Products / 100G QSFP28 Transceivers
100G QSFP28 Optical Transceiver Supplier
NodeOptic is a factory-direct 100G QSFP28 transceiver supplier and manufacturer offering SR4, LR4, CWDM4, PSM4, ER4/ZR4 optics alongside QSFP28 DAC and AOC cables. Our 100G modules serve leaf-spine fabrics, cloud and AI cluster backbones, data center interconnect (DCI), and metro aggregation networks. Every QSFP28 module is 100% lab-tested before shipment and backed by a 5-year warranty.
- ✓ Complete portfolio of 100G QSFP28 optics for short-reach to long-haul links
- ✓ QSFP28 DAC and AOC options for low-latency in-rack and cross-rack connections
- ✓ Compatible with Cisco, Arista, Juniper, Huawei, NVIDIA/Mellanox, and Broadcom-based switches
- ✓ Factory-direct 100G QSFP28 supplier with wholesale pricing for data centers and ISPs
Product Range
100G QSFP28 Product Range
QSFP28 is the standard 100G form factor based on 4x25G electrical lanes, conforming to IEEE 802.3ba/bs/bj and mainstream MSAs. It supports pluggable optics and copper assemblies across distances from sub-meter to 40 km+, making it the workhorse for leaf-spine fabrics, aggregation tiers, and data center interconnect. As a 100G QSFP28 module manufacturer, NodeOptic stocks the full range of variants below.
100G QSFP28 SR4
850 nm VCSEL on OM3/OM4 MMF with reach up to 70 m (OM3) or 100 m (OM4). SR4 is the default choice for intra-building spine-leaf links and aggregation hops where multimode fiber is already deployed. Low cost per port and low power consumption make it the highest-volume 100G optic in hyperscale data centers.
100G QSFP28 LR4
4x25G LAN-WDM on single-mode fiber with typical reach of 10 km over duplex OS2. LR4 carries four wavelengths on a single fiber pair, making it suitable for inter-building campus backbones, cross-campus data center links, and short metro spans where SMF is the standard plant.
100G QSFP28 CWDM4
Four CWDM wavelengths on duplex SMF covering 2-10 km. CWDM4 offers a cost-optimized alternative to LR4 for medium-reach leaf-spine uplinks and short DCI runs. Wider channel spacing relaxes laser and filter tolerances, lowering the module cost while still delivering single-mode reach.
100G QSFP28 PSM4
Parallel single-mode using 8-fiber MPO/MTP connectors on SMF for 500 m to 2 km reach. PSM4 uses a single 1310 nm wavelength split across four parallel fibers, avoiding the cost of WDM components. It is commonly deployed inside large data center campuses where 8-fiber trunk cabling is already installed.
100G QSFP28 ER4 / ZR4
Extended-reach optics for 30-40 km+ over duplex SMF. ER4 and ZR4 use 4x25G LAN-WDM with higher-power lasers and APD receivers, targeting metro DCI, carrier aggregation rings, and long-haul campus links. Optical amplification may extend ZR4 beyond 80 km in some deployments.
DAC, AOC & Breakout
100G QSFP28 DAC & AOC and Breakout Solutions
For intra-rack and short cross-rack links, QSFP28 DAC and AOC cables eliminate the need for separate transceivers and patch cords, reducing both cost and insertion loss. When a 100G spine port needs to fan out to multiple 25G leaf or server ports, a 100G-to-4x25G breakout cable or module splits the signal without consuming additional switch ASIC resources. NodeOptic supplies all three cable types coded for major platforms.
100G QSFP28 DAC Cables
Passive and active copper assemblies in 1 m, 2 m, 3 m, and 5 m lengths. Passive QSFP28 DAC cables work up to 3-5 m with no signal conditioning and draw zero additional power, making them the lowest-cost option for same-rack spine-to-leaf or TOR-to-TOR connections. Active DAC extends reach to 7 m with built-in signal equalization for slightly longer runs while still avoiding optical conversion overhead.
100G QSFP28 AOC Cables
Lightweight fiber assemblies with integrated optics covering 10-30 m for inter-rack and cross-row connections. AOC cables are significantly lighter than copper DAC, offer tighter bend radii, and produce no electromagnetic interference, making them easier to route in dense cable trays. They are the preferred solution when spine and leaf switches sit in different rack rows or adjacent pods.
100G to 4x25G Breakout
A single 100G QSFP28 port can be split into four independent 25G SFP28 channels using breakout DAC, AOC, or fiber-optic harness cables. This is the standard method for connecting one 100G spine port to four 25G leaf switches, TOR ports, or server NICs in a leaf-spine fabric. Breakout mode maximizes port utilization on the spine tier and eliminates the need for intermediate aggregation devices.
Quick Comparison
| Type | Distance | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| QSFP28 DAC | 1-5 m | Same rack, lowest cost & latency |
| QSFP28 AOC | 10-30 m | Cross-rack, lightweight routing |
| 4x25G Breakout | 1-30 m | Spine-to-leaf fan-out |
| QSFP28 SR4 | up to 100 m | MMF, intra-building spine-leaf |
| QSFP28 LR4 | up to 10 km | SMF, inter-building, DCI |
Applications
100G Applications in Data Centers and Carrier Networks
100G QSFP28 is the backbone speed for modern leaf-spine architectures, AI/ML cluster interconnects, and metro aggregation. As a 100G QSFP28 supplier for data centers and ISPs, NodeOptic supports these core deployment patterns.
Leaf-Spine 100G Fabrics
In a leaf-spine topology, 100G QSFP28 serves as the primary uplink speed between leaf and spine switches. SR4 handles same-hall hops over multimode fiber, while CWDM4 and LR4 extend reach to adjacent buildings or campus pods over single-mode. For high-density deployments, 100G spine ports break out to 4x25G leaf downlinks via QSFP28-to-SFP28 breakout cables, enabling non-blocking bandwidth distribution without oversubscription at the spine tier.
Cloud & AI Cluster Backbones
GPU training clusters and distributed storage systems rely on 100G QSFP28 for east-west backbone traffic between compute racks. Each spine switch aggregates multiple 25G or 50G server-facing ports into 100G uplinks, providing the bisection bandwidth required for RDMA, collective operations, and checkpoint traffic. QSFP28 DAC and AOC cables dominate the in-rack layer, while SR4 and CWDM4 modules handle inter-pod links where latency and throughput must remain predictable at scale.
Data Center Interconnect and Metro Aggregation
For DCI between co-located facilities and metro aggregation rings, 100G QSFP28 LR4 and ER4 modules provide 10-40 km reach over existing single-mode plant. Carrier networks use 100G QSFP28 on routers and aggregation platforms to consolidate multiple 10G and 25G access rings into a single high-capacity trunk. CWDM4 is often the cost-effective choice for shorter DCI spans under 10 km, while ER4/ZR4 targets longer metro and regional links.
Selection Guide
Technical Specs & Selection Guide
QSFP28 modules carry 100 Gbps over four 25G electrical lanes (4×25.78125 Gbps per IEEE 802.3). Typical module power consumption ranges from 2.5 W (SR4) to 4.5 W (ER4). Selecting the right 100G QSFP28 optic depends on three factors: link distance, fiber type already in the ground, and budget constraints.
Short-reach links (< 100 m)
Use QSFP28 SR4 on OM3/OM4 MMF for spine-leaf hops within the same building. If the link is under 5 m, a 100G QSFP28 DAC cable offers the lowest cost and latency.
Medium-reach links (500 m – 10 km)
Use CWDM4 for 2 km links where cost matters, or LR4 for up to 10 km. PSM4 is an option for campuses with existing 8-fiber MPO trunk cabling at distances up to 2 km.
Long-reach links (10 km – 40 km+)
Use ER4 for metro DCI and carrier aggregation spans up to 40 km. For links beyond 40 km, ZR4 with optical amplification may be required. Verify your fiber plant loss budget against the module optical budget before deploying ER4 or ZR4.
100G QSFP28 Module Reference
| Type | Fiber | Wavelength | Distance | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SR4 | MMF | 850 nm | 70-100 m | Spine-leaf, intra-building |
| LR4 | SMF | LAN-WDM | ~10 km | Campus backbone, short DCI |
| CWDM4 | SMF | CWDM grid | 2-10 km | Cost-optimized DCI, leaf-spine |
| PSM4 | SMF (8F) | 1310 nm | ~2 km | DC campus, MPO trunk |
| ER4 | SMF | LAN-WDM | ~40 km | Metro DCI, carrier aggregation |
Compatibility & Testing
Compatibility & Testing
As a third-party 100G QSFP28 supplier, NodeOptic validates every module on production-grade hardware before release. Our Cisco and Arista-compatible 100G QSFP28 transceivers carry vendor-specific coding that matches OEM behavior including full DDM/DOM support and digital diagnostic readout.
Coding follows IEEE 802.3ba/bs/bj and relevant QSFP28 MSAs. Every module reports real-time optical power, temperature, voltage, and bias current through standard I2C registers, enabling your NMS to monitor link health without additional tools.
Supported Platforms
- • Cisco Nexus 9000/3000, NCS 5500; Arista 7050X/7060X/7280 series
- • Juniper QFX5100/5200, MX series; Huawei CloudEngine CE6800/CE8800
- • NVIDIA/Mellanox Spectrum switches and ConnectX-5/6 NICs
- • Broadcom-based whitebox switches (Edgecore, Dell OS10, Celestica)
Testing Process
- • Platform interoperability tests on physical switches and NICs
- • BER and eye diagram verification at 25.78 Gbps per lane
- • High/low temperature cycling (-5 to 70 °C) and 72-hour burn-in
- • 100% individual optical power, wavelength, and extinction ratio test with batch reports
Commercial Terms
Commercial Terms for 100G Projects
NodeOptic works directly with data center operators, cloud builders, ISPs, and system integrators on 100G rollouts. Whether you are evaluating a single QSFP28 sample or planning a full leaf-spine deployment, our terms are structured to support every stage from PoC to production. We offer 100G QSFP28 wholesale pricing for data centers and ISPs scaling their spine-leaf or DCI infrastructure.
Samples & MOQ
- • Single-unit samples available for lab qualification and PoC
- • Low MOQ for pilot deployments – no minimum enforced for evaluation
- • Volume pricing tiers from 10 units for larger 100G rollouts
- • Custom ER4/ZR4 wavelengths and coding available with agreed lead times
Lead Times & Stock
- • Standard SR4, LR4, CWDM4, and DAC/AOC SKUs ship within 1-3 business days
- • PSM4 and ER4/ZR4 modules follow agreed production lead times
- • Blanket order and buffer stock arrangements for ongoing projects
Warranty & Payment
- • 5-year warranty on all 100G QSFP28 modules and DAC/AOC cables
- • Proactive RMA with rapid replacement and root-cause reporting
- • Wire transfer, PayPal, and credit terms for qualified accounts
- • 100G QSFP28 wholesale pricing for ISPs, resellers, and data center teams
Next Step
Share Your 100G Leaf-Spine Plan, Get a Matched BOM
Tell us your spine and leaf switch models, port counts, link distances, and whether you need breakout (e.g. 100G to 4x25G). As your 100G QSFP28 transceiver supplier and manufacturer, we will return a complete bill of materials covering QSFP28 optics, DAC/AOC, and breakout cables with OEM part number cross-references and wholesale pricing within one business day.
1
Send us your 100G spine and leaf switch models, port counts, and link distances.
2
We propose a matched bill of materials (BOM) of 100G QSFP28 optics, DAC/AOC, and breakout cables with pricing.
3
You validate samples and move to full deployment with our engineering support.