Broadcom Compatible 200G QSFP56 Optical Transceivers
Product Overview
Broadcom based leaf and spine switches plus server network adapters that ask for Broadcom optics are the reason this range exists. The modules are third party products built to the QSFP56 MSA; they are not manufactured by, and are not affiliated with, Broadcom.
Why buy a compatible part at all? Because the port is the asset and the module is the consumable. When a factory module is priced above the link it serves, or sits on a long lead time, a coded module of the same grade restores the port today and keeps a handful of spares affordable.
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.
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 Broadcom
- 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 | Broadcom based switch platforms and network adapters |
| 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
PAM4 Spine Links
200G PAM4 links where the fabric needs twice the 100G port rate without moving to eight lane optics.
2x100G Breakout
One 200G port feeding two 100G links for server access, keeping the 100G leaf ports free for the next refresh.
Edge and Campus Reach
2km and 10km single mode links on FR4 and LR4 for campuses and access sites already cabled with duplex single mode.
Compatibility and Coding
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.
Apex supplies these modules as a third party source. The products are not manufactured by, endorsed by, or affiliated with Broadcom, and no Broadcom 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.
Deployment and Selection Notes
Two things decide the grade in a {brand} build: the fibre that is already installed and the reach the link has to cover. Multimode trays point to the SR classes, single mode trays to the duplex and parallel single mode classes, and the reach class follows the longest span you have to serve.
The second decision is spares. Holding one coded module per grade in use costs less than a single maintenance window held up by lead time, and the coding on the spare has to match the installed base, not the newest order.
If the platform is not certain, send the switch model, the firmware version and the part number being replaced. We confirm the grade and the coding before the order is released, and we say so when a platform will not accept a third party module at all. For background on how coding works across platforms, see our Optical Module Coding and Compatibility Guide.
Related Products
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a 200G QSFP56 module fit a 100G QSFP28 port?
The cage is the same, but the port has to be configured for 200G and the module coded for that speed. Putting a 200G module into a port set to 100G will not link.
What is the difference between DR4 and FR4 at 200G?
DR4 is the 500m parallel single mode class on MPO-12; FR4 covers 2km on duplex LC. The fibre and connector count in the trays usually decide which one you order.
How does PAM4 signalling affect the choice of module?
PAM4 signalling is what gives 200G on four lanes. The practical effect is that the host port, the FEC settings and the module coding have to agree; send the switch configuration and we match the module to it.
Can you confirm compatibility before I place the order?
Yes. Send the platform, the firmware version and the part number you are replacing. We confirm the coding and say up front if the port will reject a third party module.
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.
