Safety of using SFP Transceivers
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The heat is a big(!) problem. Especially since some some switches are activating fans (= noise!) is they see a hot SFP-module. The SFP-cooling inside the various switches is mostly almost 'none'
So I have been experimenting with heat sinks made for other purposes without significant success. (one of the reasons I am using fiber where ever possible).
So I was very interested in your link to a heat sink. Problem is that the suggested heat sink it self is not very expensive, however the cost added for delivery is sky high! (here in the Netherlands)
Do you have practical experience with this heat sink?And you are right a power dissipation from about 2.5 watt is quite common, however there are recent modules dissipate 'only' 1.5 watt.
Again the question do you have practical experiences / can you advice? -
@louis2 I have quite a lot of experience with SFP+ RJ45 modules and generally speaking I have had to many āearly failuresā (within 2-3 years) of the cheap powerguzzling/hot models. I have never had issues with neither the switches nor pfSense boxes where those modules have been used (apart from when the modules died early).
The heat sink I linked to is not specifically designed to SFP modules, Iām not even sure it will fit. It was just an example link showing that there are manufactures that makes specialty heat sinks. I have never used anything but a cheap 10x10mm small adhesive heatsink on modules running hot, and like you learned, it doesnāt really help a lot - but a few degrees also matters ;-)
In my opinion there is only two options:
1: Spend the money and get one of the modern modules with a Max rating of about 1.5watt and apply a small heatsink. That will get you the coolest running and most durable setup.
2: Accept they are hot (but within their design limits), and just run with the ones you have. Most of the rest of the world does, soā¦..
But I would still apply the little adhesive heatsink. -
Thanks, note that my main problem always have been noise!!!
I own a very capable Mikrotik CRS317 switch, but with a IHMO disgusting thermal design. Noisy fans really cooling nothing and and SFP+ cases without heat sinks. I did replace the fans with Noctua fans, does not help enough. And later on using a big Noctua fan in the lid of the case (that helps).
It was not the CPU which did ramp up the fans, it where SFP+ to RJ45 modules!
With as additional issue that the fans air stream can not cool those modules at all !At this moment, I am not using the CRS317 with as main reason 'noise' .
(I am using a less capable but good completely silent TP-link SX3008F at the moment)However for certain connections where fiber is no option, I will perhaps use SFP+ to RJ45 modules yes or no in combination with the CRS in the future, however only if that is possible without fan noise!
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@louis2 said in Safety of using SFP Transceivers:
At this moment, I am not using the CRS317 with as main reason 'noise'
It's a bit off topic but: I'm very, very picky about noise, everything in my office is fanless.
I do use a CRS309 (and a UniFi USW-Aggregation), that is only 8 ports but for the price of the CRS317 (I also got one but too loud with RJ45 adapters) you can get two CRS309 :). 3 of the eight ports are with 10G RJ45 adapters.Your TP-Link looks good too (and cheaper), are you happy with it?
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Another option would be to go with a SFP+ to RJ45 media converter, e.g. something like this perhaps:
https://www.fs.com/products/101476.html?now_cid=1038
Uses a bit more power than just a SFP+ to RJ45 transceiver, but heat wouldn't be an issue.
I have used lower power SFP+ to RJ45 transceivers as well (if I recall correctly power consumption was around 1.8 watts or so) and never felt like they got excessively hot during operation.
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@louis2 I know how you feel. I have the same pickyness/sensitivity for noise and everything is completely fanless with me because of it.
The only thing that does have fans are my Arube CX-6100 switch (replaced with noctua fans).
For the very same reason Iām using fiber and DAC cables for 10Gbe interlinking, but if you have no SFP+ ports and only 10Gbe RJ45 on the other end, then I get your problem.It might not be the temperature of the SFP+ module that causes the fans to spin like crazy - just as often itās because its not a 100% supported SFP+ module by the switch (where it canāt read the operating parameters of the module). Just so you knowā¦.
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Yep! Very happy!
However only eight ports. -
I did pull fiber optic to my servers and to my room and migrated all 10G in my "server room to fiber" as well. And placed a 2.5G main switch next to my 10G switch (Zyxel XMG1915-10E) in favor of less important connections. That setup is silent
Also a home build pfSense version in there using a near silent PC-setup.
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Ended up going with a mediaconverter as the temp solution. Stumbled on a shop locally that was selling them with a warranty and 30 day return window. Was hesitant on them given what most people say about them but the return window at least gives me time to decide.
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@stephenw10 I was, my biggest concern was the transceiver burning out the 10g SFP port on the pfsense box. The 6100 was a bit of a splurge to future proof for 10g and worried about anything that might reduce the lifespan.
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Hmm, well I've not heard of that happening on a 6100. But I couldn't vouch for all transceivers.
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We use lots of different 10G SFP+ at work. They do certainly vary, but rarely have over heating issues as long as they are in a high end switch/router such as Juniper, Cisco, etc.
We did have quite bad over-heating issues in a TP-Link SX3008 switch. The problem was the SFP cages, so we modified the switch adding cheap self-adhesive heatsinks. Attached pictures show the main board before & after. Approx 20degC SFP temperature reduction.
