In today's society, there is an increasing demand for higher capacity and faster data transmission. The construction of higher bandwidth and faster data transfer infrastructure is imperative. The 400G OSFP is an 8-channel small form-factor pluggable optical transceiver that significantly enhances both the capacity and speed of data transmission. The evolution of data rates, from early stages of 100Mbps, 1Gbps, and 10Gbps to the current 400Gbps used in leading applications, has witnessed a rapid progression within a short span of 10 years. This article will provide an overview of various types of 400G OSFP optical transceivers and discuss common issues related to 400G OSFP transceivers.
The OSFP (Octal Small Form-Factor Pluggable) optical transceiver consists of eight high-speed electrical channels, each operating at a speed of 50Gb/s, resulting in a total bandwidth of 400Gb/s. 400G OSFP optical transceivers can be categorized based on various parameters. They can be classified into multimode and single-mode optical transceivers, based on the transmission distance into SR8, DR4, FR4, FR8, LR4, and based on modulation schemes into NRZ and PAM4. The table below provides a clear understanding of different types of 400G OSFP optical transceivers:
| Types | Wavelength | Interface | Reach | Power Consumption | Programme | Fiber type |
| OSFP-SR8 Transceivers | 850nm | MPO/MTP-16 | 100m | 12W | 50G PAM4 | multimode |
| OSFP-DR4 Transceivers | 1310nm | MPO/MTP-12 | 500m | 12W | 100G PAM4 | Single-mode |
| OSFP-DR4+ Transceivers | 1310nm | MPO/MTP-12 | 2km | 12W | 100G PAM4 | Single-mode |
| OSFP-FR4+ Transceivers | CWDM4 | LC | 2km | 12W | 100G PAM4 | Single-mode |
| OSFP-FR8 Transceivers | CWDM4 | LC | 2km | 12W | 50G PAM4 | Single-mode |
| OSFP-LR4 Transceivers | CWDM4 | LC | 10KM | 12W | 100G PAM4 | Single-mode |
400G OSFP optical transceivers offer significant advantages, with one of them being a substantial increase in bandwidth. They greatly enhance network transmission rates and capacity, facilitating faster data transfer and reduced data latency. This is crucial in practical client applications. Additionally, the compact form factor of 400G OSFP greatly saves space, allowing for denser layouts in data center equipment to achieve maximum capacity for data transmission and exchange.
While the external appearance of the 400G OSFP optical transceiver is not significantly different from previous transceivers, there is a qualitative leap in transmission speed and capacity. Integrating eight-channel high-speed transmission within the same volume housing achieves a fourfold increase in transmission speed compared to 100G optical transceivers. The widespread application of 400G OSFP optical transceivers is expected to bring revolutionary changes to modern networks.
Strictly speaking, the application of 400G OSFP optical transceivers is not yet widespread. Currently, they are mainly used in broadband access for operators, core links in large data center networks, and core links in national supercomputing centers. In general, the application of 400G OSFP optical transceivers is concentrated in the core layer of data centers.
The 400G optical transceiver is compatible with brands such as Cisco, Juniper, Arista, Dell, Mellanox, and others.
No, the 400G OSFP transceiver does not require special maintenance. Regular checks for cleanliness are sufficient to achieve optimal performance. Following the manufacturer's guidelines and timely firmware updates help extend the lifespan without the need for specific maintenance.
