[GUIDE] SFP+ 10Gb Optical Fiber macOS Ventura

[Andyapple]

Thanks again for your incredible support! @etorix

Which leaves some time to think about it and check details

Yes I'm trying to study and understand this Fiber-World that I didn't know existed

Does the ISP really delivers 10 Gbps to one home? (mine doesn't)

I hope so! They sell "up" to 10Gbps, It should be 10Gb Download, 2Gb Upload.
I saw some speedtest and they went up to 6-7 Gb.

Is there an option for an optical port in the home, or an alternate "modem" units with SFP+ ports? (mine does… and even allows to bring your own equipment)

Well I read somewhere that I can ask for a Free Modem something, but there are problems, a guy said that he asked for it and he had many problems, I don't know this very well, but in this kind of offer, the ONT is not External, it is internal in modem that they give, and if you use another modem, well you can, but you must also have an external ONT xgspon and you must know their parameters, and he said that they won't tell them (idk if tue).
So I know that an alternate modem would be better, but I think it would be a problem for me in this case

This is the modem I will get with some (few) specs:

For RJ45, anything like that

Oh ok thanks!

For optical connections, you need two modules per cable:

I have to find the right one, I'm trying to understand their specs. I don't know If lenght is also important in choosing these. (I still have to take precise measure for cable one of this days)

For the computer in room A, a Direct Attach Cable may do

That's great! Hackintosh in A Room is right next to the modem!

From the extensive 10G resource here, the recommended BIF cable would be this:

The OM4 BIF above has both fibres in the same sheath.

Thank you! I have to try to find a cable with this specs

pre-terminated cables

Pre terminated cables are my first choice, I will try to go in that way.
I don't think I will ever try to terminate a fiber cable, I will listen to your advices and call an expert If needed!

Thanks really a lot for everything!

Andyapple

 

[Andyapple]

Here is an update! @etorix

I have ordered x3 SolarFlare SFN5122F Cards!

They costed me less than one 10Gb RJ45 card!! You were right xD

Hope they will work well under Ventura, I saw kext from one thread you linked me.
Thanks.

 

[etorix]

I hope so! They sell "up" to 10Gbps, It should be 10Gb Download, 2Gb Upload.
I saw some speedtest and they went up to 6-7 Gb.

Incredibile… That would match with a full 10G-PON for each user rather than sharing bandwidth.

Well I read somewhere that I can ask for a Free Modem something, but there are problems, a guy said that he asked for it and he had many problems, I don't know this very well, but in this kind of offer, the ONT is not External, it is internal in modem that they give, and if you use another modem, well you can, but you must also have an external ONT xgspon and you must know their parameters, and he said that they won't tell them (idk if tue).
So I know that an alternate modem would be better, but I think it would be a problem for me in this case

So you may have to work around the inconvenience of a short run of RJ-45 between two optical links, and decide accordingly on the 10G switch.

I have to find the right one, I'm trying to understand their specs. I don't know If lenght is also important in choosing these. (I still have to take precise measure for cable one of this days)

For the module itself it's quite simple. 850/1310 nm is the wavelength at which they transmit and they are rated by their reach to the next point or repeater. Even if you're cabling a palazzo, the Short Range of 300 m should do; leave the Long/Extended Range models (10-40 km) to your ISP.

Thank you! I have to try to find a cable with this specs

My previous post had many links to the European branch of FS.com. They ship to Italy from their Munich warehouse.

They costed me less than one 10gb rj45 card!! You were right xD

Assuming you have x8 physical slots (at least x4 electrical for one link because these oldies are PCIe 2.0), refurbished server hardware is unbeatable.

 

[Andyapple]

That would match with a full 10G-PON for each user rather than sharing bandwidth

Is it good right? I've been waiting years for the FTTH

short run of RJ-45 between two optical links, and decide accordingly on the 10G switch.

That's what I wanted to do, I was thinking about Microtik CRS305-1G-4S+IN, that should fit perfectly my situation.

the Short Range of 300 m should do

Wow I didn't thought it was that easy xD

They ship to Italy from their Munich warehouse.

I saw that link but I didn't thought they shipped to Italy too, thanks!

leave the Long/Extended Range models (10-40 km) to your ISP.

refurbished server hardware is unbeatable.

I'm learning a lot of things thanks to you, that's a really great advice, I would have never considered a kind of network like this if it wasn't for you, It seems so expensive in my head, while probably is actually cheaper or similar to a 10gbs rj45, in my case maybe cheaper, specially on the ethernet cards, but it depends on the situation.

Thank you for everything. I will let you know if there are updates and soon as the ethernet cards are delivered ( I think next month)

 

[ajpwreng]

@Andyapple
If you decide to go the route of cutting off the end of the fiber optic cable (i.e. pulling in unterminated fiber), and you get quotes for a technician to terminate the fiber, ask about the cost of installing single mode fiber optic cable. You can buy premade "pigtails" with whatever type of connector you want and fusion splice the pigtail to the cable you pull in. It's really fast compared to other termination methods. The SFP's will be a little more expensive, but, not much. Just a thought. And single mode fiber has lots of bandwidth......

 

[Andyapple]

@Andyapple
If you decide to go the route of cutting off the end of the fiber optic cable (i.e. pulling in unterminated fiber), and you get quotes for a technician to terminate the fiber, ask about the cost of installing single mode fiber optic cable. You can buy premade "pigtails" with whatever type of connector you want and fusion splice the pigtail to the cable you pull in. It's really fast compared to other termination methods. The SFP's will be a little more expensive, but, not much. Just a thought. And single mode fiber has lots of bandwidth......

Wow thanks @ajpwreng!
I didn’t know about this. I’ll try with pre terminated fiber, since I’m not an expert, but if i will need to cut off the fiber with an expert, I will certainly ask him this. Thank you!

 

[etorix]

That's what I wanted to do, I was thinking about Microtik CRS305-1G-4S+IN, that should fit perfectly my situation.

It fits just your situation (4 SFP+)… and couldn't accommodate an extra computer or NAS, which possibly means it's undersized. I'd go for the bigger brother CRS-309-1G-8S+IN to have spare ports, just in case.

Initially I thought that a switch with shared ports (QSW-M408-2C or 4C) would be easier, as you could just plug in the uplink as 10GBase-T, and would have at least one spare 10GBase-T port for a real Mac with. But a QSW-M408 would have no free 10G port, and the move to QSW-M804-4C or QSW-M1204-4C is a costly one. Stacking switches (e.g. a CRS-305 on top of the QSW-M408) would be cheaper.
An alternative would be a refurbished professional switch from Cisco/Brocade/HP Aruba/etc., but such 1U rackmount switches are likely to be too noisy to be used on a desk.

So a MikroTik SFP+-only switch with a RJ45 transceiver looks like a very reasonable solution if the TIM box has enough 1G ports for your needs and you don't want to consolidate everything in one single managed switch.

I'm learning a lot of things thanks to you, that's a really great advice

I also learned thanks to you. I looked up XGSPON, found out that KPN is also experimenting with it (but not in my province yet) and, since KPN allows to bring your own modem, Dutch forumers have identified XGSPON modules for home builds (no confirmation that it works tough).

@ajpwreng Thanks for bringing in another piece of the optical network puzzle with single-mode / multi-mode fibre… and another potential incompatibility / another specification to check before ordering. As far as I know, single mode is preferred, or even required, for long range while multimode is for short range; I'll have to research why.

 

[etorix]

The blog section of FS.com is a treasure trove of short practical guides.
Single mode vs. multi mode (reach vs. bandwidth)
Connector/Splicing
Mechanical/Fusion Splicing
Cleaving Fibre
Cable Repair (with a nice table of the required kit… and its cost )

If you decide to go the route of cutting off the end of the fiber optic cable (i.e. pulling in unterminated fiber), and you get quotes for a technician to terminate the fiber, ask about the cost of installing single mode fiber optic cable. You can buy premade "pigtails" with whatever type of connector you want and fusion splice the pigtail to the cable you pull in. It's really fast compared to other termination methods.

I can see the idea of cutting a terminated cable into two pigtails, passing a tail into existing conduits and splicing the ends. But the procedure seems to apply to both single mode and multimode fibre, so I don't see the specific point about single mode. And fusion splicing presumably only applies to single fibre strands, not to the bend-insensitive variety, which has both strands of the duplex in a single jacket.
Edit: Wrong assumption. This bend-insensitive fibre looks like it's just perfect.

Bend insensitive fiber cables can be spliced using the same methods used for normal cable

Anyway, if one has to call a technician to splice fibres, the man-of-the-art can take over the whole installation process, including picking the right type of fibre.

Hopefully, there's a way to just pull pre-terminated OM3/OM4 BIF in place and call it a day.

 

[Andyapple]

I'd go for the bigger brother CRS-309-1G-8S+IN to have spare ports, just in case.

Yeah, that would certainly be a better solution, but I think I will buy the 305 since it’s cheaper . I have to check total price including everything and decide, but thanks

So a MikroTik SFP+-only switch with a RJ45 transceiver looks like a very reasonable solution if the TIM box has enough 1G ports for your needs and you don't want to consolidate everything in one single managed switch.

Yes, that would be the easiest solution for me, due to what i could read about what i will get with that ISP

I also learned thanks to you. I looked up XGSPON, found out that KPN is also experimenting with it

That’s great! I hope you will get it too soon. (As i hope I will get it next month)

The blog section of FS.com is a treasure

That’s true! I was reading some of your links and I started surfing that’s site, pretty good

Hopefully, there's a way to just pull pre-terminated OM3/OM4 BIF in place and call it a day.

That what I’m hoping ahahahhaahhahahaha.
When I have some time I will take precise measure of everything and do some trials.

Thanks

 

[etorix]

The LC connector is the size of a RJ45 plug, but the 49.5 mm boot behind it (shown here) may be an issue.