AW538A Compatible HPE B-series 8 Gb FC SFP+ LW 25 km
HP compatible AW538A - Key Features
- Compatibility: HP
- Media Type: Single-Mode Fiber (SMF)
- Fiber Count: Duplex
- Connector: Double LC/UPC
- Maximum Distance: 20 km
- Guaranteed Link Budget: 9 dB
- Tx Wavelength: 1310 nm
- Supported Data Rate: 1.25 Gbps - 11.32 Gbps
- DDM/DOM: Supported
- Temperature Range: Standard 0°-70°C
HP AW538A Price
SKU:10G-SFP-20-HP
In Stock - Ships Next Business DayHP compatible AW538A Specifications
Form Factor | SFP+ |
Media Type | Single-Mode Fiber (SMF) |
Fiber Count | Duplex |
Connector | Double LC/UPC |
Maximum Distance | 20 km |
Guaranteed Link Budget | 9 dB |
TX Wavelength | 1310 nm |
RX Wavelength | 1310 nm |
Supported Data Rate | 1.25 Gbps - 11.32 Gbps |
Supported Ethernet Applications | 10G Ethernet (10.31Gbps), Gigabit Ethernet (1.25 Gbps) |
Supported Fiber Channel Applications | 10G Fiber Channel (10.52 Gbps), 1G Fiber Channel (1.0625 Gbps), 2G Fiber Channel (2.125 Gbps), 4G Fiber Channel (4.25 Gbps), 8G Fiber Channel (8.5 Gbps) |
SDH/SONET Standards | STM-64 (9.95Gbps) |
DDM/DOM | Supported |
Tx Wavelength Bandwidth | 100 nm (1260-1360 nm) |
Rx Wavelength Bandwidth | 100 nm (1260-1360 nm) |
Minimum Transmitting Power | -8.2 dBm |
Maximum Transmitting Power | 0.5 dBm |
Receiver Sensitivity | -14.5 dBm |
Receiver Overload | 0 dBm |
Dispersion | 140-160 ps/nm |
Transmitter Type | DFB Laser |
Receiver Type | PIN photodiode |
Temperature Range | Standard 0°-70°C |
Power | +3.3V single power supply |
Compliance | CE,Class 1 FDA and IEC60825-1 Laser Safety Compliant,RoHS,SFF-8431,SFP MSA |
HP compatible AW538A Datasheet
v6Complete technical specifications and product details
HP compatible AW538A Description
AW538A is HP’s part number for an 8G Fibre Channel extended long-wave (ELW) SFP+ transceiver, designed for HP B-series SAN switch environments. EdgeOptic’s compatible replacement is built on our 10G-SFP-20 platform. HP rates the original AW538A for up to 25 km reach over single-mode fiber; EdgeOptic’s 10G-SFP-20 platform supports up to 20 km over G.652 single-mode fiber, which covers the large majority of inter-building and campus SAN fabric deployments.
The transmitter uses a 1310 nm DFB laser paired with a PIN photodiode receiver. The module supports dual-rate Fibre Channel operation at 4GFC (4.25 Gbps) and 8GFC (8.5 Gbps), auto-negotiating to the speed configured on the host port. The connector interface is duplex LC/UPC. Digital diagnostics monitoring per SFF-8472 provides real-time telemetry for Tx optical power, Rx optical power, temperature, supply voltage, and laser bias current. FC-PI specifications govern the Fibre Channel signaling parameters at all three supported rates. Operating temperature range is 0°C to 70°C.
HP’s B-series SAN switches are OEM’d from Brocade (now Broadcom), running Fabric OS under HP branding. The AW538A is HP’s ordering code for FC long-wave extended-reach optics, commonly deployed in the SN6000B, SN6500B, and SN6600B Fibre Channel switch families. These switches are paired with HPE 3PAR, Primera, and Alletra storage arrays in enterprise SAN fabrics. EdgeOptic codes the module with HP-recognized EEPROM, so the B-series firmware identifies it as a supported transceiver. DDM values are accessible through the switch management interface, Fabric OS CLI, and SNMP polling.
The reach difference between the original AW538A (25 km rated) and the EdgeOptic 10G-SFP-20 platform (20 km rated) is relevant only for Fibre Channel links exceeding 20 km, which are uncommon in enterprise SAN deployments. The 20 km reach covers campus and inter-building FC fabric links with margin to spare. The AW538A’s dual-rate 2/4/8GFC support makes it useful in SAN environments undergoing phased migration from older 2G and 4G Fibre Channel to 8GFC, allowing a single optic SKU to cover all three generations of FC infrastructure on HP B-series platforms.
EdgeOptic backs this compatible with a lifetime warranty and CE/RoHS certification. For reach verification on specific link lengths or bulk SAN optic pricing, contact our sales team
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the EdgeOptic AW538A compatible rated for 20 km instead of HP’s 25 km?
HP rates the original AW538A for 25 km. EdgeOptic’s compatible is built on the 10G-SFP-20 platform, which supports up to 20 km over G.652 single-mode fiber. For links exceeding 20 km, verify that the total fiber attenuation and connector losses fall within the module’s optical link budget before deployment.
Does the AW538A compatible support 2GFC, 4GFC, and 8GFC?
Yes. The module is multi-rate and auto-negotiates between 2GFC (2.125 Gbps), 4GFC (4.25 Gbps), and 8GFC (8.5 Gbps) based on the host port configuration. This covers environments with mixed-generation Fibre Channel infrastructure.
Which HP B-series switches accept the AW538A?
The AW538A is referenced in HP compatibility lists for B-series SAN switches including the SN6000B, SN6500B, and SN6600B families. These are Brocade-OEM platforms running Fabric OS under HP branding. EdgeOptic’s compatible is coded with HP EEPROM and recognized by the switch firmware.