The core switch has several optical ports

Yes, core switches typically include optical ports, such as SFP or SFP+ interfaces, to support high-speed fiber connections for backbone network traffic. Core switches are designed to handle large volumes of data and provide high-speed, reliable connectivity between distribution and access layers in a network. To achieve this, many core switches feature modular designs that include both copper (RJ45) and optical ports, allowing flexible deployment depending on distance and bandwidth requirements.

Optical ports, such as SFP (1G), SFP+ (10G), SFP28 (25G), and QSFP/QSFP+ (40G/100G), are commonly used for uplinks and inter-switch connections in data centers and enterprise networks. For example, a typical L3 managed core switch may have 24 RJ45 ports for standard Ethernet connections and 4 SFP+ fiber ports for 1/10G uplinks, enabling high-bandwidth aggregation and long-distance connectivity. These optical ports require compatible transceivers and fiber cables, and they can be used to connect to other core or distribution switches, ensuring low-latency, high-throughput communication.

In summary, optical ports are a standard feature on core switches, providing the flexibility to support high-speed fiber links, extend network reach, and maintain the performance and reliability expected from the network backbone.