How to Extend 40G Connection up to 80 km?

As 40G connectivity is accelerating, many data centers prepare to migrate from 10G to 40G. But the link distance between 10G and 40G switches is a big challenge. This article can help you extend 40G connection distance.

Current 40G QSFP+ to 4x10G Connection—Max 10 km

As we know, 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP+ is designed for short distance of up to 150m connection. 40GBASE-PLR4 QSFP+ can support long distance link of up to 10 km. Both 40G QSFP+ modules are interfaced with 12-fibre MTP/MPO and can break out into 4x10G connection. To build 10G-40G connection, for instance, using singlemode 8-fibre MTP-LC harness cable to connect 40GBASE-PLR4 QSFP+ and 4x10G SFP+ modules. As the direct connection distance between two 40GBASE-PLR4 QSFP+ optics can reach at most 10km, it’s easy to understand that the connection between 10G and 40G may be shorter. However, we provide a solution to extend 40G connection to 80km distance. Continue to read this article and find the answer.

10km max

Solution for Extending 40G QSFP+ Connection to 80 km

This solution applies 40CH DWDM MUX/DEMUX and some other WDM devices, which can support at most 10x40G links. 40G links will be realised through 4x10G. And the connection goes like Switch – QSFP+ SR4 – 1×4 MTP-LC harness cable – 10G SFP+ SR – OEO – DWDM 10G SFP+(The following figure would be more clear). Thus, suppose you use G.625 fibre cable and the cable insertion loss is 0.25dB/km, you can get 3dB system margin in this 80km 40G network.

40G connection

80km 40G WDM connection

Equipment for Extending 40G QSFP+ Connection

To extend 40G QSFP+ connection distance, we have to use WDM transponder OEO (Optical-Electrical-Optical) repeater. OEO repeater allows connection between fibre to fibre Ethernet equipment, serving as fibre mode converter, or as fibre repeater for long distance transmission. It can also function as CWDM/DWDM optical wavelength conversion. Now we will use a multi-service transport system, including a hot-swappable plug-in OEO card which only occupies 1 slot. The other space can be left for holding more cards such as DCM, EDFA, OLP. On the left side, there is a card for centralised network management.

WDM transponder oeo

This is a 4-channel multi-rate WDM transponder with an OEO-10G card containing 8 SFP/SFP+ slots and can support up to 11.3G rate. The OEO card can convert 1G~11.3 Gbps Ethernet signals into a corresponding wavelength in CWDM and DWDM network infrastructures. Transmission distance can reach 80 km.

Except WDM transponder OEO repeater, we still need DWDM Mux/Demux and DWDM SFP+ to extend the distance to 80 km. DWDM Mux/Demux is to combine 4x10G signals of different wavelengths on one single fibre so that it’s the best solution to increase network capacity and save cost. Here we use 40-channel C21-C60 dual fibre DWDM Mux/Demux. So we can choose suitable 10G DWDM SFP+ modules 80km transceiver between the wavelengths of C21 and C60.

For your convenience, the following table introduces the whole equipment to realise 80km 40G connection. About the quantity and transceiver brand, you can select according to your specific needs.

Equipment Details
Fibre Transceiver 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP+ 850nm 150m MTP/MPO DOM Transceiver Module
10GBASE-SR SFP+ 850nm 300m DOM Transceiver
C53-C60 DWDM SFP+ 1529.55nm 80km DOM Transceiver
Transponder Repeater 4 Channels Multi-Rate WDM Converter (Transponder), 8 SFP/SFP+ Slots, Up to 11.3G Rate, Pluggable Module for FMT Multi-Service Transport Platform
DWDM Mux/Demux 40 Channels C21-C60 Dual Fibre DWDM Mux Demux with Monitor Port, 3.0dB Typical IL
DWDM EDFA Customised 1U/2U/4U Managed Chassis Unloaded, Supports up to 8x Multiplexer/EDFA/OEO/OLP Module with Accessories
FMT Multiplex Managed Chassis 20dB Gain Pre-Amplifier DWDM EDFA C-band 13dBm Output, Pluggable Module for FMT Multi-Service Transport Platform
Dispersion Compensation Module 40KM DCF-based Passive Dispersion Compensation Module, 3.5dB Low Loss, LC/UPC, Pluggable Module for FMT Multi-Service Transport Platform
MTP-LC Breakout Cable 8 Fibres MPO to 4 LC Duplex OM4 Multimode Breakout Cable, Type B, 1m
Conclusion

10 km transmission distance is not the limit of 40G to 4x10G connection. From this article, you can extend 40Q QSFP+ to 80 km by mainly applying WDM transponder OEO repeater, DWDM Mux/Demux and 10G DWDM SFP+. If need to break your network distance limit, please visit our site www.fs.com/uk or contact us via sales@fs.com.

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Economically Increase Network Capacity With CWDM Mux/DeMux
Check out All CWDM Transceiver Modules
User Guide for CWDM MUX/DEMUX