What Is an Optical Module

On an optical network, a sender needs to convert electrical signals into optical signals before sending them to a receiver, and the receiver needs to convert received optical signals into electrical signals. An optical module is a component that completes electrical/optical conversion on an optical network. Figure 1 shows the structure of an optical module.

Figure 1 Structure of an optical module (using an SFP/eSFP optical module as an example)

Figure 2 shows an SFP/eSFP optical module.

Figure 2 SFP/eSFP optical module

Figure 3 shows the appearance of an SFP+ optical module.

Figure 3 Appearance of an SFP+ optical module

Figure 4 shows the appearance of a SFP28 optical module.

Figure 4 SFP28 optical module

Figure 5 and Figure 6 show the appearance of a QSFP+ optical module.

Figure 5 Appearance of a QSFP+ optical module (for LC optical fibers)

Figure 6 Appearance of a QSFP+ optical module (for MPO optical fibers)

The side with an L-shaped notch close to the connector is the top of a QSFP+ optical module, as shown in Figure 5. When connecting a QSFP+ optical module to a port, keep the top side upward. Do not insert the QSFP+ optical module upside down.

Currently, there is no formal standard for 40G Ethernet. Therefore, a device may not display complete diagnostic information about 40GE optical modules. This is an acceptable fact in the telecommunications industry and does not affect functions of 40GE optical modules.

Figure 7 shows the appearance of a CSFP optical module.

Figure 7 Appearance of a CSFP optical module

Figure 8 shows the appearance of an XFP module.

Figure 8 Appearance of an XFP optical module

The SFP+ and XFP optical modules are 10GE hot-pluggable optical modules. Compared with the SFP+ optical modules, the XFP optical modules have a larger caliber.

Figure 9 and Figure 10 show CFP optical modules for different optical fibers.

Figure 9 CFP 100GE optical module (for LC optical fibers)

Figure 10 CFP 100GE optical module (for MPO optical fibers)

Figure 11 and Figure 12 show the appearance of a QSFP28 optical module.

Figure 11 Appearance of a QSFP28 optical module (for MPO optical fibers)

Figure 12 Appearance of a QSFP28 optical module (for LC optical fibers)