Arista Compatible 25G SFP28 Optical Transceivers
Product Overview
This page covers the Apex 25G SFP28 range supplied for Arista leaf, spine and campus switches that are coded for Arista optics. Every module is a third party product built to the SFP28 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
- 25G SFP28 range covering SR, LR, ER, BiDi, CWDM, DWDM 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-SFP28-25G-xx (grade dependent) |
| Manufacturer | Apex |
| Product Type | Third party compatible module, SFP28 MSA |
| Platform Compatibility | Arista switches |
| Data Rate | 25.78Gbps |
| Data Rate | 25.78Gbps |
| Form Factor | SFP28, hot pluggable |
| Coding | Written to order for the named platform |
| DDM / DOM | Supported |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3V |
| Compliance | SFP28 MSA, RoHS |
| Temperature | 0 to 70C commercial, -40 to 85C industrial on request |
Ordering Options by Grade
The 25G SFP28 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 |
|---|
| SR | 850nm | Multimode | 100m | LC duplex |
| LR | 1310nm | Single mode | 10km | LC duplex |
| ER | 1310nm | Single mode | 30km | LC duplex |
| BiDi | 1270 / 1330nm | Single mode | 10km to 20km | LC simplex |
| CWDM | 1270 to 1370nm | Single mode | 10km | LC duplex |
| DWDM | C-band | Single mode | 10km | LC duplex |
| Industrial | 1310nm | Single mode | 10km | LC duplex |
Applications
Leaf and Spine Server Links
25G server access ports on leaf switches, where the module count per rack is high and coding has to be right on the first order.
5G Fronthaul and Midhaul
25G spans from a radio unit to the aggregation site, including industrial temperature grades for cabinets without active cooling.
Fibre Constrained Upgrades
Sites where 25G has to run over the existing single strand, using BiDi and WDM grades instead of new duplex fibre.
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 a compatible SFP28 coded for 25G ports only?
Yes. The module is a 25G part and links at 25.78Gbps. Ports that negotiate 10G with the same module are rare; if you need a dual rate port, send the switch model and we confirm what the firmware allows.
What is the difference between LR and ER at 25G?
LR is the 10km class on 1310nm, ER extends to the 30km class. Both use duplex single mode fibre, so the choice is the reach budget rather than the fibre type.
Do you supply industrial temperature 25G modules?
Yes, the 10km grade is held in industrial temperature for outdoor cabinets and unheated shelters. Tell us the site condition and we confirm the grade on the quote.
Can the same module be used for 5G fronthaul and data center access?
The optical part is the same; what changes is the coding and the temperature grade. Fronthaul sites usually ask for tighter temperature range and a coding that matches the transport platform.
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.
