QSFP-100G-SR4-S-BCC | Cisco Compatible 100GB Multi-Mode 100m (100GBASE-SR4)

Q: Will this work in place of the Cisco QSFP-100G-SR4-S?
A: Yes. This module is designed as a plug-and-play drop-in replacement for the Cisco QSFP-100G-SR4-S. It matches the reference SKU specifications including QSFP28 form factor, 100GBASE-SR4 data rate per IEEE 802.3bm, 850nm wavelength, and MPO-12 connector. The module is coded for Cisco compatibility and will initialize correctly in any QSFP28 port that supports the original Cisco transceiver.

Q: Which Cisco platforms support this transceiver?
A: This module works in Cisco switches and routers with QSFP28 100G ports. Cisco publishes a 100 Gigabit Ethernet Transceiver Modules Compatibility Matrix listing supported platforms for the QSFP-100G-SR4-S reference SKU. Any platform listed in that matrix for 100GBASE-SR4 operation will support this compatible module. Verify your specific platform model and software version against Cisco documentation to confirm QSFP28 port support.

Q: What fibre type and grade are required for 100m reach?
A: IEEE 802.3bm specifies OM4 multimode fiber for 100m reach at 100GBASE-SR4. OM3 fiber supports 70m. The 850nm VCSEL array transmits over four parallel fibers using an MPO-12 ribbon cable. Each lane operates at 25 Gbps. OM4 fiber has a minimum modal bandwidth of 4700 MHz·km at 850nm, which is required to support the full 100m link budget. Using lower-grade fiber or exceeding the specified distance will reduce link margin and may cause bit errors.

Q: Can I mix this module with other 100G SR4 transceivers from different vendors?
A: Yes, if both transceivers comply with IEEE 802.3bm 100GBASE-SR4. The standard defines the optical and electrical specifications to ensure interoperability between compliant devices regardless of manufacturer. Both ends must use the same fiber type and meet the reach limits (70m OM3 or 100m OM4). DOM thresholds and alarm reporting may differ between vendors, but the optical link layer will interoperate as long as both modules conform to the IEEE specification.

Q: Does this transceiver require host-side FEC to be enabled?
A: No. The IEEE 802.3bm 100GBASE-SR4 specification does not require forward error correction (FEC) for multimode fiber links within the 70m (OM3) or 100m (OM4) distance limits. The VCSEL transmitter and PIN receiver array are designed to operate with sufficient link budget and dispersion tolerance to meet bit error rate targets without FEC. Some host platforms may enable FEC by default for other optic types, but it is not necessary for SR4 operation and can typically be disabled via CLI if needed.