Home / News & Blog /
- CFP Optical Module
CFP stands for Centum Form Factor Pluggable. The term “Centum” originates from Latin, meaning “one hundred.” CFP modules were initially designed to support 100Gbps optical transmission rates. Due to their relatively large size, they utilize parallel transmission technology to integrate multiple high-speed signal channels within a single module, effectively reducing system complexity and cabling costs. With the emergence of higher bandwidth demands such as 400G and 800G, newer and more advanced CFP specifications have been developed.
- CFP2 Optical Module
CFP2 is an optimized version of the CFP standard, with its size reduced to half that of CFP and power consumption lowered to 12W. Its electrical interface supports more flexible channel configurations, such as 4x25G, 8x50G, or 10x10G, enabling transmission rates of up to 400G.
- CFP4 Optical Module
CFP4 further optimizes the size, approximately half the size of CFP2 and one-quarter that of CFP, with power consumption reduced to only 6W. Its electrical interface supports 4x25G or 4x10G channels, making it suitable for 40G and 100G Ethernet applications, especially in scenarios sensitive to space and power consumption.
- CFP8 Optical Module
CFP8 is a form factor designed for 400G within the CFP series, with a size close to CFP2. It supports 16x25G or 8x50G channels and has relatively higher power consumption. Due to its size and cost disadvantages, CFP8 is gradually being replaced by more compact form factors such as QSFP-DD and OSFP.
CFP Series Form Factor Comparison
| Type | Size（width × height × depth, mm） | Number of channels and rate | Power consumption | Features and application scenarios |
| CFP | 82×13.6×144.8 | 10×10G or 4×25G | <24W | The first generation of 100G modules is larger and suitable for early 100G Ethernet and OTN applications |
| CFP2 | 41.5 × 12.4 × 107.5 | 10×10G、4×25G、8×25G、8×50G | <12W | The size is halved, supporting higher density and suitable for 100G/200G/400G transmission. It is commonly used in metropolitan area networks and long-distance transmission |
| CFP4 | 21.5 × 9.5 × 92 | 4×10G or 4×25G | <6W | Smaller size and lower power consumption make it suitable for high-density data centers and short-distance transmission |
| CFP8 | 40 × 9.5 × 102 | 16×25G or 8×50G | <24W | Designed specifically for 400G, it supports higher bandwidth and is suitable for hyperscale data centers and scenarios with high bandwidth requirements |
Share on Social:
- PREV: Exploring the Capabilities of Mellanox ConnectX-6 Ethernet Adapter
- NEXT: Null
