r/technology • u/_Dark_Wing • 6h ago

Hardware Tiny optical module boosts data center bandwidth 4x without extra gear

https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/nvidia-cisco-12-8tbps-optical-module
0 Upvotes

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29

u/Anti-Ultimate 6h ago

"without extra gear" like needing new switches cause its a new connector?

14

u/Syrairc 5h ago

It says no extra hardware, not no new hardware. 

If you're maxed out for space already, or renting space by the rack, being able to quadruple your bandwidth for the price of some switches is pretty good.

3

u/Sexy_Garlic 3h ago

I think it's a regular sfp module. But I doubt any switch or router support USFP.

7

u/SeismologicalWolf 5h ago

I don't know about this claim. If I'm the purchasing manager for my data center and I order 800 optical transceivers at $1600 a piece to replace the 800 transceivers we bought at $950 a piece like three months ago when we opened, I think I'm going to be questioned why we're buying "EXTRA GEAR".

7

u/ragzilla 5h ago

It’s just the next iteration of pluggables. QSFP-DD is 200Gb/lane. OSFP takes that to 1.6Tb but needs twice as many lanes, USFP (this new one) is 4 lanes at 400Gb.

3

u/dakotanorth8 4h ago

Yep. The double density SFPs are pretty slick and already on the market.

0

u/Inevitable_Butthole 5h ago

Nah its better gear, not extra haha

2

u/Sexy_Garlic 3h ago

I don't think this "USFP" is compatible with Cisco 2900 series. I will also add it may not be compatible with SFP+ slots. I think this article's author may have oversold this sfp module compatibility with vendors network devices.

Source: I'm a contractor who deals with a cheap client whose network devices are EOL.

1

u/pot_head_engineer 3h ago

Calls on $csco