Cisco CPAK 100GBASE alternative = CFP2 converter + 100G QSFP28 module
Time ago we wrote blog article about Cisco CPAK transceivers, about how special it is and that there is no alternative in 3rd party market for it , since then things have changed and there is ONE now!
In short: we can use Cisco coded CFP2 converter (CFP2-QSFP28-CONV)
+
100G QSFP28 module in it, 100G-QSFP28-10 (Cisco PN: QSFP-100G-LR4-S)
And WUALA we have a solution!
Please kindly check below details about how our engineers managed to make 10km connection between Cisco Nexus 93108TC-EX (N9K-C93108TC-EX) which support QSFP28 ports and Cisco ASR 9000 (with A9K-MPA-2X100GE line card) which only support CPAK or CFP2 for ER4 connections.
Here is scenario:
At first when we are talking about connecting network routers first thing first, is to check datasheets, which are provided by router manufacturer, for complying (supported) transceivers.
Cisco Nexus 93108TC-EX:
By checking Nexus router compatible 100G transceivers we discover that there is a transceiver, which complies our initial requirements. Specifically QSFP28 form factor QSFP-100G-LR4-S For 10km connection. EDGE Technologies portfolio contains QSFP28 form factor transceivers (100G-QSFP28-10 for 10km connection). This transceiver is capable to reach 10km cable distance by utilizing 1310nm wavelength.
Cisco ASR 9000:
Specifically A9K-MPA-2X100GE board as mainstream supports Cisco propriety CPAK form factor, but as well, it has support CFP2-100G-ER4 (40km scenario).
In our case we have done tests using EDGE Optical Solutions 100G-QSFP28-10 for 10km connection (Cisco PN: QSFP-100G-LR4-S) together with CFP2-QSFP28 (PN: CFP2-QSFP28-CONV) converter adapter.
When such connection between Cisco Nexus 93108TC-EX (N9K-C93108TC-EX) and Cisco ASR 9000 (with A9K-MPA-2X100GE line card) has been made everything worked perfect! We can see the testing results below where 10km link is working and transceivers at both sides are recognized as valid:
Cisco ASR 9000 (A9K-MPA-2X100GE line card) side:
show controllers Hu0/5/0/0 all Tue Dec 5 14:46:28.381 EET Operational data for interface HundredGigE0/5/0/0: State: Administrative state: enabled Operational state: Up LED state: Green On Phy: Media type: R fiber over 4 Lane optics (long reach) Optics: Vendor: EDGE Part number: 100G-QSFP28-10 Serial number: 1711100002 Wavelength: 0 nm Digital Optical Monitoring: Transceiver Temp: 29.000 C Transceiver Voltage: 3.264 V Alarms key: (H) Alarm high, (h) Warning high (L) Alarm low, (l) Warning low Wavelength Tx Power Rx Power Laser Bias Lane (nm) (dBm) (mW) (dBm) (mW) (mA) -- ----- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 00 n/a 1.6 1.4464 0.3 1.0728 34.318 00 n/a 1.0 1.2537 0.4 1.1041 33.020 00 n/a 1.9 1.5329 -0.9 0.8123 31.564 00 n/a 1.8 1.4997 -0.1 0.9685 30.956
Cisco Nexus 93108TC-EX (N9K-C93108TC-EX) side:
Ethernet1/49 transceiver is present type is QSFP-100G-LR4 name is EDGE part number is 100G-QSFP28-10 revision is 01 serial number is 1711100002 nominal bitrate is 25500 MBit/sec per channel Link length supported for 9/125um fiber is 10 km cisco id is 17 cisco extended id number is 204
