module purpose-built for exactly these scenarios.
Operating at 1550 nm over single-mode fiber, the GLC-ZX-SM-RGD supports link spans of up to approximately 70 km, making it ideal for metro-area, inter-building, and utility-grade fiber deployments. Its rugged designation means it is rated for an extended industrial temperature range of -40°C to 85°C, so it performs reliably in outdoor enclosures, roadside cabinets, substations, and other harsh environments where commercial-grade optics would fail.
As a standard hot-swappable SFP module, it plugs directly into any compatible Cisco Gigabit Ethernet SFP slot — including Industrial Ethernet, Connected Grid, and enterprise switch and router platforms. Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM) provides real-time diagnostics on transmit/receive power, temperature, and laser bias current, giving network operators proactive visibility into link health. For organizations that need dependable, long-distance Gigabit connectivity in demanding conditions, the GLC-ZX-SM-RGD delivers enterprise-grade performance with industrial-grade resilience.
Features & Benefits
Extended-Distance 1000BASE-ZX Connectivity
The GLC-ZX-SM-RGD operates at 1550 nm and delivers 1 Gbps throughput over single-mode fiber spans of up to approximately 70 km. This extended reach eliminates the need for intermediate repeaters or media converters in metro and campus backbone deployments, reducing infrastructure cost and points of failure.
Industrial-Grade Rugged Design
Rated for an operating temperature range of -40°C to 85°C, the RGD (rugged) designation ensures this transceiver performs in environments that would compromise standard commercial optics. Deploy with confidence in outdoor cabinets, utility substations, transportation infrastructure, and factory floors.
Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM)
Built-in DOM support enables real-time monitoring of critical parameters including optical transmit and receive power, temperature, laser bias current, and supply voltage. Network management platforms can poll these values via SNMP, enabling proactive fault detection and faster troubleshooting before link degradation impacts users.
Hot-Swappable SFP Form Factor
The standard SFP form factor allows the GLC-ZX-SM-RGD to be inserted or removed from a live Cisco switch or router without powering down the device. This simplifies upgrades, replacements, and migrations while maximizing network uptime.
Original Cisco Authenticity
As an original Cisco transceiver, the GLC-ZX-SM-RGD is fully recognized by Cisco IOS and IOS-XE without compatibility warnings or unsupported-transceiver errors. This ensures seamless integration, full TAC support eligibility, and peace of mind for production networks.
Deployment Scenarios
Industrial & Utility Networks
Deploy in Cisco Industrial Ethernet switches installed at substations, water treatment plants, or oil and gas facilities. The rugged temperature rating ensures continuous operation in uncontrolled environments, while the 70 km reach connects remote field sites back to a central control room over single-mode fiber.
Metro & Campus Backbone Links
Bridge geographically separated campus buildings or metro-area offices with a single fiber hop. The 1000BASE-ZX extended distance eliminates the need for intermediate amplification, simplifying the network topology and reducing ongoing maintenance costs.
Transportation & Smart City Infrastructure
Ideal for roadside cabinets, rail-side enclosures, and traffic management systems where equipment is exposed to wide temperature swings. The GLC-ZX-SM-RGD provides reliable Gigabit uplinks for IP cameras, sensors, and connected-grid devices across extended fiber runs.
Connected Grid & IoT Aggregation
Pair with Cisco Connected Grid switches to backhaul data from distributed smart-grid sensors and IoT endpoints. The rugged SFP withstands the environmental demands of outdoor grid infrastructure while DOM provides remote link-health visibility for lean operations teams.
General
Performance
Optical / Physical
Environmental
Compliance
Compatibility Notes
Compatible Cisco Platforms (non-exhaustive):
- Cisco Industrial Ethernet 2000 Series (IE-2000)
- Cisco Industrial Ethernet 3000 Series (IE-3000)
- Cisco Industrial Ethernet 4000 Series (IE-4000)
- Cisco Connected Grid 2000 / 2520 Series
- Cisco ASR 920 Series Routers
- Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series (C9300)
Note: Always verify transceiver compatibility for your specific platform and IOS/IOS-XE version using the Cisco Transceiver Compatibility Matrix before ordering.
Downloads & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
| Part Number | Product | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| GLC-ZX-SMD | Cisco 1000BASE-ZX SFP with DOM | Standard commercial temperature range (0°C to 70°C); same ZX optics but not rated for industrial/rugged environments. |
| GLC-ZX-SM | Cisco 1000BASE-ZX SFP | Commercial temperature range, no DOM support. Lower cost option when rugged rating and diagnostics are not required. |
| GLC-LX-SM-RGD | Cisco 1000BASE-LX/LH Rugged SFP | Same rugged temperature rating but 1000BASE-LX/LH standard with shorter reach (~10 km). Choose when distance requirements are under 10 km. |
| GLC-LH-SMD | Cisco 1000BASE-LX/LH SFP with DOM | Commercial-temp LX/LH SFP with DOM, ~10 km reach. Best for standard indoor environments with moderate distance needs. |
