GLC-ZX-SMD - Cisco 1000BASE-ZX Transceiver with DOM

Cisco GLC-ZX-SMD — 1000Base-ZX SFP Transceiver with DOM

What it is

GLC-ZX-SMD is a Cisco Gigabit Ethernet SFP transceiver designed for long-reach single-mode fiber links.
It supports 1000Base-ZX and includes DOM (Digital Optical Monitoring) — letting you monitor optical parameters like power and temperature remotely for better network visibility and reliability.

Why buyers pick GLC-ZX-SMD (plain English)

Very long-reach fiber
Runs Gigabit Ethernet over single-mode fiber for distances far beyond short-reach optics — ideal for campus and metro links.

Standard LC connectivity
Uses widely adopted LC duplex connectors, making cabling simple and interoperable with typical fiber infrastructure.

DOM for visibility
Digital Optical Monitoring provides real-time status on signal strength, temperature, and more — useful for troubleshooting and performance tracking.

Hot-swappable SFP
Small form-factor pluggable module that installs easily without powering down equipment.

Cisco-qualified performance
Built for compatibility with Cisco switches and routers that support 1000Base-ZX SFP optics.

60-second spec box (GLC-ZX-SMD)

Form factor
SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable)

Speed / protocol
1GbE (1000Base-ZX)

Fiber type
Single-mode fiber (SMF)

Wavelength
1550 nm

Connector
LC duplex

Max distance
Up to ~70–100+ km (depends on fiber type and network conditions)

Features
Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM) support

Use case
Long-reach single-mode fiber connections with health monitoring.

Where it fits (and when to choose something else)

Perfect for:

• Campus backbones and long fiber runs

• Metro or inter-building links

• Environments needing remote fiber status monitoring

• Single-mode fiber infrastructure

Choose something else if:

• You only need short-reach links → 1000Base-SX/LX optics

• You want higher speeds → 10G/25G optics

• You’re in a multimode fiber environment → SR optics

TL;DR

GLC-ZX-SMD is Cisco’s 1000Base-ZX SFP transceiver with DOM:
a long-reach Gigabit fiber optic module with monitoring features, ideal for extended single-mode fiber runs in enterprise networks.