How to Save Cost for 500Gbps Metro Network Over Long Distance?

Increasing bandwidth has always been the most important task of telecom engineers. Through decades of research and engineering effort, 40Gbps and 100Gbps solutions have been used for network applications. But 40G and 100G transceivers can’t support too much long distance (QSFP-40G-ER4 for 40 km, QSFP-100G-LR4 for 10 km). How to extend the 500Gbps link to thousands of kilometers in Metro network within limited budget?

Save Fiber Cost–500Gbps Over Single Fiber Cable

Fiber cable cost takes a certain percentage in the whole network budget. Point to point connection needs many cables, while WDM technology take well care of this issue. In a metro network, usually multiple 10Gbps signals are transmitted by the use of DWDM Mux/Demux over a single fiber cable, which can save lots of money on multiple fiber cables and cable management issues. Then how to save cost to transmit 500Gbps signals over single fiber cable?

It sounds unbelievable. But we have the cost-effective solution. As we know, it will cost too much to replace all the current network system for upgrading to higher data rate. To save cost for increasing bandwidth, some producers add an extra port on DWDM Mux/Demux and that is 1310nm or 1550nm port. This port supports 1310nm or 1550nm transceiver. With such port, you can add 1G/10G/40G/100G to the existing DWDM network. For instance, we use 40-channel C21-C60 dual fiber DWDM Mux/Demux with 1310nm port and 1310nm band port for 1G/10G/40G/100G “grey” light. Plug 10G DWDM SFP+ transceivers into 40 channels, the overload is 400Gbps. Once plugging a 1310 40G QSFP+ LR4/ER4, then the total link reach up to 440G (400G + 40G). If install a 100G QSFP28 LR4 transceiver into 1310 port, the whole transport will be 500Gbps (400G + 100G). See this solution realize the goal of saving cost to run such huge network load over a single fiber.

Extend 500G Transmission Distance

Since 500G signals can be transmitted over a single fiber cable, we have another issue to be solved. 500G transmission distance is needed far more than few kilometers in real life, maybe thousand of kilometers. How to extend the transmission distance?

According to IEEE standard, LR4 and ER4 transceivers can support the reach of 10 km and 40 km in the in ideal conditions, not considering fiber loss or connector loss. To extend 500Gpbs transmission distance, we need SOA (Semiconductor Optical Amplifier) and EDFA (Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier). Add an SOA to support 40G/100GBASE-LR4 transceiver (over 1310 nm). The SOA is used to amplify incoming (Rx) signal on the receiving side of the link. So that the distances can reach up to 60 km. In 10Gbps DWDM networks, the signal transmission distance can be extended to hundreds of kilometers by the use of and EDFA (Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier).

Recommended DWDM Solutions for 500Gbps Metro Network

ID#	FS Part Number	Description
35887	40MDD-1RU-A1-FSDWDM	40 Ch 1RU Duplex DWDM MUX DEMUX C21 to C60 with 1310nm Port and Monitor Port
14491	DWDM-SFP10G-40	10GBASE 100GHz DWDM SFP+ 40km, LC Duplex Interface, C21 to C60
31533	DWDM-SFP10G-80	10GBASE 100GHz DWDM SFP+ 80km, LC Duplex Interface, C21 to C60
14599	DWDM-XFP10G-40	10GBASE 100GHz DWDM XFP 40km, LC Duplex Interface, C21 to C60
14650	DWDM-XFP10G-80	10GBASE 100GHz DWDM XFP 80km, LC Duplex Interface, C21 to C60
35208	QSFP-LR4-40G	40G QSFP+ LR4 1310nm 10km, LC Duplex Interface
35210	QSFP-ER4-40G	40G QSFP+ ER4 1310nm 40km, LC Duplex Interface
35014	CFP2-LR4-100G	100G CFP2 LR4 1310nm 10km, LC Duplex Interface
35192	FS-SOA-G10	10dB Gain 1310nm Semiconductor Optical Amplifier
31366	EDFA-BAO22	20dBm Output C-band 40 Channels 26dB Gain Booster EDFA

Summary

DWDM technology is very necessary to extend Metro Network reach. In this 500Gpbs Metro network, I have introduced very detailed cost-effective solutions. Remember all the indispensable DWDM equipment such as DWDM transceivers, DWDM Mux/Demux, EDFA, etc. For more information, please visit the site about FS.COM Long Haul DWDM Network Solution.

Related articles: How to Extend 40G Connection up to 80 km?
Economically Increase Network Capacity With CWDM Mux/DeMux

Originally published at http://www.fiber-optic-equipment.com

Which 40G QSFP+ Transceivers Can Be Used for 4x10G?

Since the overwhelming growth in data traffic, many data centers are loaded with 10G and 40G based Ethernet switches for 10G to 40G migration. 40G switches allow the configuration of 40G port to act as one port or break out into four individual ports. To get easy 10G/40G migration, we should better select 40G QSFP+ transceivers which can break out as 4x10G connectivity. Among so many versions of 40G QSFP+ transceivers including QSFP-40G-SR4, QSFP-40-CSR4, QSFP-40G-LR4, QSFP-40G-ER4, etc., which 40G QSFP+ transceiver can be used for 4x10G?

QSFP-40G-SR4/CSR4 for 4x10G

40G short distance multimode transceivers are interfaced with 12-fiber MTP/MPO, such as 40G SR4, CSR4. To know why these 40G QSFP+ modules can be used for 4x10G, let’s see how QSFP-40G-SR4 work? First, 4 electrical input signals of 10G converted into parallel optical signals are sent from the transmitter over 4 parallel fiber strands. Then the parallel optical signals are converted into parallel electrical signals by the use of a photo detector array and transmitted to the receiver over another 4 parallel fiber strands. QSFP-40G-SR4 needs 8 fibers to transmit and receive signals. QSFP-40G-SR4 transceivers are interfaced with 12-fiber MTP/MPO. Therefore, QSFP-40G-SR4 and QSFP-40G-CSR4 transceivers can be easily broken down to 4x10G connections. Each 10G signal lane of QSFP-40G-SR4 is compliant to IEEE 10GBASE-SR specifications. And this 10G/40G connection can be achieved by using an MTP-LC harness cable or MTP cable and MTP-LC breakout patch panel to connect the QSFP-40G-SR4 and four 10GBASE-SR modules.

Can QSFP-40G-LR4/ER4 Be Used for 4x10G?

QSFP-40G-LR4 transceivers apply CWDM (Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing) technology. From the transmitter side, 4 input electrical signals of 10G are converted into 4 CWDM optical signals by a driven 4-wavelength distributed feedback (DFB) laser array. Then 4 CWDM signals are multiplexed to a singlemode fiber for 40G optical signal transmission. On the receiver side, the receiver accepts 40G CWDM optical signals input and demultiplexes them into 4 individual 10G optical data streams with different wavelengths. Multiplexing and demultiplexing of the four wavelengths are managed in the device. The 40 Gigabit Ethernet signal is carried over four wavelengths on a pair of singlemode fibers. The duplex fibers are used for bi-directional transmission. QSFP-40G-LR4 and QSFP-40G-ER4 are interfaced with duplex LC connector. Therefore, we can’t split QSFP-40G-LR4 or QSFP-40G-ER4 to 4 individual duplex SMF fibers to route them to 4 separate 10G transceivers by simple optical rerouting.

But if you insist to split the 40G into four 10G streams using QSFP-40G-LR4 or QSFP-40G-ER4 modules, how to achieve that connection? Then you need a simple multiplexer/demultiplexer which split the four wavelengths on duplex fibers into 4x10G signal in four different fibers. With such equipment, the QSFP-40G-LR4 or QSFP-40G-ER4 outputs can be physically broken down from one duplex fiber into four duplex fibers so that each of the wavelengths is transmitted in four different fibers (As the following figure shows).

How About QSFP-40G-PLRL4?

From the above content, you may get an inclusion that multimode 40G QSFP+ transceivers can be directly used as 4x10G while singlemode 40G QSFP+ transceivers can’t. However, you ignore one singlemode transceiver QSFP-40G-PLRL4. This 40G QSFP+ transceiver connects with 12-fiber MTP/MPO patch cable though it’s designed for long distance transmission. Similar to QSFP-40G-SR4, QSFP-40G-PLRL4 also needs 8 fibers to transmit and receive signals. So you can easily get 10G/40G singlemode connection applying QSFP-40G-PLRL4.

Summary

Some data centers may face the issue of migration from 10G to 40G. Except the switch, you also need to know 40G QSFP+ transceivers well especially what kind of 40G QSFP+ transceivers can be used for 4x10G connectivity. In this article, you can see 40G QSFP+ transceivers with MTP/MPO interface can achieve that connection by simple optical routing. As to 40G QSFP+ transceivers with duplex LC interface, you need spare equipment for multiplexing/demultiplexing. For 40G to 4x10G solutions, you can find your desired one from FS.COM.

Related article: How to Extend 40G Connection up to 80 km?

QSFP+ to 4xSFP+ AOC and QSFP+ MTP Breakout Cable Solution

How to Select Fiber Patch Cable for 40G QSFP+ Modules?

Originaly published at www.fiber-optic-equipment.com