Overview of 400G QSFP-DD Types and Connection Solutions

With its high speed, compact size, and hot-pluggable advantages, QSFP-DD packaging has gained popularity in the 400G realm. Among the next-generation data center network interconnects, 400G QSFP-DD optical transceivers have become one of the most sought-after options.
As 400G becomes standardized, various manufacturers and suppliers have developed different types of 400G QSFP-DD transceivers, such as NADDOD's high-volume 400G QSFP-DD SR8. This article will focus on introducing the types of 400G QSFP-DD optical transceivers and their connection solutions to help you better deploy your network.
Complete List of 400G QSFP-DD Optical Transceiver Types
The types of 400G QSFP-DD optical transceivers include 400G QSFP-DD SR8, 400G QSFP-DD DR4, 400G QSFP-DD FR4, 400G QSFP-DD LR4, and 400G QSFP-DD LR8. See the table below for details:
Type |
Max Reach |
Wavelength |
Fiber Optic |
Connector |
Modulation |
Protocol |
100m(OM4) 70m(OM3) |
850nm |
Multi-mode Fiber |
MPO/MTP-16 |
50G PAM4 |
IEEE P802.3cm/IEEE 802.3bs |
|
500m |
1310nm |
Single-mode Fiber |
MPO/MTP-12 |
100G PAM4 |
IEEE 802.3bs |
|
2km |
1310nm |
Single-mode Fiber |
MPO/MTP-12 |
100G PAM4 |
/ |
|
2km |
CWDM4 wavelegnth |
Single-mode Fiber |
LC |
100G PAM4 |
100G lambda (MSA) |
|
2km |
CWDM4 wavelegnth |
Single-mode Fiber |
CS |
50G PAM4 |
IEEE 802.3bs |
|
10km |
CWDM4 wavelegnth |
Single-mode Fiber |
LC |
100G PAM4 |
100G lambda |
|
10km |
1310nm |
Single-mode Fiber |
LC |
50G PAM4 |
IEEE 802.3bs |
Among them, "SR" refers to the use of multimode fiber to achieve transmission distances of 70 meters, 100 meters, or 150 meters. The "8" indicates that the transceiver has 8 fiber channels. "DR" refers to the use of single-mode fiber to achieve a transmission distance of 500 meters, and the "4" indicates that the transceiver has 4 fiber channels. "XDR4" is an extended version of "DR4." "FR" refers to the use of single-mode fiber to achieve a transmission distance of 2 kilometers, and "LR" refers to the use of single-mode fiber to achieve a transmission distance of 10 kilometers.
Common Connection Solutions for 400G QSFP-DD Optical Transceivers
400G QSFP-DD SR8
As mentioned earlier, the 400G QSFP-DD SR8 enables 400G transmission through a multimode fiber, with a maximum distance of 100 meters (OM4). Therefore, the 400G QSFP-DD SR8 transceiver is suitable for short-distance interconnects or multi-channel data communication. The common connection solutions are as follows:
400G Interconnects
Two 400G QSFP-DD SR8 transceivers can be connected through MPO/MTP-16 fiber patch cords to achieve 400G transmission.