What is QSFP-DD Cage?
QSFP-DD cages play an essential role in enabling 400G and 800G Ethernet connectivity within switches, routers, and network interface cards.
The term QSFP-DD stands for Quad Small Form-factor QSFP-DD cage Pluggable – Double Density. Compared to traditional QSFP or QSFP28 modules, QSFP-DD technology doubles the number of electrical lanes from four to eight. The cage is the mechanical and electrical housing that holds the transceiver securely while ensuring proper signal integrity, grounding, cooling, and hot-plug functionality.
Structure and Design of QSFP-DD Cage
A QSFP-DD cage is typically made from stainless steel or copper alloy to provide strength, electromagnetic shielding, and durability. It is mounted directly onto a printed circuit board (PCB) and designed to accept QSFP-DD transceivers with precise alignment.
The cage includes several key features:
Double-row contact interface to support eight high-speed lanes
EMI shielding springs to reduce electromagnetic interference
Heat sink compatibility for efficient thermal management
Guide rails and latch mechanisms to ensure correct insertion
Port stacking capability to maximize front-panel density
Due to higher data rates, QSFP-DD cages are engineered with tighter mechanical tolerances compared to earlier QSFP versions.
Role in High-Speed Data Transmission
QSFP-DD cages act as the physical bridge between the transceiver module and the network device. They ensure that electrical signals travel cleanly from the PCB to the optical or copper transceiver without distortion or data loss.
At speeds of 400G and above, even minor signal disruption can cause performance issues. Therefore, QSFP-DD cages are carefully designed to maintain:
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