QSFP+ Interconnect Solution Connectors, cages and cable assemblies (copper and optical), Active Optical Cables (AOCs) and loopbacks are part of a highly-integrated system that combines effective use of space, power and port density for high-density applications. Molex's Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable (QSFP+) solution is designed for high-density applications. Components of the system include the Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) shielding cage, active optical cables (AOC), passive copper cable assembly, active copper cable assembly, optical MTP cable assembly, optical loopback, 38-circuit SMT iPass™ host connector, and stacked integrated connectors and cages.
The SFF-8685 document specifies a transceiver mechanical form factor with latching mechanism, host-board electrical-edge connector and cage. The hot-pluggable transceiver integrates 4 transmit and 4 receive channels. Molex's QSFP+14 transceiver can replace up to 4 standard SFP+ transceivers. The result is greater port density and overall system cost savings over traditional SFP+ products. Molex's QSFP+14 cable assemblies are designed to accommodate stacked and ganged connector configurations in extremely high-density requirements. This system will support 10G Ethernet, Fibre Channel, InfiniBand*, SAS and SONET/SDH standards with different data rate options.
Active Optical Cable (AOCs) extremely low power consumption of only 0.78W per cable end improves overall data center power consumption and thermal efficiency. Molex PSM4 AOC’s use single mode silicon photonics (SiPh) to enable transmitting up to 4km on single mode ribbon fiber. AOC pigtails (QSFP+ to MPO) allow for easy plug in to installed SM structured cabling, thus eliminating the need to pull the AOC through long distances.
AOCs reduced cable bulk compared to larger diameter copper cabling enable deployment of additional ports for increased number of AOCs per system, resulting in more connectivity options and total system cost savings. Optical pluggable QSFP+ MTP† cable assemblies are available in 12-fiber 3.00mm round cable and a robust 4.50mm round cable. Loopbacks feature a compact housing compatible with module spacing and loop optical transmit ports to receive ports for testing, burn-in and field troubleshooting.