Arista Compatible 40G QSFP+ Optical Transceivers
Product Overview
The Apex 40G QSFP+ range on this page is built for Arista switches whose firmware asks for Arista coded optics. These are third party modules to the QSFP+ MSA, not products of Arista and not affiliated with Arista.
The economics are straightforward. A live port has to keep working for years, while the price of a factory module and the lead time for a new one can turn one failed optic into an expensive event. A coded module of the same grade brings the port back up at a fraction of the cost, which is why operators keep a small coded spare stock beside the live spares.
The part that decides whether the link comes up is the EEPROM image, not the optics. Written for the named platform, it makes the host accept the module and report the expected values through DDM. Tell us the platform, the firmware version and the incumbent part number, and the coding is confirmed before the order is released.
Key Features
- 40G QSFP+ range covering SR4, CSR4, LR4, ER4, PSM4, BiDi 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-QSFPP-40G-xx (grade dependent) |
| Manufacturer | Apex |
| Product Type | Third party compatible module, QSFP+ MSA |
| Platform Compatibility | Arista switches |
| Data Rate | 41.2Gbps (4 x 10.3Gbps) |
| Data Rate | 41.2Gbps (4 x 10.3Gbps) |
| Form Factor | QSFP+, hot pluggable |
| Coding | Written to order for the named platform |
| DDM / DOM | Supported |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3V |
| Compliance | QSFP+ MSA, RoHS |
| Temperature | 0 to 70C commercial, -40 to 85C industrial on request |
Ordering Options by Grade
The 40G QSFP+ 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 |
| CSR4 | 850nm | Multimode | 300m | MPO-12 |
| LR4 | 1310nm | Single mode | 10km | LC duplex |
| ER4 | 1550nm | Single mode | 40km | LC duplex |
| PSM4 | 1310nm | Single mode | 10km | MPO-12 |
| BiDi | 832 / 882nm | Multimode | 100m to 150m | LC duplex |
| AOC | 850nm | Multimode cable | 1m to 100m | Fixed assembly |
| DAC | Copper twinax | Copper cable | 1m to 5m | Fixed assembly |
Applications
40G Uplinks on 10G Leaf Switches
The 40G uplink tier above 10G access ports, where QSFP+ keeps the uplink cost down while the access layer stays 10G.
Structured Cabling Across Rows
Row to row runs on multimode for SR4 and CSR4, or single mode for LR4 where the cabling already reaches beyond 100m.
40G to 4x10G Breakout
Breakout assemblies that feed four 10G ports from one 40G port, which is the usual way to reuse a 40G uplink for access expansion.
Compatibility and Coding
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.
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.
Upgrade and Interoperability Notes
Selection usually comes down to the fibre you already own. Multimode trays mean an SR class, single mode trays mean the duplex or parallel single mode classes, and the reach class should be the next one above the longest span in the plan.
Keep the coding consistent across the installed base and the spare shelf. Mixing codings inside one link is the most common cause of a port that reports green optics and still will not come up.
Tell us the platform, the firmware version and the incumbent part number and the coding is confirmed before the order is released. If the platform blocks third party modules, you hear it before the shipment, not after. Related reading: MPO and MTP Cabling and Optics Selection Guide.
Related Products
Frequently Asked Questions
SR4 or CSR4 for a 150m row to row run?
CSR4 is the multimode class that covers 300m, so it is the safe choice at 150m. SR4 covers 100m and is normally enough inside a single row.
Can a 40G port be split into four 10G links?
Yes where the platform supports breakout. The switch port is configured for four lanes and a breakout cable or a set of 10G modules on an MPO to LC harness does the rest.
How many fibres does each 40G grade need?
SR4, CSR4 and PSM4 use eight fibres over an MPO-12 connector, while LR4, ER4 and BiDi use a duplex or simplex LC pair. That difference usually decides the grade when the cabling is already in place.
Do you hold the 40G grades in stock?
SR4, CSR4, LR4 and PSM4 are the grades we hold for same-day quoting. ER4, BiDi and the cable assemblies are built to order with a confirmed lead time on the quote.
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.
