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What types of 400G optical modules are available

ODN and passive infrastructure knowledge brief Published 29 Apr 2023

Prepared for preliminary research by the GESTIONVAL ODN knowledge desk. Confirm network topology, split ratio, box or cabinet capacity, joint closure rating and loss budget against current standards and product documentation.

400G optical modules come in multiple form factors and transmission standards, including QSFP-DD, OSFP, CFP8, and coherent modules like ZR/ZR+, with short-range to ultra-long-range capabilities.Form Factors
  1. QSFP-DD (Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable Double Density): Supports 8 lanes for 400G, backward-compatible with QSFP28/QSFP+ modules, widely used in data center switches for high-density deployments .
  2. OSFP (Octal Small Form-factor Pluggable): Slightly larger than QSFP-DD, offers better heat dissipation, used in AI clusters and some early 400G switches .
  3. CFP8: Scales older CFP4 modules with 8 channels, suitable for high-capacity transport but less common in modern data centers .
  4. CWDM8, CDFP, COBO: Specialized or early 400G form factors; COBO mounts optics directly on PCB but lacks hot-swap capability .
Transmission Standards

400G modules are categorized by distance and fiber type:

  • VR4 (Very Short Range): 0–100 meters over multimode fiber, ideal for intra-rack connections .
  • SR4 / SR4.2 (Short Range): Up to 300 meters (SR4) or 150 meters (SR4.2) on multimode fiber, using 4 or 8 channels with PAM4 modulation .
  • DR4 (Datacenter Reach): Up to 500 meters over single-mode fiber, suitable for inter-row or inter-hall connections .
  • FR4 (Long Range): Up to 2 km over single-mode fiber, for longer intra-data center or metro links .
  • LR4 / LR8 (Long Range): Up to 10 km over single-mode fiber, for wide-area or extended-distance links .
  • ER4 (Extended Range): Up to 40 km on single-mode fiber, for high-capacity metro or regional networks .
  • ZR / ZR+ (Zero-Dispersion Range): 80–120 km over single-mode fiber, coherent modules for ultra-long-distance data center interconnects and long-haul networks .
Key Features
  • Modulation: PAM4 is commonly used to double the bit rate per lane.
  • Fiber Type: Multimode fiber (MMF) for short-range, single-mode fiber (SMF) for long-range and coherent modules.
  • Applications: From intra-data center links (VR4, SR4) to metro and long-haul transport (LR4, ER4, ZR/ZR+).
  • Power and Efficiency: Modern 400G modules are energy-efficient, typically consuming a few watts, and support integrated digital diagnostics for monitoring temperature, voltage, and optical power . 400G optical modules provide flexibility across data centers, metro networks, and long-haul transport, enabling high-bandwidth, low-latency, and scalable network deployments while supporting the evolution toward 800G networks .

What types of 400G optical modules are available - GESTIONVAL ODN INFRASTRUCTURE S.L. [PDF]

What types of 400G optical modules are available

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