MSA group targets high-speed and high-density interfaces

17th January 2018

Alice Matthews

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The Small Form Factor Pluggable Double Density (SFP-DD) Multi Source Agreement (MSA) group have completed the initial hardware specification and drawings for the SFP-DD pluggable interface designed to enable high-speed, high-density networking equipment. Targeting support up to 3.5W optical modules in an enterprise environment, the SFP-DD form factor addresses the technical challenges of achieving a double-density interface and ensuring mechanical interoperability for module components produced by different manufacturers.

The SFP-DD electrical interface expands on the existing SFP pluggable form factor, a widely adopted interface used in data centres and other networking platforms. The SFP single lane interface operates up to 28Gbps NRZ or 56Gbps PAM-4. The new SFP-DD electrical interface is designed to support two lanes that operate up to 25Gbps NRZ or 56Gbps PAM-4 per lane, providing aggregate bandwidth of 50 or 112Gbps.

By doubling the lane density and data speed, the SFP-DD interface will help address demand for increased port density and scalability in next-gen applications, with a primary focus on the server-side interconnect. An SFP-DD server port along with QSFP-DD switch ports provides an overall doubling of the port density in network applications.

The SFP-DD hardware specification and drawings define key module, plug, and cage characteristics. SFP-DD modules and direct-attach cable plugs use a common mechanical outline. Modules and plugs provide a means to self-lock with the cage upon insertion. Network equipment based on the SFP-DD will support legacy SFP modules and cables, and new double density products, for optimal design flexibility.

SFP-DD Key features

A single port SMT connector and cage
Heat sink options for thermal management flexibility
Module mechanical definition
Support for optical and copper interfaces, with physical layer specifications to be determined outside the scope of the SFP-DD MSA

SFP-DD Key benefits

Support for up to 3.5W for optical modules
Enables two channels of high-speed electrical interfaces connecting to host
Backward compatibility to all current SFP style interfaces
Developed by industry consortium to enable multi-vendor interoperability

SFP-DD MSA founding members include Alibaba, Broadcom, Brocade, Cisco, Dell EMC, Finisar, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Huawei, Intel, Juniper Networks, Lumentum, Mellanox Technologies, Molex, and TE Connectivity.