This artical guide sorts mainstream real‑world deployment scenarios for optical transceivers, covering data‑centers, mobile base‑stations, SAN/NAS storage, CWDM/DWDM wavelength‑division systems and 5G bearer networks. It includes typical transceiver‑model recommendations, key selection considerations and common engineering pitfall.

Optical module is mainly used in the field of data communication. Its function is to realize the mutual conversion of photoelectric signals. Due to the rise of big data, blockchain, cloud computing, Internet of things, artificial intelligence and 5G, data traffic has increased rapidly.The optical interconnection of data center and mobile communication has become a research hotspot in the optical communication industry. Next, ETU-LINK will introduce in detail what fields the next optical module can be applied to.

1.How Are Optical Modules Deployed In Modern Data‑Center Networks?

A large number of network switches and server clusters are placed in the host room of the data center. They are the core of generic cabling and information network equipment and the data aggregation center of information network system. For the connection between servers, switches and between servers and switches, the optical module (direct copper cable, active optical cable), optical fiber patch cord and other transmission carriers of ETU-LINK need to be used to realize the data interworking.

With the increasing market demand for data transmission, IDC machine room can enhance the business competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises. The diversity of interconnection scenarios in the data center and the personalization of customer needs have spawned different types of network equipment and transmission carriers (active optical cable, direct copper cable, optical module and optical fiber patch cord ). Therefore, when selecting relevant equipment or accessories, users need to make choices according to the actual application scenarios.

2. What Optical‑Modules Are Used For 4G / Legacy Mobile Communication Base‑Stations?

The mobile communication base stations of operators also need optical modules to realize the interconnection between devices.The base stations have RRU and BBU devices. In application, we need to connect the links of these two devices, which requires our optical modules and optical fiber patch cord. In 4G network, the devices used to connect BBU and RRU are mainly 1.25G optical module, 2.5G optical module, 6G optical module and 10G optical module.

‑ Most 4G CPRI links use duplex dual‑fiber optical‑modules; BiDi single‑fiber modules can save fiber‑core resources when field fiber‑resources are insufficient.
‑ Outdoor cabinet deployment needs industrial‑temperature optical‑modules (‑40℃ ~+85℃), ordinary commercial‑temperature modules cannot adapt to large outdoor temperature fluctuations.
‑ Transmission distance selection: 2km for near‑site base‑station, 10km /40km for remote‑coverage scenarios.

3. What Is The Difference Between Optical‑Modules For SAN And NAS Storage Networks?

The main function of SAN / NAS storage network is to store data. Among them, San network is mainly composed of servers, fibre channel switches, storage devices and transmission carriers (optical modules and fiber jumpers); NAS storage network is mainly composed of NAS memory, switch, terminal equipment (computer), transmission carrier (optical module, optical fiber jumper). It should be noted that the San network uses fibre channel optical modules, which need to support FC fibre channel protocol, while the optical modules used in NAS storage network only need to comply with Ethernet protocol.

4. How To Deploy CWDM Passive Wavelength‑Division Multiplexing System?

Passive wavelength division system is mainly used in MAN, backbone network and WAN. CWDM optical module and DWDM optical module are commonly used. Among them, the CWDM optical module adopts CWDM technology, which can combine optical signals of different wavelengths through an external wavelength division multiplexer and transmit them through an optical fiber, so as to save optical fiber resources. At the same time, the receiver needs to use a wavelength decomposition multiplexer to decompose the complex optical signal.

The channel spacing of passive wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) technology is 20nm, and the working wavelength is 1270-1610nm. The CWDM optical module with 40km and above adopts the back wave (1470-1610nm), and the CWDM optical module with transmission distance of 10km and 20km adopts the full band (1270-1610nm).

CWDM optical module is usually used in CWDM system, which has lower cost than DWDM optical module and is widely used. In a CWDM system, the CWDM optical module is inserted into the switch, and the CWDM optical module is connected with the CWDM demultiplexer or OADM optical add drop multiplexing by patch cord.

2. SAN/NAS Storage Network

The main function of SAN / NAS storage network is to store data. Among them, San network is mainly composed of servers, fibre channel switches, storage devices and transmission carriers (optical modules and fiber jumpers); NAS storage network is mainly composed of NAS memory, switch, terminal equipment (computer), transmission carrier (optical module, optical fiber jumper). It should be noted that the San network uses fibre channel optical modules, which need to support FC fibre channel protocol, while the optical modules used in NAS storage network only need to comply with Ethernet protocol.

The diagram of NAS storage network is shown below

The schematic diagram of SAN storage network is shown below:

5. What Optical‑Modules Are Required For 5G Carrier Network?

The arrival of 5G Era has indeed brought a new round of growth space to the optical module industry. 5G carrier Network is generally divided into metro access layer, metro convergence layer, metro core layer / provincial trunk line to realize the forward and middle return functions of 5G services. Among them, the equipment at each layer mainly depends on optical modules to realize interconnection.

5G forward network mainly uses 25G SFP28 (eCPRI / CPRI) optical module, including duplex bidirectional, simplex BiDi, 25G WDM (including tunable wavelength) module and other schemes.

5G, 25G, 50G, 100G, 200G and 400G optical modules are mainly used for 5G medium return.It supporting various interface protocols such as CPRI, eCPRI, Ethernet and OTN, as well as modulation formats such as NRZ, PAM4 and DMT.

The growing demand for optical modules mainly depends on the data communication market and telecommunications market. In today's data age, optical modules are bound to attract new development opportunities.

ETU‑LINK Optical‑Module Product Portfolio For Multi‑Scenario Deployment

ETU‑‑LINK provides full‑series optical‑transceivers covering 1G‑800G rate grades: including SFP, SFP+, SFP28, QSFP+, QSFP28, QSFP‑‑DD packaging types. Product lines cover data‑center, 4G/5G telecom, CWDM/DWDM wavelength‑division‑system, industrial‑network scenarios. We supply both commercial‑temperature(0‑70℃) and industrial‑temperature(-40~+85℃) versions. All modules pass real‑machine interoperability verification for mainstream brand switches, storage and telecom equipment. Custom EEPROM programming and OEM private‑label service are available for system‑integrator bulk‑orders. Matching accessories: various‑spec fiber patch cords, DAC/AOC cables, fiber‑cleaning and inspection‑tool‑kits.

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