100GBASE-DR: A New Choice for High-Speed Data Center Interconnection
Jul 13, 20231 min read
Compared with common 100G QSFP28 transceivers, the 100GBASE DR module adopts PAM4 modulation to transmit higher data rates in one single wavelength and is more suitable for high-speed data center interconnection with the advantages of low power consumption, high density, and high reliability. In this blog, we will demonstrate the 100G QSFP28 DR modules comprehensively from the aspects of the definition, working principle, advantages and applications.
What Is 100GBASE DR?
The 100GBASE DR Single Lambda transceiver complies with the IEEE standard 100GBASE-DR and supports up to 500m over SMF, making it ideal for data center leaf-spine connectivity where the fiber length seldom exceeds 100m. The transceiver can convert the 4x 25G NRZ electrical signal to a 1x 100G PAM4 optical signal. In the same way, it can convert 1x 100G PAM4 optical signals to 4x 25G NRZ electrical signals at the receiving path.

What Are the Advantages of 100GBASE DR Transceiver?
High-Speed & Low Power Consumption
The QSFP 100G DR Single Lambda module supports 100Gbps high-speed transmission to suit the demands of high bandwidth and low latency. Additionally, the power consumption of 100G QSFP28 DR transceivers is obviously lower than that of traditional 100G transceivers, being beneficial for reducing operation costs by lowering the total power consumption.
High-Density & High Reliability
With a smaller form factor than other optical transceivers, the 100GBASE DR module can support a high-density port layout in a limited space. Simultaneously, it adopts single-mode optical fiber to transmit data which possesses high transmission stability and anti-interference ability, thus ensuring the stability and reliability of data transmission.
Simplified Cabling & Networking
The 100G DR Single Lambda transceiver uses a single wavelength to transmit and receive data, which simplifies cabling and reduces the complexity of the network.
100GBASE DR Application Scenarios
Due to its high bandwidth, high speed, simple cabling system as well as other advantages, the QSFP 100 DR module has been widely used in data centers, cloud computing, high-performance computing, storage network, ultra-high-definition video, etc. The following picture shows 100G to 400G network migration with FS 100GBASE-DR modules, 400G QSFP-DD DR4 transceivers, and data center switches, which keep the original network structure and save cost.

Conclusion
The 100GBASE DR Single Lambda transceiver features high-speed data transmission, high port density, high reliability, high bandwidth, low latency, and low power consumption, making it the ideal solution for high-speed data center interconnection.
- Categories:
- Hardware
- Optics and Transceivers
- Data Center