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In AI/ML clusters and modern cloud backbones, the Optical Transceiver Module is where raw throughput, thermal design, and interoperability all collide.
This deep-dive introduces the NS brand (owned by Network-Switch.com) 800 Gbps Module lineup, OSFP-800G-SR8-FNT, OSFP-800G-DR8-FNT, and OSFP-800G-2FR4-FNT, three OSFP optics that bring predictable performance, clean cabling, and real-world serviceability to high-density Ethernet and InfiniBand environments.
Each module is designed as a Fiber Optic Transceiver Module for High Speed switching and routing and is available as Nvidia Compatible Modules, validated for use across NVIDIA Spectrum-4 switches and compatible servers/NICs.
Product Overview
All NS 800G OSFP modules share a common electrical foundation: eight 100G PAM4 electrical lanes (800GAUI-8), hot-pluggable mechanics in the OSFP form factor, and CMIS-based management/telemetry for field diagnostics. The optical personalities differ by media and reach:
- SR8 (MMF) – Parallel multimode at 850 nm, optimized for short in-row leaf↔spine with dual MPO-12 or MPO-16 connectors depending on vendor implementation; OM4 distances typically up to 50–100 m.
- DR8 (SMF) – Parallel single-mode at 1310 nm for 500 m leaf↔spine or room-to-room spans; offered either with dual MPO-12 or MPO-16.
- 2FR4 (SMF) – Two independent 400G FR4 engines inside one OSFP: each uses 4 CWDM wavelengths around 1310 nm over LC-duplex for 2 km reach; run them as an aggregated 800G link or break out to 2×400G.
Why Finned-Top (FNT)? NVIDIA’s Quantum-2 and Spectrum-4 systems expect finned-top OSFP modules—taller heat-sink shells that increase surface area and airflow for better cooling at high port power. Functionally the optics are identical to flat-top—only the top heat sink changes to meet thermal envelopes in dense AI fabrics.
Hardware Specifications
| NS Model (Brand: NS) | Wavelength(s) | Max Reach | Optical Connector | Electrical Lanes | Host I/O | Thermal Shell |
| OSFP-800G-SR8-FNT | 850 nm | OM3 30–60 m / OM4 50–100 m (platform/datasheet dependent) | Dual MPO-12 or MPO-16 | 8×100G PAM4 | 800GAUI-8 | Finned Top (FNT) |
| OSFP-800G-DR8-FNT | 1310 nm | 500 m | Dual MPO-12 or MPO-16 | 8×100G PAM4 | 800GAUI-8 | Finned Top (FNT) |
| OSFP-800G-2FR4-FNT | 4×λ CWDM per 400G engine (≈1271/1291/1311/1331 nm) | 2 km (per FR4 engine) | Dual LC-duplex (two LC pairs) | 8×100G PAM4 | 800GAUI-8 | Finned Top (FNT) |
What these specs mean in practice?
- SR8 (parallel MMF) keeps short up-links simple and cheap—perfect for leaf↔spine inside a row where OM4 trunks already exist. Expect dual MPO-12 or MPO-16 depending on OEM; OM4 reach tops out near 50–100 m per mainstream datasheets.
- DR8 (parallel SMF) extends parallel optics to 500 m without moving to WDM—great for room-to-room fabric or large halls. Cisco lists both dual MPO-12 and MPO-16 versions, each running 8 lanes of 1310 nm PAM4.
- 2FR4 (duplex SMF) gives you two independent 400G FR4 links in one plug (LC-LC each). Use them bonded as 800G or break out to two QSFP-DD/QSFP112 FR4 ports at the far end—NVIDIA’s 2×FR4 app notes document both behaviors.
Power & thermal guidance
800G client optics generally fall in the ~16–18 W max envelope depending on PMD and DSP; many 2×FR4 and DR8 data sheets quote ≤16–17 W. The Finned Top shell is specifically meant to dissipate this power in NVIDIA OSFP cages. Always confirm your line-card’s per-port budget and airflow policy.
Compatibility & Interoperability
The NS OSFP family implements the OSFP MSA, IEEE 800G PMDs, and CMIS management, so they behave like native optics in NVIDIA environments and other standards-compliant platforms:
- NVIDIA Spectrum-4 switches (e.g., SN5600) provide 64 × 800G OSFP ports and are designed around finned-top modules; SR8/DR8 populate parallel runs, while 2×FR4 handles duplex 2 km spans and interop/breakout to 400G FR4 on the far side.
- Cisco’s 800G OSFP data sheet validates DR8 at 500 m and shows both dual MPO-12 APC and MPO-16 APC optics, underscoring connector flexibility in the ecosystem; VR8 (MMF) entries map to the industry’s “SR8” concept with 30/50 m distances.
- NVIDIA’s 2×FR4 application notes confirm dual LC-duplex cabling, 2 km reach, and breakout mapping between OSFP twin-port 2×FR4 and QSFP-DD FR4 gear.
The upshot: NS Nvidia Compatible Modules slot into Spectrum-4/Quantum-2 domains while remaining standards-aligned for mixed-vendor build-outs.
NS Modules vs. OEM Modules vs. Other 3rd-Party
| Dimension | NS (OSFP SR8 / DR8 / 2FR4) | OEM (Cisco/NVIDIA) | Other 3rd-party |
| Standards & CMIS | IEEE 800G PMDs, OSFP MSA, CMIS 5.x | Same | Varies |
| Mechanics | Finned Top for NVIDIA cages; same optics as flat-top | Vendor-specific shells | Mixed (not always FNT) |
| Distances | SR8 30–100 m; DR8 500 m; 2×FR4 2 km | Same | Often same on paper |
| Interop | Coded for NVIDIA platforms + standards interop | Platform-locked SKUs | Varies by coding |
| Power Envelope | Aligns with ~16–18 W class | Listed per SKU | Varies widely |
NS aims for OEM-class behavior and telemetry while keeping procurement and sparing simpler across a mixed vendor fleet.
Deployment Scenarios & Cabling Blueprints
Short-reach leaf↔spine in AI rows (SR8)
OSFP-800G-SR8-FNT over OM4 handles high-density in-row fabric at minimal cost. Dual MPO-12 (or MPO-16) trunking keeps patching straightforward; ensure MPO polarity is correct and keep run lengths within 50–100 m.
Room-to-room or hall-to-hall (DR8)
OSFP-800G-DR8-FNT extends to 500 m on parallel SMF without DWDM complexity. It’s a favorite for large halls, adjacent rooms, or “horizontal” fabric where you prefer ribbon SMF over duplex WDM. Cisco lists dual MPO-12 and MPO-16 options—plan your patch fields accordingly.
Campus-style or inter-building runs (2×FR4)
OSFP-800G-2FR4-FNT uses dual LC-duplex to push 2 km per 400G engine. You can bond the two engines as 800G end-to-end or break out to two 400G FR4 links feeding separate devices—NVIDIA’s documentation even illustrates bridging to QSFP-DD FR4 gear during migrations.
Breakout and migration tricks
- 2×FR4 ↔ 2×QSFP-DD FR4: migrate brownfield 400G domains into 800G chassis one leg at a time.
- SR8/DR8 ↔ 8×100G: leverage lane-based breakouts during phased upgrades and for test fabric loops in staging racks. Cisco’s 800G OSFP sheet notes 8×100GE/4×200GE/2×400GE breakouts are supported at the optical/electrical layers.
Installation & Diagnostics: Field Notes
DDM/DOM via CMIS. All NS OSFP modules expose temperature, supply voltage, lane-by-lane TX/RX optical power, and bias currents via CMIS. NVIDIA/Cisco host OSes read these fields for alarms and trending.
FEC is mandatory. 100G-PAM4 lanes assume host FEC—verify RS-FEC is enabled before you debug BER.
Connector sanity checks.
- SR8/DR8: validate MPO polarity and pinout (APC ferrules are common on 800G; Cisco explicitly calls out APC MPO). Large lane-to-lane power asymmetries usually indicate polarity/cable-map issues.
- 2FR4: simple LC duplex per 400G engine; treat each as a standard FR4 span. NVIDIA’s doc shows dual LC and 2 km reach.
Thermals & airflow. The Finned Top shell exists for a reason: Spectrum-4/Quantum-2 cages expect finned-top for additional heat dissipation. Keep air paths clear and follow the platform’s intake/exhaust guidelines.
FAQs
Q1: What’s the practical difference between SR8, DR8, and 2×FR4?
SR8 is parallel MMF for 30–100 m runs (cost-optimized in-row). DR8 is parallel SMF for 500 m where you need more distance without WDM. 2×FR4 is duplex SMF for 2 km, with the bonus of running as two independent 400G links if needed.
Q2: Which connector should I pull—MPO-12, MPO-16, or LC?
SR8/DR8 can be dual MPO-12 or MPO-16 depending on the SKU; confirm before cabling. 2×FR4 uses dual LC-duplex (two LC pairs).
Q3: Are these truly Nvidia Compatible Modules?
Yes. NS codes to platform expectations (CMIS, alarms, optics IDs) and uses Finned Top mechanics for NVIDIA cages. Public docs show Spectrum-4 800G OSFP systems and twin-port 2×FR4 behavior, which NS mirrors.
Q4: What power should I budget per port?
Plan for ~16 to18 W depending on PMD and ambient. Vendors commonly specify ≤16–17 W for 2×FR4 and DR8; some SR8 variants land near ≤13.5–16 W. Always check your exact line-card spec.
Q5: Can I mix these 800G optics with 400G gear?
Yes, 2×FR4 can break out to two 400G FR4 endpoints (e.g., QSFP-DD FR4) because the optical lanes are 100G-PAM4 CWDM4 on each LC pair. SR8/DR8 support lane-based breakouts to 8×100G on the electrical side when the host supports it.
Conclusion
The NS 800G Optical Transceiver Module family gives operators a minimal, surgical set of optics for real-world 800G builds:
- OSFP-800G-SR8-FNT for short, dense OM4 trunks inside rows
- OSFP-800G-DR8-FNT for long parallel SMF runs up to 500 m
- OSFP-800G-2FR4-FNT for 2 km duplex SMF, with painless 2×400G breakout
Because these OSFP modules adhere to IEEE MSAs and CMIS, and use the Finned Top shell expected by Spectrum-4/Quantum-2 hardware, you can confidently deploy them as Nvidia Compatible Modules without vendor lock-in.
Standardize on the NS Fiber Optic Transceiver Module portfolio to streamline spares, keep cabling clean, and maintain High Speed stability as fabrics scale from pilot pods to production super-spines.
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