Installing an SFP

Warning: Do not look directly into transceivers or into the ends of fiber-optic cables connected to a transceiver. Fiber-optic transceivers emit laser light that can damage your eyes.

Caution: When handling fiber-optic transceivers and fiber-optic cable, observe the following precautions: Do not leave a fiber-optic transceiver uncovered except when inserting or removing cable. The safety cap keeps the port clean and prevents accidental exposure to laser light. Do not bend fiber-optic cable beyond its minimum bend radius. An arc smaller than a few inches in diameter can damage the cable and cause problems that are difficult to diagnose. Do not let fiber-optic cable hang free from the connector. Do not allow fastened loops of cable to dangle, which stresses the cable at the fastening point.

To install a replacement SFP (see Figure 62):

1. Attach an electrostatic discharge (ESD) grounding strap to your bare wrist and connect the strap to one of the ESD points on the chassis. Verify that the router is attached to a proper earth ground. For more information about ESD, see Preventing Electrostatic Discharge Damage.
2. Verify that a rubber safety cap covers the SFP transceiver, installing one if necessary.
3. Orient the SFP over the port in the PIC so that the connector end will enter the slot first and the SFP connector faces the appropriate direction:
   • If the PIC has ten SFP ports, the ports are arranged in two columns. The SFP connector faces to the right for ports in the left column, and to the left for ports in the right column.
   • If the PIC has one or two SFP ports, the SFP connector faces to the left on platforms in which FPCs install vertically in the chassis, and faces upward on platforms in which FPCs install horizontally in the chassis.
4. Slide the SFP into the slot. If there is resistance, remove the SFP and flip it so that the connector faces the other direction.
5. Remove the rubber safety cap from the transceiver and the end of the cable, and insert the cable into the transceiver.
6. Arrange the cable in the cable management system to prevent the cable from dislodging or developing stress points. Secure the cable so that it is not supporting its own weight as it hangs to the floor. Place excess cable out of the way in a neatly coiled loop in the cable management system. Placing fasteners on the loop helps to maintain its shape.
7. Verify that the status LEDs on the PIC faceplate indicate that the SFP is functioning correctly (there is an LED for each SFP port). For more information about the PIC LEDs, see the M20 PIC Guide. You can also verify PIC functioning by issuing the show chassis fpc pic-status command described in Maintaining PICs and PIC Cables.