Transceivers and cables
With the flexibility of the NE2572 RackSwitch, customers can choose the following connectivity
technologies:
For 10 GbE links, customers can use SFP28 ports with 10 GbE SFP+ direct-attached copper (DAC)
cables for distances up to 7 meters or 10 GbE SFP+ active optical cables (AOCs) for distances up
to 20 meters. The AOCs and DAC cables have SFP+ connectors on each end, and they do not need
separate transceivers. For distances up to 30 meters, the 10GBASE-T SFP+ transceiver can be
used with Category 6a or 7 RJ-45 UTP cables.
For longer distances, the 10GBASE-SR SFP+ transceivers can be used for up to 300 meters on
OM3 or up to 400 meters on OM4 multimode fiber optic (MMF) cables. The 10GBASE-LR SFP+
transceivers can support distances up to 10 kilometers on single mode fiber optic (SMF) cables. For
extended distances, the 10GBASE-ER SFP+ transceivers can support up to 40 kilometers on SMF
cables.
To increase the number of available 10 GbE ports, customers can split out four 10 GbE ports for
each QSFP28 port by using QSFP+ to 4x SFP+ DAC or active optical breakout cables for distances
up to 5 meters. The 40GBASE-iSR4 QSFP+ transceivers can be used for distances up to 100
meters on OM3 or up to 150 meters on OM4 MMF MPO-to-LC breakout cables. For longer
distances, the 40GBASE-eSR4 transceivers can be used for up to 300 meters on OM3 or up to 400
meters on OM4 MMF MPO-to-LC breakout cables.
For 25 GbE links, customers can use SFP28 ports with 25 GbE SFP28 DAC cables for distances up
to 5 meters or 25 GbE SFP28 active optical cables (AOCs) for distances up to 20 meters. The AOCs
and DAC cables have SFP28 connectors on each end, and they do not need separate
transceivers. For longer distances, the 25GBASE-SR SFP28 transceivers can be used for up to 70
meters on OM3 or up to 100 meters on OM4 MMF cables.
To increase the number of available 25 GbE ports, customers can split out four 25 GbE ports for
each QSFP28 port by using QSFP28 to 4x SFP28 DAC breakout cables for distances up to 5
meters or active optical breakout cables for distances up to 20 meters. For longer distances, the
100GBASE-SR4 QSFP28 transceivers can be used for up to 70 meters on OM3 or up to 100 meters
on OM4 MMF MPO-to-LC breakout cables.
For 40 GbE links, customers can use QSFP28 ports with QSFP+ to QSFP+ DAC cables for
distances up to 7 meters or QSFP+ to QSFP+ active optical cables for distances up to 20
meters. These DAC cables and AOCs have QSFP+ connectors on each end, and they do not need
separate transceivers.
For longer distances, customers can use the 40GBASE QSFP+ bi-directional transceivers or
40GBASE-SR4/iSR4 QSFP+ transceivers for distances up to 100 meters on OM3 or up to 150
meters on OM4 MMF cables. The 40GBASE-eSR4 QSFP+ transceiver can be used for distances up
to 300 meters on OM3 or up to 400 meters on OM4 MMF cables. The 40GBASE-LR4 QSFP+
transceiver can be used for distances up to 10 kilometers on SMF cables.
For 100 GbE links, customers can use QSFP28 ports with QSFP28 DAC cables for distances up to
5 meters or QSFP28 active optical cables for distances up to 20 meters. These DAC cables and
AOCs have QSFP28 connectors on each end, and they do not need separate transceivers.
For longer distances, the 100GBASE-SR4 QSFP28 transceivers support distances up to 70
meters on OM3 or up to 100 meters on OM4 MMF cables. The 100GBASE-LR4 QSFP28 transceiver
can be used for distances up to 10 kilometers on SMF LC cables.
Note: SFP28/SFP+ ports are combined into 12 consecutive 4-port groups: Ports 1-4, 5-8, 9-12, 13-16, 17-
20, 21-24, 25-28, 29-32, 33-36, 37-40, 41-44, and 45-48. The SFP28/SFP+ port speed should be the same
(10 Gbps or 25 Gbps) across all ports in the 4-port group.
Lenovo ThinkSystem NE2572 RackSwitch
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