Siemon has released a new QSFP+ (Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus) to SFP+ (Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus) hybrid passive copper cable assembly. The hybrid fanout cables break a single 40Gb/s QSFP+ connector into four individual 10Gb/s SFP+ connectors, allowing users to connect multiple ports of SFP+ equipment to QSFP+ based equipment with a single, easy-to-manage assembly.
The direct-attach hybrid assembly’s four hot-pluggable SFP+ connectors are factory-terminated to twin-axial shielded cable to provide superior signal integrity in support 10+Gb/s high frequency data rates. The assemblies are impedance matched to ensure interoperability with SFP+ host ports and minimize insertion loss.
The four 10Gb/s SFP+ legs feed into a single 40Gb/s capable QSFP+ connector. The 4-lane QSFP+ form factor interface supports up to 10Gb/s per lane, providing 40Gb/s composite data transfer rates. In terms of both physical connector space and data throughput, a single QSFP+ connector can replace up to four standard SFP+ connections, providing greater port density and reduced system cost.
Manufacture of Siemon’s SFP+ and QSFP+ interconnects is automated, eliminating assembly variations for consistent signal integrity, including a unique termination process that optimizes cross talk and return loss performance. The company says the QSFP+ to SFP+ hybrid cable assemblies were developed as a cost-effective means of integrating higher-performance QSFP+ equipment with current SFP+ systems in high-performance computing (HPC), enterprise networking, video networking and network storage applications. Each end of the hybrid assembly is compliant to the SFF specifications that define the mechanical and electrical requirements for interoperability.
Designed for channel lengths up to up to 5 m, these low-power interconnects are compatible with a wide array of data protocols, including InfiniBand 4X SDR, DDR, QDR as well as Ethernet 10G, 40G (IEEE-802.3ba) and SONET electrical failover 40G links. They also support Fibre Channel SAN 10G, 40G and SAN; RapidIO and Myrinet 40G systems links. Siemon offers application specific assembly solutions such as varied EEPROM programming options, wire gauges and custom lengths.
Learn more about Siemon’s high-speed interconnect products at: www.siemon.com/sis
