File 38 servers support a connection of a 100GbE link from a 100GbE switch fitted with a QSFP28 pluggable transceiver to the server network ports fitted with SFP28 transceivers using a breakout cable.
The breakout cable splits out the four 25GbE RX/TX pairs of the 100GbE connection from the MTP® (MPO) 8-fiber connector at the switch (QSFP28 transceiver) to four 25GbE LC fiber connectors.
Ports 1-4 form 100GbE port group 1 and ports 5-8 form 100GbE port group 2. The breakout cable LC connectors can be connected in any order to the ports within a group.
- Forward Error Correction (FEC): When using 100GbE connection mode on the server, Forward Error Correction (FEC) is enabled by default. Make sure that FEC is configured on each port of the network switch. If the network switch does not support the correct type of FEC, it may be necessary to disable FEC at both the VSP One File server port and switch port.
See the CLI man page, ethernet-link-config for more details on FEC.
- When using the 100GbE connection, use the ethernet-link-config command to configure lane bonding.
See the CLI man page, ethernet-link-config for more details.
| Item | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1 | 100 GbE network port group 1. |
| 2 | 100 GbE network port group 2. |
| 3 | 100 GbE port group 1 activity LED. |
| 4 | 100 GbE port group 1 status LED. |
| 5 | 100 GbE port group 2 activity LED. |
| 6 | 100 GbE port group 2 status LED. |
Breakout cable lengths can be increased by linking patch cables using MPO adapters. Patch cables may also be required to resolve type and gender compatibility when connecting breakout cables to trunk cables at the patch panel.
- The total number of cross-over (Type-B) cables including the breakout cable must be an odd number.
- Use multimode UPC patch cables throughout the connection. Do not mix UPC and APC polished connectors.
- Limit the number of adapters including the patch panel adapters to a maximum of three in any connection.
- Use straight-through (Type-A) adapters also known as key-up or key-down adapters. If crossover (Type-B) adapters are used, the total number of cross-overs must be odd.
- Observe gender compatibility of the adapters. Do not connect female to female adapters or male to male adapters. Do not remove alignment pins of the adapters.
- The maximum total connection length is 100m for multi-mode (OM4) cabling. OM3 cabling can be used with a reduced total maximum cable length of 70m.
- Breakout cables are available in all genders and types. Other combinations are compatible with a direct connection from File 38 server to a QSFP28 transceiver.
| Status/Activity (per port) | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Blue (solid) | 100 Gbps link present. |
| Off | No 100 Gbps link. | |
| Activity | Amber (flashing) | 100 Gbps link activity. |