Cisco Cisco Prime Network Services Controller Adaptor for DFA Weißbuch

 

 

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With existing QSFP transceivers, each direct connection between two devices requires an MPO-to-MPO 12-fiber 

cable. In the case of structured cabling with patch panels and fiber trunks, a 40-Gbps connection needs MPO-to-

MPO fibers between devices and patch panels and 4 duplex multimode fibers (MMF). 

In most of today’s data center networks, the aggregation-layer fiber infrastructure is built for 10-Gbps connectivity 

that either supports direct connections between devices over LC-to-LC MMF or uses LC-to-LC fibers to attach 

devices to patch panels and provides one duplex MMF fiber in the fiber trunk for each 10-Gbps connection. 

Regular duplex LC-to-LC fibers cannot be directly reused for a 40-Gbps connectivity using traditional 40-Gbps 

transceiver. In addition, four to six times greater fiber density is needed in the fiber trunks to meet the requirements 

of a 40-Gbps connection. These characteristics make it expensive for customers to migrate from 10- to 40-Gbps 

connectivity in their existing data centers. 

Cisco Innovation with 40-Gbps QSFP BiDi Solution 

The Cisco QSFP BiDi Transceiver addresses the challenges of fiber infrastructure by providing the capability to 

transmit full-duplex 40-Gbps traffic over one duplex MMF cable with LC connectors. In other words, the Cisco 

QSFP BiDi Transceiver allows 40-Gbps connectivity to reuse the existing directly connecting 10-Gbps fibers and 

the existing fiber trunk without the need to add any fibers. 

The Cisco QSFP BiDi Transceiver (QSFP-40G-SR-BD) is a short-reach optical transceiver that delivers 40 Gbps 

over a duplex OM3 or OM4 MMF connection. The connection can reach 100 meters on OM3 MMF or up to 150 

meters on OM4 MMF. The Cisco QSFP BiDi Transceiver is identified by a gray bail latch or pull tab and is MSA 

compliant. Figure 2 shows a Cisco QSFP BiDi Transceiver. 

Figure 2.    Cisco QSFP BiDi Transceiver (QSFP-40G-SR-BD) 

 

The Cisco QSFP BiDi Transceiver has two 20-Gbps channels, each transmitted and received simultaneously on 

two wavelengths over a single MMF strand. The result is an aggregated duplex 40-Gbps link over a duplex fiber of 

two MMF strands. Figure 3 shows the technology concept of the Cisco QSFP BiDi Transceiver. Cisco products 

such as Cisco Nexus 6000 and 7000 Series and Nexus 5600 and 7700 platform switch models, support the Cisco 

QSFP BiDi Transceiver. For a complete list of supporting products, refer to the Cisco 40 Gigabit Modules optical 

transceiver product page at