QSFP+ TRANSCEIVER, DAC, AOC – WHICH IS MORE COST-EFFECTIVE?

For 40GbE direct cabling between two devices using QSFP+ port, there are several options including QSFP+ transceiver option, QSFP+ DAC (Direct Attach Copper) cable, and QSFP+ AOC (Active Optical Cable). Among these options, each of them has its own merits. Today, I’d like to make a comparison between them from the perspective of the costs.
Case 1: Distances Below 5 m
If the transmission distances is under 5 m, like the case that two switch ports are connected within the same rack or between racks located within the same room. The QSFP+ passive DAC cable is recommended. Take the Cisco compatible QSFP+ optics (Fiberstore Brand) for example:
DAC5m Cisco QSFP-H40G-CU5M Compatible 40G QSFP+ Passive Direct Attach Copper CableUS$ 65.00
AOC5m Cisco QSFP-H40G-AOC5M Compatible 40G QSFP+ Active Optical CableUS$ 140.00
Transceiver & CableCisco QSFP-40G-SR4 Compatible 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP+ 850nm 150m DOM TransceiverUS$ 85.00
5M OM4 12-fiber MTP Fiber Optic Trunk Cable for 40GBASE-SR4US$ 73.00
Case 2: Distances Below 100 m (< 5 m)
For the case that transmission distance is below 100 m but beyond 5 m, the QSFP+ AOC is an ideal choice for use, namely DAC VS AOC, the AOC win. In this case, the QSFP+ passive DAC cable cannot achieve such long reach requirement because of its performance limitation. While the 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP+ transceiver can do this but the cost of the MTP trunk cable is higher. Thus, here, the compatible QSFP+ AOC is preferred.
AOC100m Cisco QSFP-H40G-AOC100M Compatible 40G QSFP+ Active Optical CableUS$ 250.00
Transceiver & CableCisco QSFP-40G-SR4 Compatible 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP+ 850nm 150m DOM TransceiverUS$ 85.00
OM4 12-fiber MTP Fiber Optic Trunk Cable for 40GBASE-SR4over US$ 500.00
Case 3: Distances Above 100 m
If the transmission distance is longer than 100 m, DAC cables and AOCs are usually not recommended. In this case, the 40G QSFP+ modules which are used for short-reach applications are recommended.
Cisco QSFP-40G-SR4 Compatible 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP+ 850nm 150m DOM TransceiverUS$ 85.00
Cisco QSFP-40G-SR4-S Compatible 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP+ 850nm 150m DOM TransceiverUS$ 85.00
Cisco QSFP-40G-CSR4 Compatible 40GBASE-CSR4 QSFP+ 850nm 400m DOM TransceiverUS$ 110.00
In addition to the QSFP+ modules, you may need to select the right cables and patch panels according to your requirements. These costs should be considered in your plan. The detailed prices will not list here.
Of course, all above are rough estimates of the optics. In practical application, more details are included. Users can consult clearly when purchasing. In addition, for short-distance migration to 40 GbE, the breakout DAC cable and AOC could be another good choices. Meanwhile, it should be note that the prices listed above are the product list prices of Fiberstore Website. If you wanna buy, please to real-time prices shall prevail in www.fs.com.

评论

发表评论

此博客中的热门博文

What Is VLAN Switch and Why Do We Need It?

图片
VLAN or virtual LAN is a type of LAN that is defined to map workstations based on everything except for geographic location. It develops when the network has increased in size and complexity, and many companies require more access ports or a network design. Basically, it’s a networking technology which allows the network to be segmented logically without geographic restrictions. But how much do you know about VLAN switch? What Is  VLAN Switch? VLAN switch is built on the fiber optic switch  of LAN, which realizes the division and management of logical working group as a software. As defined in IEEE standard 802.1Q, VLAN switch can provide a way to transform one network into multiple broadcast domains. And each broadcast domain is usually matched with IP subnet boundaries, so that each subnet has its own VLAN. Therefore, users can obtain various wired LANs for different purposes that are co-existed physically, which means you don’t need to buy additional hardware or c...
阅读全文

Differentiate the 3 Technologies: Switch Stacking vs Cascading vs Clustering

图片
When we have more than one switches on hand we often seek to a better way in making use of them and managing them. There are mainly three technologies that we might use when we interconnect or combine several switches together, which are switch stacking, cascading and clustering. For many people that firstly get in touch with these terms, they can’t figure out the differences between them. Some discussions of the switch stacking versus switch clustering and switch stacking versus switch cascading have been put forward, but a comprehensive comparison between them has not been made. So this post is a discussion of switch stacking vs cascading vs clustering. Switch Stacking vs Cascading vs Clustering The comparison of switch stacking, cascading and clustering should be based on knowing the meaning of these technologies. So firstly we will see what switch stacking, cascading and cluster are. What Are Switch Stacking, Cascading and Clustering? Switch stack...
阅读全文

Nylon Zip Ties vs Hook-&-Loop (Velcro®) Ties

图片
The confinement system is the last but critical part of the entire cable management systems. Cable tie plays a very important role in this part. However, there are various types of cable ties in the market. Which one is better? Since nylon zip ties and hook-&-loop (Velcro®) ties are most common and controversial. This tutorial will compare these two types of cable ties in details. Overview of Cable Ties Cable ties are cheap and simple components used in cable confinement system. They are usually the last measure to ensure the cable managed in order. Cable ties are available in a variety of sizes and materials for use on different applications with different requirements. In addition, there are various of color options for cable ties. These color codes help users to manage the cabling and achieve easy troubleshooting. The most commonly used formats of cable ties are nylon zip ties and hook-&-loop (Velcro®) ties, as the Figure 1 & 2 shown: Figure 1. Drawin...
阅读全文