gbics QSFP+ modules for 40 Gigabit Ethernet deployments

Product overview

The gbics 40GBASE QSFP (Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable) portfolio offers customers a wide variety of high-density and low-power 40 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity options for data centre, high-performance computing networks, enterprise core and distribution layers, and service provider applications.

Features and benefits

gbics SFP+ modules offer the following features and benefits.

• Hot swappable to maximize uptime and simplify serviceability

• QSFP Form factor, 2-wire I2C communication interface and other low-speed

• Electrical interface compliant to SFF 8436 and QSFP Multisource Agreement (MSA)

• Conformity to the Multisource Agreement (MSA)

• UKAS lab tested to certify EU laser safety directive conformity

• Can be ordered as gbics OEM or as a compatible option for over 100 vendors

• Supported with an Advanced Replacement Lifetime Warranty

Form factor overview

40GBASE-SR4

The gbics 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP Modules support link lengths of 100 meters and 150 meters, respectively, on laser-optimized OM3 and OM4 multimode fibres. It primarily enables high-bandwidth 40G optical links over 12-fibre parallel fibre terminated with MPO/MTP multifibre female connectors. It can also be used in a 4x10G breakout mode for interoperability with 10GBASE-SR interfaces up to 100 and 150 meters on OM3 and OM4 fibres, respectively. The worry-free 4x10G mode operation is enabled by the optimization of the transmit and receive optical characteristics of the gbics 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP to prevent receiver overload or unnecessary triggering of alarm thresholds on the 10GBASE-SR and receiver, and at the same time is completely interoperable with all standard 40GBASE-SR4 interfaces.

The 4x10G connectivity is achieved using an external 12-fibre parallel to 2-fibre duplex breakout cable, which connects the 40GBASE-SR4 module to four 10GBASE-SR optical interfaces. gbics 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP module is optimized to guarantee interoperability with any IEEE 40GBASE-SR4 and in 4x10G mode with the 10GBASE-SR.

40GBASE-CSR4

gbics 40GBASE-CSR4 QSFP Modules extend the reach of the IEEE 40GBASE-SR4 interface to 300 and 400 meters on laser-optimized OM3 and OM4 multimode parallel fibre, respectively. 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-fibre parallel cables with MPO/MTP female connectors or in a 4x10G breakout mode with parallel to duplex fibre breakout cables for connectivity to four 10GBASE-SR interfaces. gbics 40GBASE-CSR4 is optimized to guarantee interoperability over the complete specification range of 10GBASE-SR.

40GBASE-LR4 

The gbics 40GBASE-LR4 QSFP module supports link lengths of up to 10 kilometres over a standard pair of G.652 single-mode fibre with duplex LC connectors. The 40 Gigabit Ethernet signal is carried over four wavelengths. Multiplexing and demultiplexing of the four wavelengths are managed within the device.

40GBASE-BXD-I and 40GBASE-BXU-I

The gbics 40GBASE-BXD/U-I BiDirectional (BiDi) transceiver is a pluggable optical transceiver with a duplex LC connector interface for short-reach data communication and interconnect applications using MultiMode Fibre (MMF). The gbics 40GBASE BiDi transceiver offers customers a compelling solution that enables reuse of their existing 10 gigabit duplex MMF infrastructure for migration to 40 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity.

The gbics 40GBASE-BXD/U-I BiDi transceiver supports link lengths of 100 and 150 meters on laser-optimized OM3 and OM4 multimode fibres, respectively.

The gbics BiDi transceiver complies with the QSFP MSA specification, enabling customers to use it on all QSFP 40-Gbps platforms to achieve high-density 40 Gigabit Ethernet networks.

Each gbics QSFP 40-Gbps BiDi transceiver consists of two 20-Gbps transmit and receive channels in the 832-918 nanometre wavelength range, enabling an aggregated 40-Gbps link over a two-strand multimode fibre connection.

Figure 1. gbics QSFP BiDi 40Gbps transceiver: Duplex MMF with LC connectors at both ends

40GBASE-ER4

The gbics 40GBASE-ER4 QSFP Module supports link lengths up to 40km over G.652 single-mode fibre with duplex LC connectors. The 40GE or OTU3 signal is carried over four wavelengths in the 1310nm range. Multiplexing and demultiplexing of the four wavelengths are managed within the device.

gbics QSFP-40G to SFP-10G Adapter Module

The gbics QSFP to SFP or SFP+ Adapter (QSA) Module offers 10 Gigabit Ethernet and 1 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity for QSFP 40G-only platforms. It allows smooth and cost-effective migration to 40 Gigabit Ethernet by providing an option to use lower-speed SFP or Enhanced Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP+) modules in empty QSFP ports or when the other end of the network is running at lower speeds.

The gbics QSA Module (Figure 2) converts a QSFP port to an SFP or SFP+ port. With this adapter, customers have the flexibility to use any SFP+ or SFP module, or cable to connect to a lower-speed port on the other end of the network. This flexibility allows a cost-effective transition to 40 Gigabit Ethernet by maximizing the use of high-density 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP platforms. This adapter supports all SFP+ optics and cable reach and several 1 Gigabit Ethernet SFP modules.

Technical specifications

Following are technical specifications for platform support, and connectors and cabling.

Platform Support

gbics QSFP modules are supported on multiple vendor’s switches and routers. The list is constantly evolving. Please contact us for model specific information.

Connectors and cabling

Refer to Table 1 for connector type information and cabling specifications for each QSFP product.

Table 1. QSFP Port cabling specifications

* Minimum cabling distance is 0.5 meters for -SR4 and -CSR4 modules, and 2 meters for -LR4 and -ER4 according to the IEEE 802.3 standard.

** Considered an engineered link with maximum 1 decibel loss budget.

*** Specified at transmission wavelength.

**** Links longer than 30 km for the same link power budget are considered engineered links as per IEEE 802.3 Table 87–6. Depending upon link architecture, attenuation may be required to guarantee operation.

Note: All gbics QSFP modules and cables exceed IEEE specifications, guaranteeing a link Bit-Error Rate (BER) better than 1E-15 with some exceptions: 

• 40GBASE-SR-BD guarantees a link BER of 1E-12 when supporting 150m on OM4 fibre.

• 40GBASE-CSR4 complies with IEEE specifications, guaranteeing a link BER better than   1E-12.

• 40GBASE-ER4 complies with IEEE/OTU3 specifications, is guaranteed up to BER 1E-12.

Table 2. Allowable connector loss for BiDi links

Table 3. Allowable connector loss for BiDi links with passive optical tap

Table 4 shows the key optical characteristics for the gbics QSFP modules

Table 4. Optical characteristics

Dimensions

Maximum outer dimensions for the QSFP connector module are (H x W x D) 13.5 x 18.4 x 72.4 mm.

gbics QSFP connector module typically weigh 100 grams or less.

Environmental conditions

Operating temperature range:

• Commercial temperature range: 0 to 70°C (32 to 158°F). Exceptions are

• QSFP BiDi (QSFP-40G-SR-BD): +10 to 70°C (50 to 158°F)

• QSFP BiDi Monitor (QSFP-40G-BD-RX): +10 to 70°C (50 to 158°F)

• QSFP LR4 Lite (WSP-Q40GLR4L): +10 to 60°C (50 to 140°F)

• Storage temperature range: -40 to 85°C (-40 to 185°F)

Warranty

gbics operates an Advanced Replacement, Limited Lifetime Warranty. For further details please contact the sales team on +44 (0) 1285 886444 or email sales@gbics.com

Ordering information

Table 5 provides the ordering information for gbics QSFP+ modules.

Table 5. Ordering information

Regulatory and Standards compliance

Standards:

• GR-20-CORE: Generic Requirements for Optical Fibre and Optical Fibre Cable

• GR-326-CORE: Generic Requirements for Single-Mode Optical Connectors and Jumper Assemblies

• GR-1435-CORE: Generic Requirements for Multifibre Optical Connectors

• IEEE 802.3ba (-SR4, -LR4)

• IEEE 802.3ae (-CSR4)

• QSFP+ MSA SFF-8436

• SFP+ MSA SFF-8431 and -8461

• RoHS 6

Safety:

• Cable jacket of QSFP copper modules is UL E116441 Compliant

• QSFP copper cables are ELV Compliant

Next steps

Contact the sales team at gbics to learn more about the gbics product range and how the people at gbics Connect can help with your project.