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Today, ETU-LINK will talk to you about the mainstream standards of 100G optical modules in data centers. Traditional data centers are mainly based on 10G network architecture. In order to adapt to the scale deployment of AI, deep learning, big data computing and other services, the next generation data center architecture is evolving to 25G/100G network architecture. In China, we have seen Internet giants such as BAT achieve large-scale deployment.

Because the construction of 25G/100G data center requires a large number of 100G optical modules, which accounts for a relatively high cost in network construction, what are the mainstream standards for 100G optical modules?

100g Optical Module Standard Organization

Before you start to share optical module standards, learn about the standardization organization of optical modules. The definition of optical module is mainly two key organizations, namely IEEE and MSA (Multi Source Agreement, multi-source protocol), which complement each other and learn from each other.

We all know that IEEE is the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and 802.3 is a working group under IEEE. Many 10G, 40G, 100G and 400G optical module standards are proposed by the IEEE 802.3 working group.

MSA is a kind of multi-supplier specification. Compared with IEEE, it is a non-governmental organization form. Different MSA protocols will be formed for different optical module standards, which can be understood as the behavior of enterprise alliance in the industry. MSA not only defines the structural package of optical module (including external dimensions, electrical connectors, pin distribution, etc.), but also defines electrical interface, optical interface, thus forming a complete optical module standard.

A long time ago, the optical module industry chain was very chaotic, each manufacturer had its own structural packaging, the optical modules developed were large and small, and the interfaces were varied. In order to solve this problem, MSA multi-source protocol arises at the historic moment, and all manufacturers follow the standard unified optical module structure packaging and related interface proposed by MSA, which is like the standardization of mobile phone charging port. The standards defined for 100G PSM4 MSA include 100G PSM4 MSA, 100G CWDM4 MSA and 100G Lambda MSA.

Mainstream standard of 100g optical module

In order to meet the 100G interconnection scenarios of different distances, there are more than ten 100G standards defined by IEEE and MSA, but the mainstream ones are the following six standards.

Among them, the standards at the beginning of 100GBASE are all put forward by IEEE 802.3. In the name of 100GBASE-LR4 shown in the following figure, LR represents long reach, that is, 10km 100GBASE-LR4 4 represents four channels, that is, 4cm 25G, which is combined into a 100G optical module that can transmit 10Km.

Next, I'd like to share with you the schematics of 100GBASE-LR4 and 100G CWDM4:

Q: in addition to the 100GBASE series standards proposed by IEEE, why does MSA also propose PSM4 and CWDM4 standards?

A: 100GBASE-SR4 and 100GBASE-LR4 are the most commonly used 100G interface specifications defined by IEEE. However, for the internal interconnection scenarios of large data centers, the distance supported by 100GBASE-SR4 is too short to meet all the interconnection needs, and the cost of 100GBASE-LR4 is too high. Therefore, MSA has brought the solution of medium-distance interconnection to the market, and PSM4 and CWDM4 are the products of this revolution.

Of course, the capability of 100GBASE-LR4 completely covers CWDM4, but in the scenario of 2Km transmission, CWDM4 solution is cheaper and more competitive. The above topic on 100G optical module is over. Thank you for your support!

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