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Complete List of Optical Module Interfaces

Optical network knowledge brief Published 16 Jan 2024

Prepared for preliminary research by the COETZER OPTICAL knowledge desk. Confirm compatibility, loss budgets and installation requirements against current standards and product documentation.

Optical module interfaces include a wide range of form factors and standards such as SFP, SFP+, SFP28, XFP, QSFP, QSFP28, CFP, CFP2, CFP4, and their corresponding optical connectors like LC, SC, and FC.Common Optical Module Form Factors
  • SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable): Supports 1Gb/s to 28Gb/s single-channel transmission, compact size, hot-swappable, commonly used in enterprise networks and data centers .
  • SFP+: Mainstream 10G module, supports 850nm, 1310nm, or 1550nm wavelengths, compatible with Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and SONET/SDH .
  • SFP28: 25G module, supports SR, LR, ER, CWDM, and DWDM applications, backward compatible with 10G SFP networks .
  • XFP: 10G hot-swappable module, protocol-independent, used for Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and SONET/SDH .
  • QSFP (Quad SFP): Four parallel 10G channels, total 40G transmission, high-density solution for aggregation layers .
  • QSFP+: Enhanced 40G module, supports higher performance and density .
  • QSFP28: 100G module with four 25G channels, compatible with 100G Ethernet standards, upgradeable from 25G to 100G .
  • CFP, CFP2, CFP4: High-speed modules for 100G and 400G networks, supporting coherent optics and analog/digital interfaces .
  • QSFP-DD: 400G module, double density QSFP form factor, designed for ultra-high-speed networking .
Optical Interfaces (Connectors)
  • LC (Lucent Connector): Small form factor, widely used in SFP and SFP+ modules.
  • SC (Subscriber Connector): Larger connector, common in older networks and some DWDM applications.
  • FC (Ferrule Connector): Threaded connector, often used in high-reliability or legacy systems.
  • MPO/MTP: Multi-fiber connectors used in QSFP and high-density 40G/100G/400G modules.
Electrical and Digital Interfaces
  • CEI (Common Electrical Interface): Standardized by the Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) for high-speed electrical signaling .
  • ACO (Analog Coherent Optics): Used in CFP2 modules for coherent optics, allowing DSP to reside on the main board while the module handles analog optical signals .
  • Retimed Digital Interfaces: Used in modern modules to improve signal integrity and support higher data rates.
Wavelength Division Multiplexing Modules
  • CWDM (Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing): 18 channels, 20nm spacing, cost-effective for short to medium distances .
  • DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing): Narrow spacing (0.4–1.6nm), high channel density, suitable for long-distance backbone networks .
Summary

Optical modules are classified by form factor, data rate, transmission distance, fiber type, and connector interface. Modern networks use a combination of SFP/SFP+/SFP28 for 1G–25G, QSFP/QSFP28 for 40G–100G, and CFP/CFP2/CFP4 or QSFP-DD for 100G–400G applications. Choosing the right module and interface ensures optimal network performance, high port density, and compatibility with CWDM/DWDM systems .

Complete List of Optical Module Interfaces - COETZER OPTICAL SYSTEMS (Pty) Ltd [PDF]

Complete List of Optical Module Interfaces

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Technical note

This reference is intended for preliminary optical-network research. Compatibility, link budgets, installation methods, test limits and applicable standards must be verified for the specific project.

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