Month: September 2017

 New SFP-DD pluggable form factor features additional 2 rows of electrical contacts  Doubles the lane density and data speed in next-generation networking equipment  Cage/connector system backward compatible to SFP electrical interfaces Gothenburg, Sweden – September 18, 2017 – The Small Form Factor Pluggable Double Density (SFP-DD) Multi Source Agreement (MSA) Group recently completed the initial hardware specification and drawings for the SFP-DD pluggable interface designed to enable high-speed, high-density networking equipment. Targeting support up to 3.5 W optical modules in an enterprise environment, the SFP-DD form factor addresses the technical challenges of achieving a double-density interface and ensuring mechanical interoperability for module components produced by different manufacturers. The SFP-DD electrical interface expands on the existing SFP pluggable form factor, a widely adopted interface used in data centers and other networking platforms. The SFP single lane interface operates up to 28 Gbps NRZ or 56 Gbps PAM-4. The new SFP-DD electrical interface is designed to support two lanes that operate up to 25 Gbps NRZ or 56 Gbps PAM-4 per lane, providing aggregate bandwidth of 56 Gbps or 112 Gbps. By doubling the lane density and data speed, the SFP-DD interface will help address demand for increased port density and scalability in next-generation applications, with a primary focus on the server side interconnect. An SFP-DD server port along with QSFP-DD switch ports provides an overall doubling of the port density in network applications. The SFP-DD hardware specification and drawings define key module, plug, and cage characteristics. SFP-DD modules and direct-attach cable plugs use a common mechanical outline. Modules and plugs provide a means to self-lock with the cage upon insertion. Network equipment based on the SFP-DD will support legacy SFP modules and cables, and new double density products, for optimal design flexibility. SFP-DD Key Features  A single