Core Routing Blade Transceivers

QSFPs installed in core routing blades are used for connecting inter-switch links (ICLs) between Directors. Interconnecting these devices increases the number of useable ports for device connections.

QSFPs installed in core routing blades are used for connecting inter-switch links (ICLs) between Directors. Interconnecting these devices increases the number of useable ports for device connections.

The following list and illustration show the types of QSFPs installed in core routing blades:
  • Separate MTP cable and transceiver. The transceiver is inserted into the blade port and the cable plugs into a QSFP on the other end of the ICL.
    Figure 1. QSFP Transceiver with Separate Cable
    Installing a QSFP transceiver into port with callouts
    1. Pull Tab
    2. QSFP Cable
    3. QSFP Transceiver
    Note: If the fiber optic cables are not connected to the transceivers, make sure that the rubber sealing gaskets are plugged into the transceivers.
  • Brocade 2 km 4x16Gb/s QSFP transceiver with integrated MTP cable. The transceiver is inserted into the blade port connector and integrated cable plugs into a QSFP on the other end of the ICL, a patch panel, or a patch cable.
  • Brocade 2 km 4x32Gb/s QSFP transceiver with LC connectors. The transceiver is inserted into the blade port connector and single-mode optical fiber (SMF) LC cable connects the transceiver to the other end of the ICL or a patch panel.
    Note: Because 16Gb/s speeds are not supported with this optic, connectivity to a DCX 8510 over distances beyond 100m is not possible.

Follow these guidelines for using QSFPs when connecting ICLs. See Installing a QSFP Transceiver to install cables and QSFP transceivers.

  • The QSFP ports on the core switch blades can be used only with an inter-chassis link (ICL) license. After the addition or removal of a license, the license enforcement is performed on the ports only when the portdisable and portenablecommands are issued on the ports. An ICL license must be installed on all Directors forming the ICL connection. Up to nine neighboring Directors can be connected with the MTP cables.
  • The 32Gb/s QSFP28 SWL transceivers on Director core routing blades operate at 4x32Gb/s and 4x16Gb/s speeds so can be used for an ICL connection between a 32Gb/s QSFP on a Director core routing blade and a 16Gb/s QSFP transceiver on a DCX 8510 Director core routing blade. Use the appropriate ICL kit for this application.
  • The QSFP ports on the core switch blades can be used only with an inter-chassis link (ICL) license. After the addition or removal of a license, the license enforcement is performed on the ports only when the portdisable and portenablecommands are issued on the ports. An ICL license must be installed on all Directors forming the ICL connection. Up to nine neighboring Directors can be connected with the MTP cables.
  • The QSFP56 SWL transceivers on X7 Director core routing blades operate at 4xGen7 ICL speed so can be used for an ICL connection between two X7 Director core routing blades. Use the appropriate ICL kit for this application.
  • The 32Gb/s QSFP28 SWL transceivers on Director core routing blades operate at 4x32Gb/s and 4x16Gb/s speeds so can be used for an ICL connection between a 32Gb/s QSFP on a Director core routing blade and a 16Gb/s QSFP transceiver on a DCX 8510 Director core routing blade. The 32Gb/s QSFP can also be used to connect an X7 Director to an X6 Director. Use the appropriate ICL kit for this application.
  • An off-the-shelf MTP cable up to 100m can be used as an ICL cable when using the standard SWL optics.
  • Brocade supports fully populating a switch with ICL connections using a mixture of 100m SWL and 4x32Gb/s 2 km optics.
  • For complete requirements and considerations for using QSFPs to support 2 km on ICL ports, refer to "Using the QSFPs that support 2 km on ICL ports" in the Fabric OS Administration Guide.

On the core routing blade faceplates, QSFP ports belonging to the same trunking groups are indicated with the same color border under the ports. These colors are also applied to the port map labels on each blade faceplate to indicate ports belonging to the same trunking groups.

For details on the following subjects, refer to the "Inter-Chassis Links' section of the Fabric OS Administration Guide:
  • ICL topologies
  • ICL trunking
  • Configuring ICLs between Directors
  • Configuring ICLs between X7 and X6 Chassis

Brocade 4x32Gb/s 2-Km LWL QSFPs

The Brocade 2-km 4x32Gb/s LWL QSFP28 is a hot-swappable, low-voltage (3.3V) digital diagnostic optical transceiver that supports high-speed serial links over parallel single-mode optical fibers at signaling rates up to 4×28.05Gb/s. This is a multi-rated CWDM4 QSFP28 transceiver with a duplex LC connector. It supports up to 2-km link length using duplex single-mode fiber.

All 16 ICL ports can be used for 2 km distances when 20 buffer credits are configured per virtual channel.