Why is the threshold of optical module /AOC/DAC technology low?

Of course, this statement is not rigorous, because some high-end products, the world can do fewer manufacturers, such as 400G optical modules. In addition, the same product, such as 100G single mode, while most manufacturers can only do 10km, a few manufacturers have been able to do 40km. But for the vast majority of mature products, the barrier to entry are really low, which has resulted in a large number of small workshops where a few dozen people can start a modular company.

The reason for the low threshold is that the optical module /AOC/DAC is basically a pure hardware product. Although there are drivers on the MCU controller, they are relatively simple and standard things (of course, there are still differences between vendors, and many compatibility issues come from this difference). And the core components used in the hardware products can be obtained by everyone, and everyone can easily get the hardware solutions of large manufacturers for reference and imitation, and even some suppliers will directly provide good coupling boards to the downstream manufacturers. This means that for module manufacturers, many mature products, we use highly similar technical solutions, and not too much threshold. This is very different from switches, where all switch vendors have access to the same quality-free CPUs and switching chips, but differences in overall board design and complex software systems result in huge differences in overall quality and capability.

What‘s the difference?

According to the standard of light module is much unified, the threshold is low, so there should be no difference between module manufacturers in theory. However, the reality is that there are many different compatibility issues between different modules and different devices. Even modules of the same model from the same manufacturer can be different on the same device. There are many reasons, but if summed up simply, it is the difference between engineering quality and supply quality.

•The quality of PCB, the quality of capacitive resistance, the length and width of the golden finger, the quality of solder, and even the quality of glue, all affect the quality of the product, such as voltage and current jitter, temperature rise, there will be problems.

•Coupling process differences, such as COB coupling mode, SMD coupling mode, each manufacturer‘s choice is different, even the same manufacturer‘s choice of different products is different, they will lead to differences in cost, heat dissipation, high temperature resistance.

•Differences in production test equipment, number of equipment, variety, degree of automation, richness of third party equipment such as switch/server network cards, which can lead to differences in yield and compatibility.

•Differences in R&D capabilities and quality control capabilities of different manufacturers.

•The difference in the quality of upstream chips received by different manufacturers. Generally speaking, the higher the shipment volume, the higher the quality of upstream electronic components received by the manufacturer. For example, the same 10G 80KM laser is different on the individual. Some receiving sensitivity can be close to -30dB, while some can only be about -24dB. When supplying, these individuals close to -30dB will be given priority to large manufacturers. As a result, the same optical modules of 10G and 80km can be used. On the lines with too much light loss, some optical modules can UP, while others can‘t or have serious packet loss.

•The real difference in the technical capabilities of manufacturers is usually in the high-end products, such as 100G/400G modules, especially long distance ones. In general, for new products, big manufacturers will invest in equipment and research and development in advance to accumulate technical advantages in advance. In the case of limited production capacity, upstream manufacturers will also give priority to providing chips and lasers to big manufacturers. Therefore, big manufacturers usually have at least one year ahead of small manufacturers in new products. For mature products, most vendors difference is not big, but the technology vendors that the cow force, can achieve perfection on some details of the technical parameters, such as in the temperature range, voltage range, receiving sensitivity on the parameters, such as a little higher than others, the advantage of difference, in general use environment is not to come out, but the contrast is obvious in harsh environment.