Dynamix QSATM Port Adapter Family

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©2017 Mellanox Technologies. All rights reserved.

November 2017

Dynamix QSATM Port Adapter Family

The DynamiX QSA™ family of port adapters is the answer to many Data Center professionals’ prayers because it resolves the systems linking issues between different line rates and different form-factor used in switches and network adapters such as SFP and QSFP. In addition, it is inexpensive and a life saver in many system upgrade applications.

Modern high-speed Ethernet Data Centers have reduced their costs by standardizing on a few system form-factors. For switching and network adapter ports the most popular involves two types of interconnect ports:

1. SFP (Small Form-factor Plug) – one channel

2. QSFP (Quad Small Form-factor Plug) – four channels

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................1

The Interconnect Problem ............................................................................................................3

The Solution = Dynamix QSATM port adapter ...............................................................................4

Product Description ......................................................................................................................5

Applications .................................................................................................................................6

SFP DAC, AOC and Transceiver Devices Supported ....................................................................6

Why Is This Important? ................................................................................................................7

Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................7

Introduction

page 2WHITE PAPER: Dynamix QSA™ Port Adapter Family - Inexpensive Solutions to Expensive System Interconnect Problems


These interconnect connector shells encapsulate the wires, fibers, electronics and optics to create Direct Attach Copper cables (DAC), Active Optical Cables (AOC) and several types of connectorized multi-mode and single-mode optical transceivers all available in 1Gb/s, 10Gb/s and 25Gb/s line rates. The faster speed QSA devices also support the slower line rates. The industry nomenclatures are:

• SFP and QSFP supporting 1Gb/s

• SFP+ and QSFP+ supporting 10Gb/s and 1Gb/s

• SFP28 and QSFP28 supporting 25Gb/s, 10Gb/s and 1Gb/s

The picture below shows the different QSFP28 and SFP28-based switch and network adapter ports that are often networked together in various configurations. Similar pictures would show 10G and 1Gb/s systems.

Figure 1. SFP and QSFP Form-factors



The trend for faster line rates and new MSA form-factors continues to gain momentum. The market is flooded with a jumble of buzz-words and products that are loaded with specific technical booby traps. In addition, mistakes are becoming very expensive. Systems designers are discovering that the variety and flavors of interconnect products increasing exponentially. This is all causing IT professionals an increasing amount of irritation and no small amount of confusion as they try to align all these elements, especially when attempting to seamlessly upgrade to new equipment while still supporting legacy systems. Now, put it all in a very hot data center environment in a rack so crowded with cables that one can barely see the LEDs in the systems. Confusion and frustrations are escalating.

The Interconnect Problem

Figure 2. Mellanox 2000 series 25GbE-based switching systems and ConnectX network adapters based on SFP28 and QSFP28 port form-factors

Figure 3. The SFP-QSFP Interface Problem



The Solution = Dynamix QSA™ port adapter

The Matrix Builds to a Myriad of SFP Interconnect Combinations

Already, one can start to see the problems of interfacing old and new switches and network adapters based on combinations of SFP and QSFP ports with DAC and AOC cables and multi-mode and single-mode optical transceivers using SFP and QSFP and running at 1G, 10G and 25Gb/s line rates.

• 2-switch/adapter combinations (Q-Q, Q-S)

• 3 line rates (1G,10G, 25G)

• 5 different SFP devices (DAC, AOC, multi- and single-mode transceivers, BASE-T converters)

The different DAC, AOC and transceivers each have specific link reaches spanning from 0.5 meters to 10 kilometers and additional concerns such as different type of fibers – multi-mode (OM2, OM3, OM4, OM5) and single-mode (OS2) and transceiver types (SR and LR).

This results in a myriad of different SFP device combinations that plug into two switch and adapter combinations (QSFP-QSFP and QSFP-SFP)!

Switch and network adapters are currently offered in QSFP+, QSFP28 and SFP+ and SFP28 form-factors and based on 1G, 10G, or 25G line rates. So, IT managers can easily find themselves with a 25G QSFP-based system and 10G SFP-based network adapter and a 1G cable yet have no clue how to link them up. Different line rates and different form-factors present a series of challenges.

The Dynamix QSA™ port adapter family enables inserting a SFP-based DAC, AOC or optical transceiver into a QSFP port in a switch or network adapter. The QSA28 runs 25GbE and is backwards compatible with slower speed 1G and 10Gb/s devices and supports the widest range of SFP DAC, AOC and transceivers types.

Figure 4. Dynamix QSA™ Port Adapter Solution



The DynamiX QSA™ family of port adapters is designed, patented and manufactured by Mellanox. The adapter fits into a QSFP 4-channel port in a switch or network adapter and accepts a SFP-based device inserted in the adapter end that snaps in with a locking tab. It can “Dynamically” support SFP and QSFP and the “X” symbolizes the myriad of different DACs, AOCs and transceivers supported.

The QSA adapter enables passing through a single-channel of an SFP-based device inserted into a larger QSFP port. The other three lanes are electrically terminated and inactive. It is a plug & play solution, draws no electrical power, self-configures when installed and induces no signal latency delays

Product Specifics:

• Patented design manufactured by Mellanox US patent 7-934-959

• Available in two speed versions 10G and 25G backwards compatible with the slower devices

• Contain an EPROM to tell the host what the device configuration is

• Operate independently from the SFP device inserted

• Passes through SFP device configuration EPROM information

• Consumes no power - passive except for configuration setup

• Induces no signal latency

• Can be used in QSFP+ and QSFP28-based switches and network adapters

• Supports a wide range of SFP-based DAC and AOC cables plus both multi-mode and single-mode opti-cal transceivers

New Tab Design

The new DynamiX QSA™ QSA28 model sports a black, low mass, small profile, easy-pull tab that is becoming more and more popular in very crowded data center racks. The low-mass, loop design enables more free airflow through the crowded systems and does not flap-in-the-wind as with larger tabs.

In high-density system racks, one can visualize more than 100 cable ends and transceiver tabs flapping in the wind. Besides the restriction in air flow, the larger tabs (top picture) also creates a lot of noise and eventually reliability issues due to the vibrations. The tiny, looped design (lower picture) eliminates these factors.

Product Description

Figure 5. Dynamix QSA™ Family of Port Adapters



Below is an example of linking 10G SFP+ transceiver in a 25Gb/s network adapter to a 100Gb/s QSFP28 port in a switch using SFP+, SFP28 and QSFP28 devices with the Dynamix QSA™ adapter. This shows the mix of different line rates and form-factors in a typical system where not everything may need to be upgraded at the same time.

The Dynamix QSA™ family supports a wide range of SFP-based DAC and AOC cables plus both multi-mode and single-mode optical transceivers:

Cables

• CR: DAC copper SFP (3-5m)

• AOCs: SFP multi-mode (100m)

Transceivers

• SR: SFP multi-mode transceiver (100m)

• LR: SFP single-mode transceiver (10km)

• SX: 1G SFP+ multi-mode transceiver (500m)

• Base-T: 1G & 10G SFP converter using CAT-5 copper UTP cables

Figure 6. DynamiX QSA™ QSA28 Model Low-mass, Looped Tab Design Versus Traditional Flat and Long Tab

Applications

SFP DAC, AOC and Transceiver Devices

Supported


350 Oakmead Parkway, Suite 100, Sunnyvale, CA 94085Tel: 408-970-3400 • Fax: 408-970-3403www.mellanox.com

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Linking older or slower systems to new high-speed systems is very important to data center builders to maintain continuity of service. Not everything needs to run at the latest and greatest high-speed. With a matrix of over fourteen interconnect combinations, each with specific line rate and reach issues, it is becoming an unmanageable series of problems. The Dynamix QSA™ family of port adapters is a very inexpensive solution to expensive system problems.

• The new DynamiX QSA™ family of port adapters resolves many system upgrade issues with respect to linking different form-factors and line rates to switch and network adapter ports.

• The solutions from Mellanox enable a smooth transition when upgrading to newer and faster systems while continuing to support slower speed equipment.

• Inexpensive, easy-to-use, and plug & play.

Figure 7. Solving Interface Problems with the DynamiX QSA™ Adapter

Why Is This Important?

Conclusion

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Dynamix QSATM Port Adapter Family