Hey! How can we help you?

Find technical guides, troubleshooting tips, and expert solutions for optical transceivers and network equipment.

Knowledge Base

Explore our comprehensive collection of guides, solutions, and technical documentation.

View:

Showing 1-12 of 124 articles

When should FEC be enabled or disabled on 100G optics?

3/6/2026

FEC mismatches cause most 100G link issues. Learn which transceivers need host FEC enabled or disabled, how to diagnose common symptoms, and CLI commands for every major platform.

Read more

EML vs. VCSEL vs. CW laser: which optical transceiver laser is right for you?

3/2/2026

Laser tech is ~50% of a transceiver's cost. This guide compares EML, VCSEL, and CW lasers — what each does best, where they fall short, and how the 2025 EML shortage is reshaping buying decisions.

Read more

HPE Broadcom NIC cards: do you need Broadcom or HPE transceivers?

2/24/2026

HPE servers use Broadcom, Mellanox, or Intel NIC chipsets. Your transceiver coding must match the NIC vendor, not the HPE server brand. Here's how to check.

Read more

Intel X520/X550/X710 NIC Guide

11/21/2025

Complete guide to Intel X520, X550, and X710 NICs covering supported speeds, firmware differences, PCIe requirements, breakout cables, and driver compatibility for optimal performance.

Read more

Finned-Top and Flat-Top OSFP explained

11/19/2025

Learn the key differences between finned-top and flat-top OSFP optical transceivers. Finned-top modules handle high-power 800G applications with integrated cooling, while flat-top designs

Read more

Connector polishing – What makes the distinction between UPC or APC.

10/6/2025

Learn the critical differences between UPC and APC fiber connector polishing. UPC offers 0° endface with 50-55 dB return loss, while APC's 8° angle achieves 60-65 dB for reflection-sensitive appli...

Read more

Industrial-Temperature Optical Transceivers: What Matters and Why

9/26/2025

Industrial-temperature optical transceivers survive extreme environments from -40°C to 85°C. Learn which temperature ranges, form factors, and applications need industrial-grade optics.

Read more

Technical differences between FC and Ethernet

8/22/2025

Comprehensive comparison of FC and Ethernet transport mechanisms covering encoding schemes, latency, error detection, and real-world applications for storage vs general networking.

Read more

Troubleshooting Guide: When Your 100G Transceivers Won’t Link

7/28/2025

Comprehensive troubleshooting guide for 100G transceiver link failures. Covers fiber connectivity, power budget, FEC mismatch, auto-negotiation, and wavelength issues with step-by-step solutions.

Read more

QSFP Breakout Cable Guide

7/28/2025

Complete guide to QSFP breakout cables covering 40G, 100G, 200G, and 400G configurations. Learn port mapping, DAC vs AOC options, vendor requirements, and common use cases for data centers.

Read more

A deep-dive into 400G Coherent Optics Guide: ZR, ZR+ and beyond.

7/28/2025

Complete guide to 400G coherent optics, including ZR, ZR+, and MZR variants. Comparing reach capabilities, power consumption, interoperability, and selection criteria for optimal deployment.

Read more

MSA standards explanation and compliance

6/17/2025

MSA (Multi-Source Agreement) standards ensure optical transceivers from different manufacturers work seamlessly together, providing network flexibility, lower costs, and vendor independence.

Read more
...