QSFP-100G-FR-Arista-BCC | Arista Compatible 100G Single-Mode 2km (100GBASE-FR)

Q: Will this work in place of the Arista QSFP-100G-FR-ARISTA?
A: Yes. This transceiver is fully compatible based on matching the QSFP28 form factor, 100GBASE-FR standard, 1310nm wavelength, 2km reach, and compliance with IEEE 802.3cd and 100G Lambda MSA. It is plug-and-play in any Arista platform that supports the QSFP-100G-FR-ARISTA.

Q: Which Arista platforms support this transceiver?
A: This transceiver works in any Arista switch with QSFP28 ports that support 100GBASE-FR operation. The host platform must provide 4x25G NRZ electrical lanes and support FEC to achieve the full 2km reach. Consult Arista's transceiver compatibility matrix for your specific platform and EOS version.

Q: Why does this transceiver require FEC to be enabled?
A: PAM4 modulation uses four amplitude levels instead of two, which increases spectral efficiency but also increases susceptibility to noise. FEC is required to detect and correct bit errors introduced during transmission, ensuring reliable operation at the full 2km distance specification over G.652 single-mode fibre.

Q: How does this compare to 100GBASE-DR for reach and fibre requirements?
A: Both 100GBASE-FR and 100GBASE-DR use single lambda 1310nm with PAM4 and duplex LC connectors. The difference is reach: DR specifies 500m, while FR extends to 2km. Both require G.652 single-mode fibre and FEC. FR provides four times the reach for applications requiring campus or metro connectivity beyond the data centre.

Q: What is the power budget and what does it mean for link design?
A: This transceiver provides approximately 4dB optical link budget between minimum transmit power and receiver sensitivity. After accounting for connector losses, splice losses, and fibre attenuation at 1310nm, the remaining budget determines actual achievable distance. The 2km specification assumes typical G.652 fibre loss and properly cleaned connectors.