In the world of SFPs, BiDi stands for ‘Bi-Directional’. But why would you use BiDi SFPs and in what scenario? In this post, we’ll take a look at why these products exist and the benefits of using them in your networks.
Cost-Effectiveness
BiDi SFPs provide a cost-effective solution by enabling bidirectional transmission over a single fibre strand, therefore eliminating the need for additional fibres. This results in substantial savings on cable as well as reducing set up time and therefore cost.
Using Existing Infrastructure
Because of their ability to transmit data bi-directionally over a single fibre using different wavelengths, in scenarios where single-fibre connections are already deployed, organisations can simply use existing infrastructure. This not only reduces cost of upgrades, but also minimises disruption.
Simplified Network Design
Again, because BiDi SFPs allow for a single fibre to be used, this massively reduces the complexity of a network design. This streamlines everything from deployment, troubleshooting and future scalability, saving time and resources for network admins.
All-in-all, while BiDi SFPs are a slightly more expensive option compared to others, they are able to simplify networks and save a huge amount of money in the long run by reducing cost of materials as well as time taken to set up and maintain networks.