QSFP-40G-SRBD-R-BCC | Arista Compatible 40GB Multi-Mode BiDi - 100m (40GBASE-SR-BD)

Q: Will this work in place of the Arista QSFP-40G-SRBD-R?
A: Yes. This transceiver is a receiver-only module compliant with IEEE 802.3ba 40GBASE-SR BiDi and QSFP+ MSA SFF-8436, matching the QSFP-40G-SRBD-R specification. It delivers plug-and-play compatibility with Arista QSFP+ ports configured for 40GBASE-BIDI, receiving bidirectional optical signals at 900nm and 850nm wavelengths over duplex LC multimode fibre.

Q: What Arista platforms support this receiver module?
A: This module is compatible with Arista switches featuring QSFP+ ports that support 40GBASE-BIDI operation per the transceiver compatibility guide. Specific platform support depends on EOS software version 4.15.2 or later for QSFP-40G-SRBD-R. The port must be configured for 40G BiDi mode and paired with a corresponding transmitter module.

Q: Why is this a receiver-only module and how does the wavelength pairing work?
A: The QSFP-40G-SRBD-R is a receive-only transceiver designed to work with a separate transmit module in asymmetric link configurations. It receives optical signals at 900nm on channel 1 and 850nm on channel 2. The paired transmitter sends at the inverse wavelengths (850nm Ch1, 900nm Ch2), enabling full-duplex 40G over a single duplex LC cable with two fibres.

Q: What fibre types and reach distances does this support?
A: This module supports OM3 and OM4 multimode fibre over duplex LC connectors. Reach is 100m on OM3 or 150m on OM4, based on a 2 dB optical budget. Distance assumes typical multimode fibre attenuation and includes margin for connector losses. OM5 is not specified for this BiDi variant. Link budget calculations should account for patch panels and connector insertion loss in the path.

Q: Can this module be used in 4x10G breakout mode like standard 40G-SR4 optics?
A: No. Unlike parallel 40GBASE-SR4 transceivers that use four independent 10G lanes over separate fibres, this BiDi module multiplexes four electrical 10G lanes into two optical wavelengths transmitted over a single duplex cable. The architecture does not support 4x10G breakout to independent ports. It is designed exclusively for point-to-point 40G BiDi links with wavelength-matched transmitter and receiver pairs.