To stay competitive, businesses require robust and high-performance networks to handle large amounts of data and ensure seamless communication. Different 100G Transceiver types are key components in modern network infrastructure, providing high-speed connectivity for networks with varying needs.
What Are 100G Transceivers?
100G Transceivers are optical transceivers designed to transmit data at 100 gigabits per second (Gbps) over various types of fiber optics and fiber connector types. These modules are used to interconnect networking equipment, such as switches, routers, and servers, and are a key step in facilitating high-speed communication within data centers, enterprise networks, and telecommunications.
The importance of these modules lies in their ability to handle massive amounts of data traffic, which is essential for businesses that rely on cloud services, big data analytics, and real-time applications.
What Types of 100g Transceivers Are There?
There are many types of 100G Transceivers, each designed for specific network environments and use cases. The wide variety ensures businesses have the flexibility to choose the right transceiver type based on distance, speed, and fiber type requirements. Whether you are building a local data center network or connecting to a long-distance backbone, there is a 100G SFP module suited to the task.
1. 100GBASE-SR4
The SR4 uses four lanes of transmission, each operating at 25 Gbps, providing a combined throughput of 100 Gbps. This module is commonly used for intra-data center connectivity.
- Type: Multi-mode fiber (MMF)
- Distance: Up to 100 meters on OM4 fiber
- Wavelength: 850 nm (Shortwave)
DAC cables are often used in conjunction with short-range 100G SFP modules to provide cost-effective, high-speed connectivity in data centers or between adjacent racks.
2. 100GBASE-LR4
The LR4 module is designed for long-range, high-speed data transmission across large enterprise networks or between data centers.
- Type: Single-mode fiber (SMF)
- Distance: Up to 10 kilometers
- Wavelength: 1310 nm (Longwave)
It is ideal for environments where distances exceed what multi-mode fiber can cover, such as metropolitan area networks (MANs) or long-distance campus connections.
3. 100GBASE-ER4
The ER4 module provides even longer-range connectivity than the LR4, supporting up to 40 kilometers.
- Type: Single-mode fiber (SMF)
- Distance: Up to 40 kilometers
- Wavelength: 1304 nm (Extended long-range)
This makes it suitable for metro networks or large-scale enterprise backbone infrastructures where extended reach is needed, without relying on additional repeaters or amplifiers.
4. 100GBASE-CWDM4
The CWDM4 transceiver is designed to utilize multiple wavelength channels to increase bandwidth over a single fiber.
- Type: Single-mode fiber (SMF)
- Distance: Up to 2 kilometers
- Wavelength: Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM)
It is typically used in scenarios where space or fiber availability is limited, offering high-performance connectivity over shorter distances, such as inter-data center connections.
5. 100GBASE-PSM4
The PSM4 transceiver is used for high-speed data transmission over relatively short distances, providing an efficient solution for data center interconnects or cross-connects.
- Type: Single-mode fiber (SMF)
- Distance: Up to 500 meters
- Wavelength: 1310 nm (Passive Optical System)
It is often employed in modern data centers for cost-effective, short-range 100G connections.
6. 100GBASE-FR
The FR module provides long-distance capabilities without the high cost associated with modules like LR4 or ER4, making it a good option for data center interconnections.
- Type: Single-mode fiber (SMF)
- Distance: Up to 2 kilometers
- Wavelength: 1310 nm
It is designed for mid-range connectivity, commonly used for enterprise networks and metro area applications.
7. 100GBASE-DR
The DR transceiver offers a cost-effective and high-performance solution for data center interconnections, providing direct-detect technology over short distances.
- Type: Single-mode fiber (SMF)
- Distance: Up to 500 meters
- Wavelength: 1310 nm
It’s typically used in applications requiring minimal latency and high throughput within a data center.
Equal Optics 100g Product Skus
Cisco Compatible
QSFP-100G-SR4-S-EO
QSFP-100G-LR4-S-EO
QSFP-100G-ER4L-S-EO
QSFP-100G-ZR4-S-EO
Arista Compatible
QSFP-100G-SR4-AR-EO
QSFP-100G-LR4-AR_EO
QSFP-100G-ERL4-AR-EO
QSFP-100G-ZR4-AR-EO
Juniper Compatible
JNP-QSFP-100G-SR4-EO
JNP-QSFP-100G-LR4-EO
QSFP-100G-ER4L-EO
QSFP-100G-ZR4-EO
What Types of 100g BiDi Modules Are There?
100G BiDi (Bidirectional) modules are worth mentioning here. These are specialized optical transceivers that transmit and receive data over a single fiber strand, effectively doubling the efficiency of fiber usage.
1. 100GBASE-BiDi
The 100GBASE-BiDi module provides a cost-effective solution by enabling bidirectional data transmission over a single fiber strand.
- Type: Single-mode fiber (SMF)
- Distance: Up to 10 kilometers
- Wavelength: Two distinct wavelengths (e.g., 1270 nm for TX and 1330 nm for RX)
This module is ideal for point-to-point connections, reducing fiber usage and simplifying network infrastructure, particularly in long-distance communication.
2. 100GBASE-BiDi-40km
The 100GBASE-BiDi module has variants with extended reach capabilities, supporting longer distances while still utilizing bidirectional transmission over a single fiber.
- Type: Single-mode fiber (SMF)
- Distance: Typically up to 40 kilometers
- Wavelength: Similar to 100GBASE-BiDi but optimized for longer ranges (e.g., 1264 nm and 1337 nm)
This variant is used for long-distance applications in metropolitan networks or connections between distant data centers.
3. 100GBASE-BiDi CWDM
This module integrates Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) to enable multiple data channels on a single fiber strand.
- Type: Single-mode fiber (SMF)
- Distance: Typically 10-20 kilometers
- Wavelength: Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) wavelengths (e.g., 1270/1330 nm, 1290/1350 nm)
Used in long-haul applications, such as between data centers or network backbone connections, with optimized fiber utilization using CWDM technology.
How 100g Transceivers Support High-Performance Networks
As businesses increasingly depend on high-speed data transmission, the 100G SFP modules provide the infrastructure required for scalable, reliable, and fast networks. At Equal Optics, we supply cutting-edge optical transceivers, including both 100G BiDi and 100G SFP types, to ensure your network remains high-performance, cost-effective, and adaptable to future demands. Browse our product catalog today to discover how we can help optimize your network and keep your business running at full speed.st networks. At Equal Optics, we supply cutting-edge optical transceivers, including both 100G BiDi and 100G SFP types, to ensure your network remains high-performance, cost-effective, and adaptable to future demands.
Browse our product catalog today to discover how we can help optimize your network and keep your business running at full speed.
