The Latest Solution for 100G Network

With the constant development of network tech, the network is also gradually upgraded from 10G/25G to 100G. At this process, there are mainly two types of solutions for options: CFP series and QSFP28 series products. Currently, it is out of consideration for cost, form factor, transmission rate, etc, many data centers adopt QSFP28 for the upgrade of 100G. So in this post, Gigalight will introduce QSFP28 solution of 100G network.

What Is QSFP28 Optical Transceiver?

The QSFP28 optical module provides four channels with different signals(supporting the data transmission mode of 4 x 25G), and the transmission rate is increased from 25Gbps to 40Gbps. The size of the QSFP28 optical module is smaller than the other 100G modules, so more attentions have been paid to it. If one wants to deploy a high-density and high-speed network,100G QSFP28 optical module will be a good choice.

Which Does QSFP28 Optics Solution for 100G Network Include?

Based on different IEEE (Electrical and Electronic Engineer Association) or MSA(Multi-Source Agreement) standards, the QSFP28 optics solution can provide four types as follows:

(1) 100GBASE-LR4 QSFP28 Optical Module

100G QSFP28 LR4 is mainly used in the transmission applications of multimode fiber, and the transmission distance of optical module can reach 10km. The 100GBASE-LR4 QSFP28 optical module converts the 4x25Gbps electrical signal to 4 LAN WDM optical signals, and then multiplexes it as a single channel to achieve 100G optical transmission. If one needs an optical module for long- distance transmission, QSFP28 LR4 optical module can be chosen for 100G network upgrade.

(2) 100GBASE-SR4 QSFP28

The transmission distance of 100G QSFP28 SR4 can reach 100m. The interface type is MTP/MPO, usually used with OM3 fiber and OM4 fiber. The QSFP28 full duplex optical module provides 4 independent transmitting and receiving channels at a rate of 25Gbps per channel to reach 100Gbps. If one needs an optical module for short-distance transmission,100GBASE-SR4 QSFP28 can be selected to upgrade the 100G network.

(3) 100GBASE-CWDM4 QSFP28

The transmission distance of 100G QSFP28 CWDM4 optical module can reach 2km, and the coarse wave multiplexing tech is used to transmit. It uses CWDM tech to reduce the initially-used 8 optical fibers for data transmission to 2 optical fibers. But the cost of 100GBASE-CWDM4 QSFP28 optical module is much higher than that of 100GBASE-PSM4 QSFP28. If one needs a cost-effective optical module for long-distance transmission, the 100GBASE-PSM4 QSFP28 can be chosen for 100G network upgrade.

(4) 100GBASE-PSM4 QSFP28

100G QSFP28 PSM4 is a standard defined by MSA, with a transmission distance of 500m. It is with high speed and low power consumption, generally used in 40G and 100G Ethernet. The 100GBASE-PSM4 QSFP28 optical module has a digital diagnosis function, the interface type is MTP/MPO. The band fiber with the MTP/MPO connector can be inserted into the QSFP28 optical module. If one has requirements for high speed and low power consumption, it is recommended to use this optical module to upgrade the 100G network.

Summary

Generally speaking, if one needs to upgrade the 100G network, the QSFP28 series optical module is a good solution. In addition, the four QSFP28 optical modules mentioned in this article are available in Gigalight website. Simultaneously, Gigalight also provides a personalized service according to users’ requirements. More information are at Gigalight.com.