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SFP-DD Connector System

SFP-DD Module and Cage/Connector System delivers a 2-lane electrical interface, complementing QSFP-DD top-of-the-rack interfaces, and addresses issues caused by underpopulated lanes in file server interconnects. Transmits 28G NRZ and 56G PAM-4, up to 50 or 100 Gbps aggregate. Backwards compatible with SFP.

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Product Highlights

Application:Current:Operating Temperature:
TOR to Server Interconnect0.5A-40 to +85°C

High-Speed I/O Connectors

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High-Speed EMI Cages

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High-Speed I/O Cables Assemblies

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Features and Benefits

Focused two-lane interconnect at the server:
• Accommodates higher lane count QSFP-DD TOR interfac
• Takes up less board and panel real estate than do zQSFP Interconnects

Fully integrated design:
• Incorporates all components (backshells, cable, populated PCBs) from Molex
• Ensures high-quality components are compiled into a cost-effective, comprehensive solution

Reduced board real estate and panel beachfront as compared to QSFP-DD form factor:
• Delivers compact connectivity

Stacked version designs available upon request:
• Offers design flexibility

Efficiently supports 4 port breakouts (2 lanes per port) in SFP-DD-to-QSFP-DD Cable Assemblies:
• Complements QSFP-DD System capabilities
• Delivers 400 Gbps data rates to four 100-Gbps lanes
• Supports 200 Gbps to four 50-Gbps lanes, if required

Temp-Flex cable technology:
• Boosts electrical performance
• Provides excellent operational margin, short lead times and minimal end-user cost via manufacturing efficiencies

40-circuit SMT connector:
• Provides 2 banks of 20 circuits, each backward compatible with SFP

Backward compatible with all SFP-style interfaces:
• Mates with existing SFP+ Cable Assemblies, Modules and AOCs
• Same formfactor as zSFP+ Connectors, except for depth (SFP+ = 49.00mm deep; SFP-DD = 71.50mm deep)
• The resulting 22.50mm increase in depth accommodates second row of terminals

Concept leverages QSFP-DD SMT design:
• Delivers excellent signal integrity

Doubles lane density and data speed of SFP transceivers:
• Enables future-proof bandwidth upgrades
• Delivers up to 25 Gbps NRZ or 56 Gbps PAM-4 (56 Gbps NRZ or 112 Gbps PAM-4 aggregate)
• Provides an overall doubling of the port density in network applications when used with QSFP-DD switch ports

Future options will include stacked connectors and cages and belly-to-belly versions:
• Will provide a complete high-density solution to complement QSFP-DD Interconnect System

Overview

To keep up with evolving bandwidth requirements, new high-end switch chips offer up to 256 lanes that utilize QSFP-DD Interconnects at the TOR (top-of-rack) switch. This also leads to higher lane count connections required for the server. The SFP-DD Module System offers a focused two-lane interconnect at the server to accommodate higher lane count QSFP-DD TOR interface, enabling networking and server equipment to take full advantage of its high density. It also supports break-out cables in denser applications.

There are no common 2-lane pluggable I/O solutions in today’s market. The SFP-DD Interconnect is a standardized system developed by an MSA group to address the technical challenges of achieving a double-density interface while ensuring mechanical interoperability for module components products by different manufacturers.

Thermal management for current SFP form factors is limited to connectors that generate 1.5W. Therefore, heat becomes an issue with connectors that generate 3.5W. SFP-DD Cages employ a longer structure, which creates more area to dissipate heat. This offers effective 3.5W thermal management to ensure superior signal integrity (SI) performance.

Applications by Industry

Routers
Servers
Storage
Switches

Servers
Storage

This is not a definitive list of applications for this product. It represents some of the more common uses.

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