Cisco SM-X-4X1GE-SFP Full Official Technical Specification Document

1. Product Overview

Official Full Designation

Core Definition

SKU Naming Breakdown

1. SM-X: Service Module X, enhanced single-wide expansion card form factor exclusive to Cisco ISR 4000 Series routers, supporting OIR and high-bandwidth Multigigabit Fabric (MGF) backplane connectivity
2. 4: Four independent physical Gigabit Ethernet ports integrated on the module
3. 1GE: 1 Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.3z 1000BASE-X standard
4. SFP: Small Form-Factor Pluggable hot-swappable transceiver slot interface for flexible fiber/copper media
5. =: Standard spare part suffix for standalone replacement kits (SM-X-4X1GE-SFP=)
6. -RF: Refurbished certified spare SKU variant (SM-X-4X1GE-SFP-RF)

Product Lifecycle Notice

• Official Global Release Year: 2014
• End-of-Sale (EoS) Status: Discontinued; Cisco permanently ceased production of new SM-X-4X1GE-SFP hardware units
• Direct Upgrade Replacement Models: SM-X-4X1G-1X10G combo GE/10GE SM-X module, NIM-based multi-port GE modules for Catalyst 8000 Series edge platforms
• Minimum Supported IOS XE Software Version: Cisco IOS XE 3.12S / IOS 15.4(2)T; all subsequent IOS XE 3.x, 16.x, 17.x release trains fully support the module
• Software Maintenance Status: Only critical security vulnerability patches are released for customers with active Cisco DNA Services contracts; no new feature enhancements will be developed
• Legacy Status: End-of-sale legacy hardware; certified refurbished spare modules, validated IOS XE firmware images and 24×7 Cisco TAC engineering technical support remain available through authorized Cisco distribution partners

Supported Router Platform Compatibility

1. Cisco ISR 4300 Series: 4321, 4331, 4351
2. Cisco ISR 4400 Series: 4431, 4451, 4461

Deployment Restrictions

1. No Layer 2 switching capability: All four SFP GE ports operate strictly as Layer 3 routed interfaces. Local VLAN switching between ports on the SM-X module or between this module and other router interfaces is not implemented on the module hardware.
2. SFP transceiver compatibility limits: Only IEEE 802.3z 1Gbps SFP transceivers are supported; 10G SFP+ transceivers cannot be inserted into the SFP slots (no backward/forward multi-rate operation).
3. OIR operational requirement: Online Insertion and Removal is only fully supported when the router runs the minimum required IOS XE release; older IOS versions require a full chassis power cycle for module replacement.
4. Backplane bandwidth ceiling: The SM-X slot provides a maximum 10Gbps full-duplex MGF backplane link to the router’s route processor; aggregate sustained traffic exceeding the backplane bandwidth capacity will trigger packet drop and congestion events.
5. No PoE support: The SM-X-4X1GE-SFP is a pure WAN uplink module and does not provide Power over Ethernet (PoE/PoE+/UPOE) functionality for attached end devices.

Standard Factory Complete Bundle Contents

1. SM-X-4X1GE-SFP four-port 1G SFP SM-X service module with four front-panel SFP transceiver slots and dedicated per-port link/activity LED indicators
2. Anti-static ESD handling storage bag and protective foam packaging
3. Quick-start hardware installation guide covering ESD static protection protocols, SM-X slot OIR insertion/removal procedures, SFP transceiver installation steps, IOS XE routed GE interface configuration, IP addressing, SD-WAN transport setup and QoS policy configuration command examples
4. Global regulatory compliance, safety, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) certification documentation packet

Core Integrated Functional Capabilities

1. Four Independent Hot-Swappable 1G SFP Gigabit Ethernet Ports: Four separate SFP slots supporting all IEEE 802.3z 1Gbps SFP transceivers (1000BASE-SX multimode fiber, 1000BASE-LX/LH single-mode fiber, 1000BASE-T copper), delivering multiple independent line-rate full-duplex 1Gbps Layer 3 routed WAN uplink connections.
2. Online Insertion and Removal (OIR) Support: Native OIR functionality allows field technicians to remove or replace the SM-X-4X1GE-SFP module without powering down the entire ISR 4000 router chassis, minimizing enterprise edge network service outages during hardware maintenance and spare part replacement operations.
3. Pure Layer 3 Routed Interface Operation: Each SFP GE port functions exclusively as a routed IP interface. All ingress Ethernet frames are forwarded to the router’s main route processor for IP lookup, inter-VLAN routing, SD-WAN traffic steering and security policy enforcement; local Layer 2 switching between module ports is not supported.
4. Line-Rate Hardware Packet Forwarding: Optimized packet forwarding pipeline supporting line-rate 1Gbps bidirectional IP traffic throughput per port, with aggregate bandwidth governed by the SM-X MGF backplane capacity. Eliminates route processor CPU bottlenecks under multi-port concurrent WAN traffic loads.
5. Full SD-WAN Feature Compatibility: Natively integrated with the complete Cisco IOS XE SD-WAN feature suite, supporting multiple independent high-capacity encrypted overlay transport tunnels, application-aware intelligent traffic routing, per-application QoS prioritization and centralized vManage orchestration for multi-site enterprise overlay networks.
6. Comprehensive Gigabit Ethernet Interface Feature Support: IEEE 802.1Q VLAN tagging, configurable IP MTU with jumbo frame support up to 9000 bytes, full-duplex operation (no half-duplex support for fiber SFP transceivers), port statistics and error counter tracking, link fault signaling and remote interface monitoring via SNMP.
7. Full IOS XE Security Feature Integration: IPSec site-to-site VPN tunnel acceleration, zone-based firewall stateful traffic inspection, NAT/PAT address translation, AAA identity authentication, standard and extended access control lists (ACLs), threat defense filtering and encrypted remote management (SSH, TLS).
8. Rich QoS Traffic Prioritization Toolset: Hardware-assisted traffic classification, DSCP marking, policing and queuing for multi-port Gigabit WAN traffic, supporting differentiated services (DSCP), traffic shaping, low-latency queuing (LLQ) and bandwidth reservation for real-time voice, video and business-critical application traffic.
9. SNMP MIB Remote Monitoring Support: Implements standard Cisco Ethernet interface SNMP MIBs for remote network monitoring of module hardware operational status, SFP transceiver digital diagnostic monitoring (DDM), per-port aggregate ingress/egress traffic throughput, packet error counters, link up/down fault alarm reporting and resource utilization metrics.
10. SFP Digital Diagnostic Monitoring (DDM): Real-time telemetry collection from all installed SFP transceivers including optical transmit/receive power, laser bias current, module operating temperature and supply voltage, enabling proactive remote fiber link fault troubleshooting without on-site inspection.

2. Hardware & Performance Specifications

Core 1G SFP Gigabit Port Transmission Performance

• Interface Standard: IEEE 802.3z 1000BASE-X Gigabit Ethernet, full-duplex point-to-point operation (half-duplex not supported for fiber transceivers)
• Port Form Factor: Four independent hot-swappable SFP transceiver slots (SFF-8472 standard)
• Supported SFP Transceiver Types:
  1. Optical fiber: 1000BASE-SX (short-reach multimode), 1000BASE-LX/LH (long-reach single-mode)
  2. Copper: 1000BASE-T SFP (RJ45 twisted-pair copper)
• Per-Port Line-Rate Throughput: 1 Gbps bidirectional full-duplex IP traffic forwarding
• Jumbo Frame Support: Configurable MTU range from 1500 bytes standard Ethernet up to 9000 bytes jumbo frames
• VLAN Support: IEEE 802.1Q tagged VLAN sub-interfaces for multi-VLAN WAN transport per port
• Supported Layer 3 Transport Protocols: IPv4, IPv6, GRE, IPsec, SD-WAN overlay tunnels

Front Panel LED Indicator Definitions (Per Individual SFP Port)

1. LINK LED: Solid green = Valid synchronized 1GE physical layer link established with remote switch/router equipment; off = No optical/copper signal detected or link down fault condition
2. ACT LED: Blinking green = Active bidirectional IP packet traffic transmission/reception over the 1G SFP port; steady off = No active payload traffic passing through the interface

Electrical & Thermal Specifications

Power Consumption

• Typical operating power draw under medium multi-port 1G traffic load: ~10 Watts
• Maximum full-load power consumption with all four ports operating at sustained line-rate 1Gbps bidirectional throughput: ~15 Watts
• Power Delivery: Powered exclusively through the ISR 4000 router chassis SM-X slot internal MGF backplane bus; no external power supply connectors mounted on the SM-X module hardware

Thermal & Environmental Operating Parameters

• Certified Continuous Operating Temperature Range: 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F) standard enterprise branch datacenter equipment room environment
• Extended Validated Short-Term Operating Temperature: 0°C to 55°C (32°F to 131°F)
• Storage & Transport Temperature Range: -40°C to 70°C (-40°F to 158°F)
• Operating Relative Humidity: 5% to 85% RH, non-condensing
• Storage Relative Humidity: 5% to 95% RH, non-condensing
• Operating Altitude: Certified operational range -150 m to 2,000 m (-500 ft to 6,500 ft); extended validated range up to 3,000 m (10,000 ft)
• Cooling Design: Fanless passive heat dissipation architecture with integrated aluminum heat sink, no onboard cooling fans; cooling airflow supplied by the host ISR 4000 router’s internal chassis fan assembly
• Airflow Direction: Horizontal chassis airflow passing over the SM-X module passive heat sink for thermal dissipation

Physical Form Factor & Weight

• Form Factor: Standard single-wide SM-X service module expansion card form factor, designed exclusively for SM-X dedicated expansion slots of Cisco ISR 4000 Series routers
• Bare SM-X Module Net Weight (without SFP transceivers, fiber cables and accessory packaging): Approximately 750 grams
• Physical Dimensions (H x W x D): 1.25 × 3.50 × 7.24 inches (32 × 89 × 184 mm)

3. Regulatory & Compliance Certifications

1. Safety Standards: UL 60950-1, CSA C22.2 No. 60950-1, EN 60950-1, IEC 60950-1, GB 4943 Chinese national safety standard
2. EMC & EMI Standards: FCC CFR Title 47 Part 15 Class A, VCCI Class A ITE, EN55022 Class A, CISPR 22 Class A, ICES-003 Class A, CISPR 24, EN 61000 series electromagnetic immunity standards
3. Ethernet & Optical Telecommunications Compliance: IEEE 802.3z Gigabit Ethernet, SFF-8472 SFP mechanical/electrical standard, SFP digital diagnostic monitoring (DDM) specification
4. Environmental Directive: EU RoHS hazardous substance restriction compliance

4. Core Deployment Advantages

1. High-Density Four-Port 1G SFP WAN Uplink Design: The SM-X-4X1GE-SFP delivers four independent Gigabit SFP routed ports within a single SM-X expansion slot, eliminating the need to deploy multiple single-port SM-X modules for multi-WAN transport deployments. This design drastically conserves limited ISR 4000 chassis SM-X slot resources and reduces overall hardware capital expenditure for multi-ISP, redundant metro Ethernet and multi-region SD-WAN edge branch deployments.
2. Online Insertion and Removal (OIR) Reduces Network Maintenance Downtime: Native OIR support allows field technicians to replace the SM-X-4X1GE-SFP module without powering down the entire ISR 4000 router chassis. This eliminates extended enterprise edge network outages required for full chassis power cycles during hardware spare part replacement, drastically improving network availability for business-critical multi-site overlay SD-WAN and inter-branch WAN services.
3. Flexible SFP Transceiver Media Compatibility for Global Deployment: Each universal SFP slot supports a full portfolio of 1Gbps optical and copper transceivers, enabling flexible deployment across diverse network media types: short-reach multimode fiber for local datacenter cross-connects, long-reach single-mode fiber for metro Ethernet and inter-city branch WAN links, and 1000BASE-T copper for high-speed short-distance switch interconnections.
4. Line-Rate Hardware Packet Forwarding for Multi-Port High-Volume Edge Traffic: Optimized dedicated packet forwarding pipeline on the SM-X module hardware delivers sustained line-rate 1Gbps bidirectional IP traffic throughput per port, eliminating route processor CPU bottlenecks under heavy multi-port enterprise WAN traffic loads. This preserves the router’s main CPU resources for critical control-plane workloads including SD-WAN orchestration, firewall inspection, voice DSP processing and security policy enforcement.
5. Full Native SD-WAN Integration for Modern Overlay Enterprise Networks: The SM-X-4X1GE-SFP is fully integrated with the complete Cisco IOS XE SD-WAN feature stack, supporting multiple independent high-capacity encrypted overlay tunnels, application-aware intelligent traffic routing, per-application QoS prioritization and centralized vManage cloud/orchestrator management. It serves as an ideal multi-transport Gigabit uplink solution for large regional enterprise branch SD-WAN edge routers requiring redundant or multi-ISP WAN connectivity.
6. Comprehensive SFP Digital Diagnostic Monitoring (DDM) for Proactive Fiber Fault Management: Built-in DDM telemetry collection from all installed SFP transceivers provides real-time visibility into critical optical layer metrics including transmit/receive optical power, laser bias current, module operating temperature and supply voltage. Network administrators can remotely identify fiber link degradation, faulty transceivers and thermal faults without costly on-site field technician dispatches, improving mean time to resolve (MTTR) for WAN outages.
7. Unified IOS XE Feature Suite Compatibility for All Edge Workloads: The SM-X-4X1GE-SFP four-port 1G SFP routed interface seamlessly integrates with the full portfolio of core Cisco IOS XE enterprise edge features: IP routing, stateful zone-based firewall, NAT/PAT, IPSec VPN tunneling, differentiated services QoS, ACL security filtering, AAA user authentication and encrypted remote network management. All WAN interface configuration, monitoring and policy management is centralized within a single consistent IOS XE command-line interface, eliminating disjointed separate management systems for edge WAN and security infrastructure.
8. Fanless Passive Heat Sink High-Reliability Low-Maintenance Architecture: The SM-X-4X1GE-SFP module utilizes a fanless integrated aluminum passive heat sink cooling design with zero moving mechanical fan components. This eliminates mechanical hardware failure risks associated with rotating cooling fans, enabling stable 24/7 continuous unattended operation in remote unmanned enterprise branch datacenter equipment closets with minimal long-term on-site maintenance requirements. Low idle and full-load power consumption reduces overall router chassis energy draw and enterprise branch site cooling operational energy costs.

Supplementary Product Specification Notes

UNSPSC Classification Code

K9 Security Compliance Note

Factory Hardware Warranty Terms