GBIC?

[ericfjchen]

What is GBIC?

[Chris Wilshaw]

GBIC stands for GigaBit Interface Converter

[Gavin Clarke]

Do an image search on google for gbic, you'll see what they look like then.

[Pete Randall]

According to the "Ultimate Computer Acronyms Archive" ( a very handy site ), gbic is:

GBIC: GigaBit Interface Converter
A transceiver that converts between electrical and optical signals for high-speed networking [Hardware]


Pete

[Stuart Abramson]

The EMC Connectrix SAN switch uses GBICs. They are (defined above) little "tubes" that stick out of the switch and connect to the fibre cables. If a GBIC goes bad, you just replace it with another GBIC.

I don't really know why they use GBICs in SAN switches. Either:
o I guess they fail at a high rate and can be quickly replaced (not true in my experience), or
o The switch can support multiple types of connections and you could put in a different GBIC for the type of connection you want (also not true in my experience).

So, I don't know why they use them. They could just build the GBIC right into the switch port.

[Patrick Wallek]

There are different types of GBICs depending on what you are doing with that particular connection.

For some Cisco SAN switches I have been looking at you have these options:

1 Gbpsâ Shortwave, LC SFP 50/125 micron multi-mode 500 m
1 Gbpsâ Shortwave, LC SFP 62.5/125 micron multi-mode 300 m
1 Gbpsâ Longwave, LC SFP 9/125 micron single-mode 10 km
2 Gbpsâ Shortwave, LC SFP 50/125 micron multi-mode 300 m
2 Gbpsâ Shortwave, LC SFP 62.5/125 micron multi-mode 150 m
2 Gbpsâ Longwave, LC SFP 9/125 micron single-mode 10 km
1 Gbpsâ CWDM (Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing), LC SFP Dispersion penalty at 100 km 2 dB @ 1.25 Gbps
2 Gbpsâ CWDM, LC SFP Dispersion penalty at 100 km 3 dB @ 2.12 Gbps
4Gb shortwave transceiver- Single Distance

The m/km numbers above indicate the maximum supported distances the signals can travel.

[Mahesh Kumar Malik]

Hi

GBIC is Gigabit Interface convertor. It is used for connecting Fiber Channel Cables with Switchss ( Network or SAN )

Generally there are two categories of GBIC in terms of physical size

1. Normal sized
2. Mini GBIC small in size

There are two categories of GBIC from Network cable lengths point of view:

1. Short wave GBIC
2. Long wave GBIC

Regards
Mahesh

[Pedro Cirne]

Hi,

Try this one:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-30,GGLG:en&q=define%3A+gbic

Enjoy :)

Pedro