topic 40GB-F10-QSFP breakout cable connection question in ExtremeSwitching (EOS)

40GB-F10-QSFP breakout cable connection question

Douglas_Hunt — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 02:43:00 GMT

I have a customer that needs to connect a S-Series (S1) 40Gig to 4 - X460G2 at 10gig. The part being used is 40GB-F10-QSFP which is the breakout cable, but the concern is, will the X460G2 support the SM connection.

RE: 40GB-F10-QSFP breakout cable connection question

Bill_Stritzinge — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 02:56:00 GMT

It depends on the QSFP+ optic, most of them are SR and all you need is a corresponding SFP+ optic on the X460 side.

RE: 40GB-F10-QSFP breakout cable connection question

Douglas_Hunt — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 03:55:00 GMT

Thanks Bill, I will check with our SE onsite

RE: 40GB-F10-QSFP breakout cable connection question

Douglas_Hunt — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 17:23:00 GMT

The update from our partner onsite:

The issue is that this part is a breakout cable with one side going to the S blade. Part is for S so compatibility is assured on that end. The break out then goes to 4x QSFP captive SM modules. At least that is what the description says. So the question is if the X460-G2 on the other end of one of the 4 breakout cables will support the captive SM module.

RE: 40GB-F10-QSFP breakout cable connection question

Bill_Stritzinge — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 17:59:00 GMT

Yes.. the cable will work. The part # you game me is the optical breakout cable while what he describes is a passive cooper cable. Either one will work. The passive cable picture is below...

RE: 40GB-F10-QSFP breakout cable connection question

Douglas_Hunt — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 18:01:00 GMT

Thanks again Bill... I will pass on the information to our partner.

RE: 40GB-F10-QSFP breakout cable connection question

Stephane_Grosj1 — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 22:24:00 GMT

Hi,

sorry to jump in, but I don't understand several things here.

- 40GB-F10-QSFP ref is not a breakout (fanout) cable. It's a 10m long Active Optical Cable, so QSFP+ to QSFP+ (40G to 40G). While you could breakout it to 4x10G to 4x10G, this is not supported on the x460-G2.

We do have fanout 40G cables, passive copper ones, active optical ones, maybe you were referring to the 10GB-4-F10-QSFP?

- What do you mean by "SM"? Is it Single Mode Fiber?

If you need SMF, you need to use a PSM QSFP+ transceiver to achieve the breakout into 4x10G LR.

RE: 40GB-F10-QSFP breakout cable connection question

Douglas_Hunt — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 23:20:00 GMT

Thanks for jumping in.. Yes, single mode fiber. I will pass on your information.

Thanks again

RE: 40GB-F10-QSFP breakout cable connection question

Stephane_Grosj1 — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 23:33:00 GMT

Ok, because this is SMF, then you need on the "40G" Side (the S-Series) to have a QSFP+ PSM transceiver. This is only the transceiver, no cables, it's not a DAC either. On the other side (the x460-G2's) you will need to have regular SFP+ LR (assuming you need LR, ie < 10Km). I'm not aware of a solution for ER/ZR.

10326 QSFP+ PSM Optical Module QSFP+ (4X10GBASE) breakout optical module, MPO connector, 10km SMF link length

In between, that will depend on your fiber plant. We have in our pricelist a SMF MPO-to-4xLC patch cable.

10327 MPO to 4xLC breakout patch cable, SM 10m MPO to 4 x LC breakout patch cable, Single-Mode 10m

If you need SC/APC connector, you'll have to ask your usual fiber vendor.

If the x460-G2's are close enough to the S1, I'd encourage you to use MMF, that would be cheaper using QSFP+ SR4 or some DAC.

RE: 40GB-F10-QSFP breakout cable connection question

Douglas_Hunt — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 23:42:00 GMT

Thanks for all your guidance..