Cisco 40GBASE QSFP+ Modules Overview

In today’s telecommunication markets, Cisco 40GBASE QSFP+ modules offer customers a wide variety of high-density and low-power 40 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity options for data center, high-performance computing networks, enterprise core and distribution layers, as well as service provider transport applications. In order to help customers have a deeper understanding about the 40G QSFP+ modules, this article will introduce several kinds of connectivity options provided by Cisco.

Features and Benefits of Cisco 40GBASE QSFP+ Module

Main features of Cisco 40GBASE QSFP+ modules include:

• Interoperable with other IEEE-compliant 40GBASE interfaces
• Hot-swappable input/output device that plugs into a 40 Gigabit Ethernet Cisco QSFP+ port
• High-speed electrical interface compliant to the IEEE 802.3ba standard
• Compliant to SFF 8436 and QSFP Multisource Agreement (MSA)

Cisco QSFP-40G-SR4-S

Cisco 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP+ module supports link lengths of 100m and 150m respectively on laser-optimized OM3 and OM4 multimode fiber cables. It primarily enables high-bandwidth 40G optical links over 12-fiber ribbon r cables terminated with MPO/MTP multi-fiber connectors. It can also be used in 4x10G mode along with ribbon to duplex fiber breakout cables for connectivity to four 10GBASE-SR optical interfaces. Cisco QSFP-40G-SR4-S is optimized to guarantee interoperability with any IEEE-compliant 40GBase-SR4 module.

Cisco QSFP-40G-CSR4

Cisco 40GBASE-CSR4 QSFP+ module extends the reach of the IEEE 40GBASE-SR4 interface to 300m and 400m respectively on laser-optimized OM3 and OM4 multimode fiber cables. Each 10-gigabit lane of this module is compliant to IEEE 10GBASE-SR specifications. This module can be used for native 40G optical links over 12-fiber ribbon cables with MPO/MTP connectors, or in a 4x10G mode with ribbon to duplex fiber breakout cables for connectivity to four 10GBASE-SR interfaces. The following picture shows a Cisco QSFP-40G-SR4-S QSFP+ module and a Cisco QSFP-40G-CSR4 QSFP+ module.

Cisco QSFP-40G-LR4-S

Cisco 40GBASE-LR4 QSFP module supports link lengths of up to 10 km over a standard pair of G.652 single-mode fiber with duplex LC connectors. QSFP-40G-LR4-S module supports 40GBase Ethernet rate only. 40 Gigabit Ethernet signal is carried over four wavelengths. Multiplexing and demultiplexing of the four wavelengths are managed in the device. QSFP-40G-LR4-S does not support FCoE.

Cisco WSP-Q40GLR4L

Cisco WSP-Q40GLR4L QSFP+ module supports link lengths of up to 2 km over a standard pair of G.652 single-mode fiber (SMF) with duplex LC connectors. 40 Gigabit Ethernet signal is carried over four wavelengths. It is interoperable with 40GBase-LR4 for distances up to 2 kilometers.

Cisco QSFP+ Copper Direct Attach Cables (DACs)

Cisco QSFP+ copper DACs include QSFP+ to QSFP+ copper DACs and QSFP+ to 4SFP+ copper DACs. Cisco QSFP+ copper DACs are suitable for very short distances and offer a very cost-effective way to establish a 40-gigabit link between QSFP+ ports of Cisco switches within racks and across adjacent racks. QSFP+ to 4SFP+ copper breakout DACs cables connect to a 40G QSFP+ port of a Cisco switch on one end and to four 10G SFP+ ports of a Cisco switch on the other end.

Cisco QSFP+ Active Optical Cables (AOCs)

Cisco QSFP+ AOCs include QSFP+ to QSFP+ AOCs and QSFP+ to 4SFP+ AOCs. Active optical cables are much thinner and lighter than copper cables, which makes cabling easier. Active optical cables enable efficient system airflow and have no electromagnetic interference (EMI) issues, which is critical in high-density racks.

Cisco 40G QSFP+ portfolio also cover many other products like Cisco QSFP-40G-SR-BD, Cisco QSFP-40G-BD-RX, Cisco QSFP-40G-ER4, etc. As a professional manufacturer and supplier for optical fiber products, FS.COM provides various kinds of 40GBase QSFP+ transceivers branded by many famous companies. Cisco QSFP+ transceivers offered by FS.COM are the most cost-effective standards-based QSFP+ modules fully compatible with Cisco switches and routers. They are 100% compatible with major brands and backed by a lifetime warranty.

SMF and MMF 40G QSFP+ Transceiver Overview

With the wide deployment of 40 Gigabit Ethernet , many companies are upgrading data center from 10G to 40G. In order to realize the migration, there are several factors that need to be considered. First, the potential for a reconfiguration of the physical layer of the network based on the reduced reach of the OM3/OM4 multimode optics from 10GBASE-SR (300/400 m) to 40GBASE-SR4 (100/150 m). Second, the existing fiber optic cabling should be upgraded based on the additional fiber count needed to support 40GBASE-SR4 parallel optics. So manufacturers produce SMF&MMF 40G QSFP+ transceiver.

Introduction to SMF & MMF 40G QSFP+ Transceiver

Generally speaking, a fiber optic transceiver may either operate on multimode fiber (MMF) or single-mode fiber (SMF). However, a SMF&MMF 40G QSFP+ transceiver can be used with both MMF and SMF without the need for any software/hardware changes to the transceiver module or any additional hardware in the network. This transceiver operates in the 1310nm band and can support transmission distance up to 150 m over OM3 or OM4 multimode fiber and up to 500 m over single-mode fiber (different vendor may have different specifications). This can be achieved by combining 150 m over OM3 or OM4 multimode fiber and up to 500 m over single-mode fiber (different vendor may have different specifications) inside the transceiver module over a single pair of multimode or single-mode fibers. Now there are two main SMF&MMF 40G QSFP+ transceiver in the market: Arista QSFP-40G-UNIV and Juniper JNP-QSFP-40G-LX4. They are used for upgrading from 10G to 40G networks over MMF and SMF without modification or expansion.

Advantages of SMF & MMF 40G QSFP+ Transceiver

The increasing needs for bandwidth drives data center migrating to 40G. Optical equipment connecting switches are needed. SMF&MMF 40G QSFP+ transceiver is designed to allow for seamless migrations from existing 10 to 40GbE networking without requiring a redesign or expansion of the fiber network. Besides, this transceiver also provides a cost-effective solution to migrate from multimode to single-mode fiber, which can support the distance up to 500 m with the single-mode fiber infrastructure. The following will talk about its advantages in detail.

• Zero-cost Cabling Migration Existing 40G transceivers for short reach, uses four independent 10G transmitters and receivers for an aggregate 40G link, which use an MPO-12 connector and require 8-fiber parallel multimode fiber (OM3 or OM4). But a SMF&MMF QSFP+ allows the same cables to be used for direct 10G connections to direct 40G connections, resulting in zero-cost cabling migration. Because it uses duplex LC connector consistent with the existing 10G connections, which commonly utilize MMF cables with duplex LC connectors.
• Increase Number of 40G Links Existing MMF 40G solutions use 8 fibers for a 40G link. Network designers have to add additional fiber to increase the number of 40G links. With SMF&MMF 40G QSFP+ transceiver, there is no need to change fiber infrastructure. It only needs to increase the number of 40G links by 4 times to expand network scale and performance.
• Migrate from Multimode to Single-mode Fiber For the future upgrading from 40G to 100G and beyond to 400G, there is a strong desire for data centers to move to single-mode fiber for cost effectiveness. Because multimode transceivers have limitations of supporting distances with ever increasing data rates, while single mode transceivers, such as the JNP-QSFP-40G-LR4 QSFP+ transceiver can support max distance of 10 km over single mode fiber cables. However, the single-mode transceivers typically cost up to 4 times more compared to multimode transceivers. As SMF&MMF QSFP+ interoperates with 10km QSFP-LR4 optics, it s a cost effective solution for SM fiber infrastructure for distances up to 500 m.
• Simplify the Data Centers The SMF&MMF 40G QSFP+ transceiver operates on both multimode and single-mode fiber without any requirement for additional hardware or software. Network designers can use SMF&MMF QSFP+ irrespective of the fiber type, which takes full advantage of the existing cabling systems, reducing the cost of deployment and of support, and simplify purchasing and deployments.

Summary

The utilization of SMF&MMF QSFP+ transceiver can help migrate from 10G to 40G without teh need to redesign or change the cable infrastructure. Besides, it can save cost and expand the infrastructure with low capital investment. It also offers a migration to single-mode fiber in data centers with a single transceiver that bridges the gap between multi-mode and single-mode optics. Fiberstore provides cost-effective SMF&MMF 40G QSFP+ transceiver for migrating to next-generation 40G data center deployments. Besides, single mode transceivers (like 40GBASE-LR4 QSFP+) and multi-mode transceivers (like Cisco QSFP-40G-CSR4) are also available for your choice.