Driven by constant technological innovations and rapid development, the Internet environment is surrounded by broad optical product selections. In this boom of datacommunications and telecommunications, users’ demands for optical components are increasing at an amazing speed. In fact, data center optical transmission capacity dependslargely on high-volume 100G CFP(C Form-factor Pluggable) optical modules. During their deployment in optical equipment, certainly there is an evolution which witnesses theirdevelopment and progress of CFP optical modules.

CFP is a hot-pluggable transceiver module form factor that supports a wide range of 40Gb/s and 100Gb/s applications such as 40G and 100G Ethernet. CFP optical modules areendowed with several outstanding features, including advanced thermal management, EMI management and enhanced signal integrity design, as well as a MDIO-based managementinterface. Different versions of CFP modules can support various link distances over either multimode or single mode fiber optics.

The original CFP specification was proposed at a time when 10Gbps signals were much more achievable in the market than 25Gbps signals. In order to achieve 100Gbps line rate,the most affordable solution was based on 10 lanes of 10Gbps. 100G CFP optical modules made their debut in 2008. At that time, 10G data rate electronics have taken a firmplace in the market. Owing to improvements in technology, higher performances and higher density of 100G CFPs have become available in the market.

As a follow-on module to the CFP, the CFP2 shows a transition. It supports the IEEE 100 Gigabit Ethernet. CPF2 is half the size of the CFP and typically consumes half thepower. Admittedly, the CFP2 realized higher performances and density at a reasonable price and CFP2s have been widely used in market.

Now, the CFP4s are attracting more and more attention. The first CFP4s are expected to appear in 2013, but until 2014 at OFC(Optical Fiber Communication Conference 2014), theCFP4 specifications document became available announced by MSA(Multi-Source-Agreement) members. They define the electrical and physical requirements for the 100Gbps CFP4 optical transceiver products and systems. At present, CFP4 modules are still rare and expensive. Actually, CFP4 is similar with its predecessor but with more optimization.Here are features of the CFP4:1.Power dissipation < 5W;2.Maximum link length of 10km on Single Mode Fiber (SMF);3.Duplex LC receptacles;4.MDIO management interface.From the following image, you can get the better understanding about the physical differences among the CFP, CEP2and CFP4.

Fiberstrore offers 100GBASE-LR4 CFP, CFP2 and CFP4 modules which are ideal solutions for your 100GbE network. They have significant advantages over existing solutions in termsof reduced power dissipation and increased density with the added benefit of pluggability for cutting down first installed cost. Please visit Fiberstore for more detailedinformation.

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