Cisco offers a comprehensive range of pluggable optical modules in the Cisco ONS pluggables portfolio. The wide variety of modules gives you flexible and cost-effective options for all types of interfaces. Cisco offers a range of GBIC, SFP, XFP, SFP+, CXP, CFP, Cisco CPAK, and QSFP+ pluggable modules. These small, modular optical interface transceivers offer a convenient and cost-effective solution for an array of applications in the data center, campus, metropolitan-area access and ring network, storage area network, and long-haul network. In recent times, with longer strides of innovation, Cisco has introduced analog DWDM CFP2 interfaces to the market. The latest addition to the Cisco portfolio pushes this boundary further with the introduction of the DIGITAL CFP2 PLUGGABLE OPTICAL MODULE.
Cisco now offers a range of all new Digital CFP2 transceivers. Cisco already offers a range of analog CFP2 transceivers. With the analog version, the DSP (Digital Signal Processor) chip resided on the line card and was therefore custom to it, while the pluggable module only had transceiver capabilities. With the digital version of the same, both the DSP and the transceiver module reside in the pluggable itself. Therefore, this digital CFP2 pluggable that is more complete and compact, could be used across all platforms with the CFP2 interface.
It is important to note that 200G version in table 1 with TOF and the 200G version in table 2 without TOF, both have the same technical specifications, except that the without-TOF version has a lesser out-of-band OSNR specification. Therefore, the below specifications will be detailed for the 200G+100G version. It is implied that the specification of those in table 2 are exactly the same except for the out-of-band OSNR specification.
Cisco offers different versions of the Digital CFP2. Table 1 lists a PID for a product that contains what is known as a “Tunable Optical Filter (TOF)”. Table 2 lists a PID that is exactly the same module as the previous one in Table 1, except that this version does not have a TOF. The presence of the TOF in the module is attached to the application it will be used in. The TOF allows the pluggable to be used in long reach amplified DWDM systems. Removal of the TOF module from the pluggable allows for cost reduction while the application shall be limited to dark fiber systems.
While customer networks require either support for DWDM or not, Cisco offers both versions allowing you to pick what is needed as per the network requirements. This is again a salient feature of the Cisco Digital CFP2 offering that distinguishes itself with the customer requirements as the prime focus.
This is a standard DWDM pluggable that adds on a myriad of values, each of which are listed below.
● The line rate and modulation scheme associated with the same are both software settable on the pluggable. One could choose between 100G QPSK, 200G 8-QAM, 200G 16-QAM on the same pluggable module by software actuation. This allows one to adopt different reach as required.
◦ QPSK schemes could offer up to 2000km of reach on standard G.652 Single mode fiber.
◦ 16-QAM schemes could offer up to 400km of reach on standard G.652 Single mode fiber.
● The module does support different FEC algorithms to best match customer needs. This includes a 100G Staircase-FEC mode (SC-FEC) that enables interoperability with other, non CFP2-DCO based IPoDWDM products.
● The compact pluggable formfactor itself allows you to leverage a pay-as-you-grow-model. Also noteworthy is the fact that, contrary to a analog CFP2 where one has to depend on the line card to accommodate the DSP, the digital CFP2 carries the same onboard and allows complete independence in the pay-as-you-grow model.
● Cisco also offers a pay-as-you-grow solution on the pluggable itself by licensing its capabilities. The base pluggable comes with an automatic 100G offering alone. Then you can procure a separate license for 200G at a later point in time as required. This brings down the cost of the pluggable day one and allows customer to purchase additional features only when required.
● When operated in 200G mode the pluggable consumes around 19W of power. This is state of the art in terms of power consumption specifications. Consequently, this offers considerable savings in OPEX.
