Bahamas Optical Switch OSFP

The Bahamas Active Optical Device uses the OSFP standard, supporting up to 1.6Tbps per module with advanced thermal management and high-speed lane configurations.

Overview of OSFP

The Octal Small Form Factor Pluggable (OSFP) is a high-speed optical module standard designed for data centers and AI-driven computing environments. OSFP modules support aggregate data rates from 200 Gbps up to 1.6 Tbps, using lane speeds of 28G NRZ, 56G PAM4, 112G PAM4, and 224G PAM4, depending on the module type and configuration (TE Connectivity, Molex, Amphenol) . The standard ensures mechanical reliability, hot-pluggability, and backward compatibility with previous OSFP generations, making it suitable for high-density deployments .

OSFP1600 and OSFP-XD

• OSFP1600: Supports eight 200G host electrical interfaces, delivering 1.6Tbps total bandwidth. It integrates a heatsink capable of dissipating over 30 Watts, ensuring thermal stability for high-speed operations. OSFP1600 maintains full backward compatibility with 400G and 800G OSFP modules .

• OSFP-XD (Extended Density): Expands the number of channels from 8 to 16, enabling single-port 1.6T rates and providing room for future upgrades to higher rates, such as 3.2T. It supports both 16-lane and 8-lane configurations, with a 120-contact edge connector for high-speed transmit/receive signals, power, ground, and control signals . OSFP-XD is designed to address thermal challenges while maintaining electrical performance for next-generation optical modules.

Applications

OSFP modules, including OSFP1600 and OSFP-XD, are ideal for:

• Hyperscale data centers
• AI and machine learning clusters
• High-performance computing environments They provide high-density, high-bandwidth connectivity while managing heat efficiently, reducing downtime, and extending system lifespan . OSFP supports a wide range of interconnect cables, including direct-attach cables (DACs), active copper cables (ACCs), active optical cables (AOCs), and pluggable transceivers, offering flexibility for various deployment scenarios .

Key Features

• High-speed performance: Up to 224G PAM4 per lane, 1.6Tbps aggregate, scalable to 3.2Tbps with stacked connectors .
• Thermal management: Integrated heatsinks and optimized module design for high-power operation .
• Backward compatibility: Supports existing 400G and 800G OSFP modules .
• Flexible lane configurations: 8-lane or 16-lane options for different bandwidth and thermal requirements .
• Broad cable compatibility: Works with DACs, AOCs, and other high-speed interconnects . In summary, the Bahamas Active Optical Device leveraging OSFP technology provides a robust, high-speed, and thermally efficient solution for modern data centers, AI clusters, and high-performance computing applications, supporting scalable bandwidth and flexible deployment options.