Published                                                        SFF-8636 Rev 2.7 
 
 SFF Committee documentation may be purchased in electronic form. 
 SFF specifications are available at ftp://ftp.seagate.com/sff 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SFF Committee 
SFF-8636  
 
Specification for 
Management Interface for Cabled Environments 
Rev 2.7     January 26, 2016 
 
Secretariat: SFF Committee 
 
Abstract: This specification defines a common management interface for 4-lane 
pluggable transceiver modules, direct attach modules and shielded cable assemblies. 
Physical layer and mechanical details of the connector interface are outside the 
scope of this document. 
 
This specification provides a common reference for systems manufacturers, system 
integrators, and suppliers. This is an internal working specification of the SFF 
Committee, an industry ad hoc group. 
 
This specification is made available for public review, and written comments are 
solicited from readers. Comments received by the members will be considered for 
inclusion in future revisions of this specification. 
 
Support: This specification is supported by the identified member companies of the 
SFF Committee. 
 
 
 
 
 
POINTS OF CONTACT: 
 
 Barry Olawsky              Tom Palkert                    I. Dal Allan 
 Hewlett Packard            Molex                          Chairman SFF Committee 
 11445 Compaq Center Dr W   2222 Wellington Ct             14426 Black Walnut Court 
 Houston, TX 77070          Lisle, IL 60532                Saratoga CA 95070 
                                                    
 Ph: 281-514-8624           Ph: 952-200-8542               Ph: 408-867-6630 
 barry.olawsky@hp.com       tpalkert@molex.com             endlcom@acm.org 
 
Management Interface for Cabled Environments                               Page 1 
 Published                                                        SFF-8636 Rev 2.7 
 
 
EXPRESSION OF SUPPORT BY MANUFACTURERS 
The following member companies of the SFF Committee voted in favor of this industry 
specification. 
 
 
Amphenol 
LSI 
Arista Networks 
Lumentum 
Dell Computer 
Luxshare-ICT 
ENDL 
ETRI 
FCI 
Finisar 
Foxconn 
Mellanox 
Molex 
NetApp 
QLogic 
Seagate 
GLGnet Electronics 
Shinning Electronics 
Hewlett Packard 
IBM 
Jess-Link 
Siemon 
Sumitomo 
TE Connectivity 
The following member companies of the SFF Committee voted to abstain on this 
industry specification. 
 
 
 
AMI 
Avago 
Broadcom 
Cinch 
EMC 
Emulex 
HGST 
Intel 
Oclaro 
Pioneer 
Sandisk 
Sun Microsystems 
Toshiba 
Volex 
Western Digital 
Yamaichi 
The user's attention is called to the possibility that implementation to this 
Specification may require use of an invention covered by patent rights. By 
distribution of this specification, no position is taken with respect to the 
validity of a claim or claims or of any patent rights in connection therewith. 
Members of the SFF Committee which advise that a patent exists are required to 
provide a statement of willingness to grant a license under these rights on 
reasonable and non-discriminatory terms and conditions to applicants desiring to 
obtain such a license. 
 
Update History:  
Rev 0.9  
- Clarified wording in 6.2.2 
Rev 1.0  
- Added missing reservation entries (Bytes 133, 134, and 220). Modified bit entry 
labels (Bytes 93 and 136).  
Rev 1.2  
- Editorial: Formatted Word controls to improve pagination breaks and comply with 
style guide. 
Rev 1.3  
- Table 20 Identifier Values and Table 24 Encoding Values modified to point to SFF-
8024 as the reference for later values and codes.  
Rev 1.4  
- Added Revision Compliance Byte. Changed Bytes 1, 131, 138, 146, 164, 188, and 189 
to comply with latest SFF-8436 map. Added 12 Gb/s SAS bit in Byte 133. Various 
grammatical changes made. 
Rev 1.5  
- Added functionality for QSFP28 (4x25G, 4x28G) transceivers per the requirements 
of 100GE, EDR Infiniband and 128GFC Fibre Channel. Tables 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 17, 19, 
Management Interface for Cabled Environments                               Page 2 
 Published                                                        SFF-8636 Rev 2.7 
 
20, 21, 23, 29, 29A, 32A, 36, 37, 41 and section 6.2.5, 6.3.6, 6.3.12, 6.3.27. 
Rev 1.6  
- Abstract and Scope corrected to include transceiver modules as well as shielded 
cables as intended applications.  
Rev 1.7  
- Editorial: Expanded 2.1 to include specifications referenced in the body. Near-
invisible superscripts were modified to be visible text and cross-references made 
dynamic.  
- Reference to SFF-8078 in Table 13 Control Function Bytes corrected to SFF-8079.  
- Table 20 Identifier Values and Table 24 Encoding Values which had been retained 
in the text for information were removed.  
- Table 23 Specification Compliance and Table 29A Extended Ethernet Compliance 
Codes tables were moved to SFF-8024.  
Rev 1.9 
- Clarified Address 5 Loss of Lock indicators as latched 
- Added Address 93 bit 2 High Power Class Enable lockout feature 
- Clarified Address 98 CDR controls as 1b=On and 0b=Off (ie. bypassed) 
- Clarified Table 21 for Address 129 bits 1-0 to refer to Address 93 bit 2 
- Added Adaptive EQ indicator in Address 193 bit 3. 
- Clarified Address 194 bits 7-6 setting as 1b=Controllable, 0b=Fixed 
- Added Address 220 bit 2 to identify Tx Power diagnostic monitoring supported 
- Added Page 03h Address 224 to define magnitude of Tx EQ and Rx Emph supported 
- Added TX Adaptive EQ capability indicator, Page 00h, Address 193 bit 3 
- Added TX Adaptive EQ (per ch) control bits in Page 03h, Address 241 bits 3-0 
- Added TX Adaptive EQ Fault flag in Address 6 and masking bits in Address 101 
- Added RX output amplitude support indicators in Page 03h Byte 225 
- Added text to section 6.3.2 indicating that the power class identifiers specify 
worst case maximum power dissipation. 
- Added Initialization complete flag to Byte 6 bit 0. 
Rev 2.0 
- Changed the amplitude setting 0 from 200-400 to 100-400mv.  
- Added Version 2 to address 141.  
- Added Version 2 Rate Select table to Table 14 with: 00 as under 12 Gb/s, 01 as 
between 12 Gb/s and 24 Gb/s, 10 as between 24 Gb/s and 26 Gb/s and 11 is above 26 
Gb/s 
- Changed revision register compliance bit for revision 1.9 to 2.0 (1.9 was never 
released) 
- Editorial changes to fix spelling and maintain consistent naming. 
Rev 2.1  
- Assigned Page 00h Bytes 111-112 for use by PCI-SIG 
- Restored Table 23 and Table 24 from SFF-8024  
- Replaced 'See SFF-8024 Table 4-x' with 'See SFF-8024 Transceiver Management' 
- Made Page/Address Byte, Page/Address, Page/Byte synonyms common: as Page/Byte 
- Added Page/Byte/Bit location to those table titles which did not have it 
- Alphabetized abbreviations and added some that were missing  
- Deleted 'Ethernet' in respect to Extended Specification Compliance Codes 
- Replaced Figure 13 with current use of memory  
- Other minor corrections e.g. added 'h' as in Page 00h when it was missing  
Rev 2.2 
- During the review of Rev 2.1 it was recommended that:  
  o the contents of Table 22 Connector Type be moved to SFF-8024.  
  o the contents of Table 24 Encoding Values be returned to SFF-8024. 
- Other minor editing improvements 
Rev 2.3  
- Nomenclature of 10e in Section 2.5 Abbreviations replaced by 10^ 
Rev 2.4  
- Adopted Figure/Table numbering style of current template 
- To make correlation of previous Change History easier for readers, a Cross 
Reference of Figures and Tables was prepared.  
Management Interface for Cabled Environments                               Page 3 
 Published                                                        SFF-8636 Rev 2.7 
 
Rev 2.5 
-  Table 6-30 split creating new Table 6-31. Old Tables 6-31 to 6-35 become new 
Tables 6-32 to 6-36. 
-  Figure 1-1 updated to reference SFF-8665 (QSFP28) 
-  2.1 Industry Documents - added SFF-8665 
-  Table 5-3 updated to include Bytes 93, 98, 99 and 107 
-  Table 5-6 updated to include sub-headings with page numbers and to add Bytes 94-
97, 100-104, 105-106, 111-112, 114-118. Changed description of Page 03h Bytes 
226-241 to Optional Channel Controls. Added Page 03h Bytes 254-255. 
-  6.1 Overview. Added fourth paragraph explaining details of non-implemented 
pages. 
-  Figure 6-1. Updated Page 00h descriptions for Bytes 22-33, 100-104, 105-106, 
108-110, 111-112, 113 and 114. Removed '(Cable Assemblies)' from Page 03h sub-
heading. 
-  6.1.1.1 shortened column descriptions by removing 'applications' from each one. 
-  Table 6-1. Updated descriptions at Bytes 22-33, 86-98, 99, 100-104, 105-106, 
108-110, 111-112, 113, 114-118. 
-  6.2.2 Status Indicators. Added text to third sentence of first paragraph to 
emphasize that both the IntL pin and bit are asserted upon completion of a power 
up reset. 
-  Table 6-3. Added value 07h for rev 2.5. Added text to value 00h - 'Do not use 
for...'. Updated value 01h to say SFF-8436 rev 4.8 or earlier. 
-  Table 6-5. Additional description for Byte 6 bit 0 Initialization Complete Flag 
referencing Table 6-25 for the new Initialization Complete Implemented bit. 
-  6.2.4 Free Side Device Monitors. Added fifthh paragraph to explain placement of 
temperature sensor. 
-  Table 6-8. Added Bytes 66-73 description for reserved channel monitor set 5. 
-  Table 6-13. Corrected Byte 101 bits 7-4 names from L-Tx… to M-Tx… 
-  6.2.9 Free Side Device Properties. Added paragraphs 5 and 6 to explain the 
purpose of Byte 113 bits 3-0 and Byte 113 bits 6-4. This byte is added for 
breakout cables. 
-  Table 6-14. Added Byte 113 bits 6-4 Far End Implementation and bits 3-0 Near End 
Implementation descriptions. 
-  6.2.11 Page Select. Added last sentence to define behavior when the host writes 
an unsupported page value. 
-  Table 6-15. Removed sub-headers for Base ID, Extended ID and Vendor Specific ID 
Fields. Changed Name of Byte 130 from 'Connector, Media' to 'Connector Type'. 
Updated description of Byte 146 to clarify that all cable assemblies are in 
units of 1m and OM4 fiber lengths are in units of 2m. 
-  6.3.8 through 6.3.12. Added words to clarify usage for separable modules and for 
cable assemblies. 
-  6.3.13. Additional sentence referencing Byte 130 (connector type) to distinguish 
active optical cable (AOC) from separable module (SM). 
-  Table 6-20. Added '/ Undefined' to value 1000b. 
-  6.3.27 Diagnostic Monitoring Type. Added additional words to fourth and fifth 
paragraphs to explain the treatment of Byte 220 bits 3-2 when not set. 
-  Table 6-25. Added Byte 221 bit 4 Initialization Complete Flag Implemented, with 
explanation. 
-  Table 6-29. Reformatted with # Bytes column and updated descriptions. 
-  Table 6-31. Added Byte 225 bits 5-4 Rx output emphasis type with description. 
-  Table 6-32. Bytes 226-233 from Vendor Specific to Reserved. Added descriptions 
for Byte 241 bits 3-0 to specify that adaptive equalization is the default if it 
is implemented. 
-  Table 6-35. Code 1xxx from Vendor Specific to Reserved. 
-  6.6.2 Optional Channel Controls. Added 2 sentences at the end of first paragraph 
to explain that free side devices can limit the maximum emphasis supported using 
Byte 224. 
Management Interface for Cabled Environments                               Page 4 
 Published                                                        SFF-8636 Rev 2.7 
 
Rev 2.6  
-  Title changed per request to comply with the lexicon  
-  Table 5-4 and other content consolidated into Table 5-3.  
Rev 2.7  
-  Updates as per "bucket list" comment resolution (included in 1/2016 Mailing). 
-  Editorial corrections throughout. 
-  Added rationale for SFF-8636 to Scope. 
-  Added SAS 24.0 Gb/s bit in Table 6-17. 
 
 
 
Management Interface for Cabled Environments                               Page 5 
 Published                                                        SFF-8636 Rev 2.7 
 
 
Cross Reference of Figures and Tables 
2.1 
>Rev 2.3 
Hierarchy of Interface Specifications (Example)                      1  Figure 1-1 
Common Management Interface Block Diagram                            2  Figure 4-1 
Direct Attach Cable Assembly Implementation                          3  Figure 4-2 
Separable Cable Assembly Implementation                              4  Figure 4-3 
Management Interface Scope                                           5  Figure 4-4 
Write Byte Operation                                                 6  Figure 5-1 
Sequential Write Operation                                           7  Figure 5-2 
Current Address Read                                                 8  Figure 5-3 
Random Read                                                          9  Figure 5-4 
Sequential Address Read Starting at Current Address                 10  Figure 5-5 
Sequential Address Read Starting with Random Read                   11  Figure 5-6 
Timing Diagram                                                      12  Figure 5-7 
Common Memory Map                                                   13  Figure 6-1 
Management Interface timing parameters                               1  Table 5-1 
Non-Volatile Memory Specification                                    2  Table 5-2 
Single Byte Writable Memory Block Lower Page 00h                     3  Table 5-3 
Multiple Byte Writable Memory Block                                  4  Table 5-3 
Lower Page 00h Memory Map                                            5  Table 6-1 
Status Indicators (Page 00h Bytes 1-2)                               6  Table 6-2 
Revision Compliance (Page 00h Byte 1)                                7  Table 6-3 
Channel Status Interrupt Flags (Page 00h Bytes 3-5)                  8  Table 6-4 
Free Side Monitor Interrupt Flags (Page 00h Bytes 6-8)               9  Table 6-5 
Channel Monitor Interrupt Flags (Page 00h Bytes 9-21)               10  Table 6-6 
Free Side Monitoring Values (Page 00h Bytes 22-33)                  11  Table 6-7 
Channel Monitoring Values (Page 00h Bytes 34-81)                    12  Table 6-8 
Control Function Bytes (Page 00h Bytes 86-99)                       13  Table 6-9 
xN_Rate_Select with Extended Rate Selection                         14  Table 6-10 
Application Select (Page 00h Bytes 89-92 and Bytes 94-97)           15  Table 6-11 
Control Mode Definition                                             16  Table 6-12 
Hardware Interrupt Pin Masking Bits (Page 00h Bytes 100-106)        17  Table 6-13 
Free Side Device Properties (Page 00h Bytes 108-111)                18  Table 6-14 
Upper Page 00h Memory Map                                           19  Table 6-15 
Identifier Values (Page 00H Byte 128)                               20  SFF-8024 
Extended Identifier Values (Page 00h Byte 129)                      21  Table 6-16 
Connector Type: Media (Page 00h Byte 130)                           22  SFF-8024 
Specification Compliance Codes (Page 00h Bytes 131-138)             23  Table 6-17 
Encoding Values (Page 00h Byte 139)                                 24  SFF-8024 
Extended Rate Select Compliance Tag Assignment (Page 00h Byte 
141)  
25  Table 6-18 
Device Technology Description (Page 00h Byte 147)                   26  Table 6-19 
Transmitter Technology (Page 00h Byte 147 bits 7-4)                 27  Table 6-20 
Extended Module Code Values (Page 00h Byte 164)                     28  Table 6-21 
Option Values (Page 00h Bytes 193-195)                              29  Table 6-22 
Date Codes (Page 00h Bytes 212-219)                                 30  Table 6-23 
Diagnostic Monitoring Type (Page 00h Byte 220)                      31  Table 6-24 
Enhanced Options (Page 00h Byte 221)                                32  Table 6-25 
Extended Bit Rate: Nominal (Page 00h Byte 222)                      32A    Table 6-26 
Upper Page 01h Application Select Table                             33  Table 6-27 
Application Code Structure                                          34  Table 6-28 
Upper Page 03h Memory Map                                           35  Table 6-29 
Free Side Device and Channel Thresholds (Page 03h Bytes 128-223)    36  Table 6-30 
Management Interface for Cabled Environments                               Page 6 
 Published                                                        SFF-8636 Rev 2.7 
 
Optional Equalizer, Emphasis and Amplitude Support (Page 03h 
Bytes 224-225) 
36  Table 6-31 
Optional Channel Controls (Page 03h Bytes 226-241)                  37  Table 6-32 
Output Differential Amplitude Control (Page 03h Bytes 238-239)      38  Table 6-33 
Input Equalization (Page 03h Bytes 234-235)                         39  Table 6-34 
Output emphasis Control (Page 03h Bytes 236-237)                    40  Table 6-35 
Channel Monitor Masks (Page 03h Bytes 242-251)                      41  Table 6-36 
 
Management Interface for Cabled Environments                               Page 7 
 Published                                                        SFF-8636 Rev 2.7 
 
Foreword  
 
The development work on this specification was done by the SFF Committee, an 
industry group. The membership of the committee since its formation in August 1990 
has included a mix of companies which are leaders across the industry.  
 
When 2 1/2" diameter disk drives were introduced, there was no commonality on 
external dimensions e.g. physical size, mounting locations, connector type, and 
connector location, between vendors.  
 
The first use of these disk drives was in specific applications such as laptop 
portable computers and system integrators worked individually with vendors to 
develop the packaging. The result was wide diversity, and incompatibility. 
 
The problems faced by integrators, device suppliers, and component suppliers led to 
the formation of the SFF Committee as an industry ad hoc group to address the 
marketing and engineering considerations of the emerging new technology.  
 
During the development of the form factor definitions, other activities were 
suggested because participants in the SFF Committee faced more problems than the 
physical form factors of disk drives. In November 1992, the charter was expanded to 
address any issues of general interest and concern to the storage industry. The SFF 
Committee became a forum for resolving industry issues that are either not 
addressed by the standards process or need an immediate solution.  
 
Those companies which have agreed to support a specification are identified in the 
first pages of each SFF Specification. Industry consensus is not an essential 
requirement to publish an SFF Specification because it is recognized that in an 
emerging product area, there is room for more than one approach. By making the 
documentation on competing proposals available, an integrator can examine the 
alternatives available and select the product that is felt to be most suitable.  
 
SFF Committee meetings are held during T10 weeks (see www.t10.org), and Specific 
Subject Working Groups are held at the convenience of the participants. Material 
presented at SFF Committee meetings becomes public domain, and there are no 
restrictions on the open mailing of material presented at committee meetings.  
 
Most of the specifications developed by the SFF Committee have either been 
incorporated into standards or adopted as standards by EIA (Electronic Industries 
Association), ANSI (American National Standards Institute) and IEC (International 
Electrotechnical Commission). 
 
If you are interested in participating or wish to follow the activities of the SFF 
Committee, the signup for membership and/or documentation can be found at: 
              www.sffcommittee.com/ie/join.html 
 
The complete list of SFF Specifications which have been completed or are currently 
being worked on by the SFF Committee can be found at: 
              ftp://ftp.seagate.com/sff/SFF-8000.TXT 
 
If you wish to know more about the SFF Committee, the principles which guide the 
activities can be found at: 
             ftp://ftp.seagate.com/sff/SFF-8032.TXT 
 
Suggestions for improvement of this specification will be welcome. They should be 
sent to the SFF Committee, 14426 Black Walnut Ct, Saratoga, CA 95070. 
Management Interface for Cabled Environments                               Page 8