Arista Compatible 200G QSFP56 Optical Transceivers
Product Overview
This page covers the Apex 200G QSFP56 range supplied for Arista switches that are coded for Arista optics. Every module is a third party product built to the QSFP56 MSA, not manufactured by and not affiliated with Arista.
Cost and availability drive most of these orders. Factory modules on a long lead time hold up maintenance windows, and a single failed optic can cost more than the whole spare kit. A coded module of the same grade restores the port, and a small coded spare stock covers the next failure without a procurement cycle.
Coding is what makes a compatible module work in a Arista port. The module carries an EEPROM image written for the host, so the platform accepts it, reports its values through DDM and links at the expected rate and reach. Give us the platform and the part number you are replacing, and we confirm the coding, the grade and the compatibility before the order is released.
Key Features
- 200G QSFP56 range covering SR4, DR4, FR4, LR4, 2x100G breakout, AOC grades
- EEPROM coded for the platform and the part number you name
- Third party product, not manufactured by or affiliated with Arista
- Same grade and reach class as the factory part at a lower cost per port
- Digital Diagnostic Monitoring (DDM) with live optical, temperature and voltage readings
- Tested for optical power and error rate, with a test report supplied
- Common grades held in stock for same-day quoting
- RoHS compliant, supplied with a three year warranty
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|
| Part Number | APX-QSFP56-200G-xx (grade dependent) |
| Manufacturer | Apex |
| Product Type | Third party compatible module, QSFP56 MSA |
| Platform Compatibility | Arista switches |
| Data Rate | 212.5Gbps (4 x 53.125Gbps PAM4) |
| Data Rate | 212.5Gbps (4 x 53.125Gbps PAM4) |
| Form Factor | QSFP56, hot pluggable |
| Coding | Written to order for the named platform |
| DDM / DOM | Supported |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3V |
| Compliance | QSFP56 MSA, RoHS |
| Temperature | 0 to 70C commercial |
Ordering Options by Grade
The 200G QSFP56 grades are listed below as plain text so they can be copied into an RFQ or a spreadsheet. Each grade is ordered with the coding for the platform you name.
| Grade | Wavelength | Media | Reach class | Interface |
|---|
| SR4 | 850nm | Multimode | 100m | MPO-12 |
| DR4 | 1310nm | Single mode | 500m | MPO-12 |
| FR4 | 1310nm | Single mode | 2km | LC duplex |
| LR4 | 1310nm | Single mode | 10km | LC duplex |
| 2x100G breakout | via CWDM4 or LR4 | Single mode | 2km to 10km | LC duplex |
| AOC | 850nm | Multimode cable | 1m to 30m | Fixed assembly |
Applications
Spine Tier Between 100G and 400G
200G links that keep a spine tier usable while the access layer is still 100G, and that can be replaced by 400G on the same fibre later.
2x100G Breakout
One 200G port driving two 100G links, the usual way to raise access capacity without changing the switch port assignment.
Short Metro Reach
2km and 10km links on FR4 and LR4 for campuses and edge sites, using duplex single mode fibre already in place.
Compatibility and Coding
Each module leaves with an EEPROM image written for the platform you name, which is what the host reads at link up. That is also where compatible supply fails: an uncoded part can be optically perfect and still be rejected. We confirm the coding against your platform and part number before the order is released.
Apex supplies these modules as a third party source. The products are not manufactured by, endorsed by, or affiliated with Arista, and no Arista warranty or support applies to them. Where a platform enforces vendor locking beyond the EEPROM image, we say so before the order rather than after.
Selection and Deployment Notes
Start from the link, not from the module: measure the span, check whether the tray is multimode or single mode, then pick the reach class above the measured distance. Choosing the grade first is how links end up needing an unplanned upgrade.
The other half of the decision is operational. Coded spares in the grades you already run keep a failed port down for minutes rather than weeks, and they should be ordered with the same coding as the installed base.
Send the platform, the firmware version and the part number you are replacing and we confirm the grade and the coding before the order is released. Where a platform refuses third party modules, we say so up front. See Optical Module Coding and Compatibility Guide for the wider selection picture.
Related Products
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 200G QSFP56 the same port as 400G QSFP-DD?
No. QSFP56 carries four electrical lanes, QSFP-DD carries eight. A 200G module goes into a QSFP56 or QSFP-DD port that is set to 200G, and the coding has to match the speed the port is configured for.
DR4 or FR4 for a link just over 500m?
FR4 covers the 2km class on duplex single mode, so it is the straightforward choice past 500m. DR4 is the parallel single mode option at 500m using an MPO-12 connector.
Can 200G ports be broken out to 100G?
Yes where the platform allows breakout. The module is coded as a 2x100G assembly and the switch port is configured for two 100G lanes.
How do I confirm compatibility before ordering?
Send the switch model, the firmware version and the part number you are replacing. We confirm the grade, the connector count and the coding, and we say so up front if the platform blocks third party modules.
Why Choose Apex
- Optical supply from 1.25G to 1.6T, including compatible and coded ranges for the main switch platforms.
- Coding confirmed against the platform and the part number before the order is released.
- Every module tested for optical power and error rate, with a test report supplied.
- Backed by a three year warranty and technical support before and after the sale.
