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OSFP Connector System

The Octal Small Form Factor Pluggable (OSFP) Connector System provides up to 224Gbps PAM-4 per lane, single- or dual-port, 8- or 16-lane connectivity. These input/output (I/O) solutions support aggregate data rates up to 1.6Tbps, helping data centers meet AI-driven capacity demands with minimal space impact. OSFP connectors reduce data center engineering challenges by improving thermal management while meeting IEEE industry standards and OSFP MSA specifications. Multiple connectors, cages and cable options offer flexibility and support high-density data center applications.

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Data Rate Interface Design Lanes
224, 112, 56Gbps PAM-4 SMT connectors and cages, BiPass, passive direct-attach cables (DACs), active electrical cables (AECs), active copper cables (ACCs), active optical cables (AOCs) 8, 16

High-Speed I/O Connectors.

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High-Speed EMI Cages

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Stacked Products

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Features and Benefits

Data centers need to upgrade capacity to meet AI-driven demands while addressing the thermal challenges of high-performance systems. To enable these capacity upgrades, interconnect solutions must provide reliable high-speed connectivity, including mechanical durability and EMI resistance, to deliver consistent signal integrity in high-density environments.

Connector solutions must deliver the required data rates for increased AI-driven demands while balancing size, optimizing heat dissipation and minimizing heat-related failures. Rugged, precision-engineered designs with EMI shielding help improve system operation, reduce downtime and extend the product lifespan. Different port configurations, and the ability to integrate with various cable types, simplify sourcing and reduce engineering challenges while streamlining design and installation work.

OSFP connectors from Molex provide a standardized interface that allows installers to choose the I/O technology that best fits their needs. These connectors combine a compact form factor with good airflow and thermal management, supporting high-speed and high-performance data center applications. Compatible with previous-generation 56 and 112Gbps mating interfaces, the 224Gbps design meets IEEE standards and 224G MSA specifications, making upgrades easier. OSFP connectors enable use with AEC, DAC, ACC and optical cables while offering a range of port configurations, enabling customers to optimize functionality. Robust construction with EMI shielding and durable housings delivers long-term reliability and minimizes system downtime.

Backward-Compatible High-Density Signal Interface

OSFP surface-mount technology (SMT) connectors support up to 16 lanes of 224Gbps PAM-4 in the two-by-one stacked variant or the XD (extra-density) variant. These connectors provide a compact interface that is compatible with previous-generation 56Gbps and 112Gbps mating interfaces to enable upgrades without significant design and infrastructure changes.

Data Rates up to 224Gbps per Lane

The OSFP Connector System offers a complete solution for 224Gbps PAM-4 data rates, with single-port (one-by-one), stacked-port (two-by-one) and high-density XD versions available. The high-speed, high-density design can interface with AEC, DAC, ACC and optical modules, simplifying system integration and enhancing flexibility.

Improved Thermal Performance

Hexagonal ventilation on cages complies with and exceeds OSFP MSA wattage requirements, helping mitigate thermal issues and prevent heat-related failures in enterprise environments.

Optimizes port density
Single-port (eight-lane) and dual-port (16-lane) OSFP and OSFP-XD variants maximize space usage and support higher data rates, enabling capacity upgrades without the need for additional space.

Improves signal integrity
Tight tolerance control for terminal width and spacing and efficient grounding help prevent crosstalk and maximize signal quality.

Streamlines upgrades
The mating interface is compatible with previous-generation 56 and 112Gbps designs, reducing the engineering work needed to provide AI-driven capacity upgrades.

Provides enhanced EMI performance
Improved EMI shielding helps prevent EMI issues in high-density environments.

Enhances design flexibility
Single, dual and multi light-pipe versions are available along with air- and liquid-cooling designs (heat sinks and cold plates), reducing engineering challenges by offering flexible options to support a large variety of applications.

Ensures robust reliability
A robust connector structure, laser-welded terminal insertion and sturdy EMI spring fingers provide mechanical reliability and limit the risk of mating errors or connection failures.

Applications by Industry

224 Gbps-PAM4 High-Speed Data Center Technology
Cloud infrastructure
Edge-computing infrastructure
Enterprise infrastructure
High-density switches

224G
AI and machine learning
High-performance computing
Hyperscale data centers
Open compute project applications
PCIe systems

This is not a definitive list of applications for this product. It represents some of the more common uses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are OSFP connectors?

Octal Small Form Factor Pluggable (OSFP) connectors are high-density, high-speed data input/output (I/O) connectors that support aggregate data rates up to 1.6Tbps. These connectors support 56Gbps, 112Gbps and 224Gbps PAM-4 speeds and comply with the OSFP MSA specification and IEEE standards. Molex is a leading supplier of next-generation OSFP connector solutions.

For what applications is the OSFP Connector System suited?

The OSFP Connector System is ideal for hyperscale data centers, AI and machine learning clusters, and high-performance computing environments that provide massive bandwidth while relying on efficient cooling.

How much bandwidth does the OSFP system support?

OSFP connectors support data transmissions of up to 1,600Gbps per module, using eight 224G PAM-4 lanes, and are scalable to support 3.2Tbps with OSFP stacked connectors.

How is OSFP different from QSFP-DD or other form factors?

OSFP connectors are slightly larger than QSFP-DD connectors but offer increased thermal performance and signal integrity at high data rates. The OSFP system supports higher-power modules and is particularly well suited to ultra high-speed applications.

What cable types are compatible with the OSFP Connector System?

The OSFP Connector System supports a wide range of interconnect cables, including direct-attach cables (DACs), active cables (AECs, ACCs and AOCs) and pluggable transceivers.