HPE R0Z30A 100G QSFP28 CWDM4 2km Single-Mode Fiber Transceiver

Overview

The HPE Aruba R0Z30A is a 100G QSFP28 optical transceiver built for campus and enterprise backbone links where you need reliable, standards-compliant 100 Gigabit Ethernet over single-mode fiber at distances up to 2 km. It runs the CWDM4 MSA wavelength grid — four parallel lanes at 1271, 1291, 1311, and 1331 nm aggregated over a single duplex LC connection — making it a practical fit for intra-building and campus inter-building runs on existing G.652 SMF plant. If your HPE Aruba network switches have QSFP28 ports and you're running SMF between IDF and MDF closets or connecting adjacent buildings within 2 km, R0Z30A is the transceiver to evaluate first.

Key Features

• 103.125 Gbps line rate over duplex LC: Full 100G Ethernet throughput delivered over a standard duplex LC/UPC connector on G.652 SMF — no special fiber plant needed. If you already have SMF pulled between closets, this module works without re-cabling.
• 2 km maximum reach with 3.5 dB link budget: The 3.5 dB average link budget accommodates a reasonable number of connectors and splices on a campus run. At 2 km, this covers most intra-campus backbone scenarios without requiring amplification or expensive coherent optics.
• CWDM4 four-lane architecture (1271/1291/1311/1331 nm): Four CWDM lanes aggregated over duplex fiber means no MTP/MPO fanouts and no parallel fiber count concerns. You get 100G over two fibers — the same footprint as a 10G link.
• DML transmitters with PIN photodiode receivers: DML (Directly Modulated Laser) transmitters paired with PIN photodiodes deliver the optical performance needed for 100G NRZ modulation at CWDM4 MSA power levels, with launch power ranging -6.5 to +2.5 dBm per lane and receiver sensitivity down to -10 dBm per lane.
• Host FEC support: Forward Error Correction is handled on the host side per the CWDM4 MSA Technical Specification, offloading FEC processing from the module itself. This keeps the module's power budget lean — 3.5 W maximum — while maintaining link reliability.
• DDM/DOM diagnostic monitoring: Digital Diagnostic Monitoring gives you real-time per-lane visibility into TX power, RX power, temperature, voltage, and bias current from the switch CLI. On a campus backbone, this is the difference between proactively catching a degrading fiber patch and troubleshooting a mystery link flap at 2 a.m.
• 3.5 W maximum power consumption on a +3.3V single supply: At 3.5 W, this module won't stress QSFP28 port power budgets on HPE Aruba switching platforms. Compare this to 100G LR4 modules that commonly draw 5–6 W — the difference matters when you're populating a 32-port line card.
• Commercial 0°C to 70°C operating range: Rated for standard commercial temperature environments (0–70°C), which covers conditioned IDF/MDF closets and data center environments. Not rated for industrial or outdoor uncontrolled enclosures — plan accordingly.
• Broad compliance stack: CE, RoHS, Class 1 FDA, IEC60825-1 laser safety, 100G CLR4 Alliance, 100G CWDM4 MSA, QSFP28 MSA (SFF-8636 and SFF-8665) — the full set of certifications required for enterprise procurement and international deployment.

Integration and Compatibility

The R0Z30A carries the HPE Aruba EEPROM identifier, which means AOS-CX recognizes the module as a supported HPE Aruba transceiver and brings the port up without requiring the allow-unsupported-transceiver global configuration workaround. This matters operationally — unsupported-transceiver mode disables DOM visibility on some AOS-CX versions, so having the correct EEPROM coding preserves your DDM readouts.

Compatible with HPE Aruba Networking CX campus switches with QSFP28 ports that support CWDM4 optics under AOS-CX. The specific chassis families and minimum AOS-CX firmware versions vary across the HPE Aruba transceiver catalog — verify against the HPE Aruba AOS-CX Transceiver Guide or the HPE Aruba compatibility matrix for your specific platform before ordering. This module also supports 4x 32G Fiber Channel (112.2 Gbps) and OTU4 (112 Gbps) OTN applications, making it usable in multi-protocol environments beyond pure Ethernet switching.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the R0Z30A require the allow-unsupported-transceiver command on AOS-CX switches?

A: No. The R0Z30A carries the HPE Aruba EEPROM identifier, so AOS-CX recognizes it as a supported transceiver and the port comes up normally without that global command. This also preserves full DDM/DOM visibility from the switch CLI.

Q: What fiber type does the R0Z30A require?

A: Single-mode fiber (SMF), specifically G.652 standard SMF. It uses a duplex LC/UPC connector. It is not compatible with multimode fiber.

Q: What is the maximum link distance for the R0Z30A?

A: 2 km on G.652 SMF with a 3.5 dB average link budget. This budget accommodates connectors and splices typical of a campus backbone run, but you should calculate your actual insertion loss before deploying at distances close to the limit.

Q: Does the R0Z30A support Digital Diagnostic Monitoring (DDM/DOM)?

A: Yes. DDM/DOM is supported, providing real-time per-lane readouts of TX power, RX power, temperature, voltage, and bias current from the switch management interface.

Q: Is the R0Z30A limited to 100G Ethernet, or does it support other protocols?

A: The R0Z30A supports 100G Ethernet (103.125 Gbps), 4x 32G Fiber Channel (112.2 Gbps), and OTU4 OTN applications (112 Gbps). Protocol support on any given platform depends on the host switch or router firmware and configuration.

Q: What are the operating temperature limits for the R0Z30A?

A: The module is rated for commercial temperature range: 0°C to 70°C operating, -40°C to 85°C storage. It is not rated for extended industrial or outdoor uncontrolled environments — deploy only in conditioned spaces within this range.

Jerry Tildsen

The R0Z30A is the right call for HPE Aruba AOS-CX environments where you need verified EEPROM coding — not just a generic CWDM4 module that forces the allow-unsupported-transceiver workaround and silently kills your DOM readouts. At 3.5 W max draw on a +3.3V single supply, it sits well within QSFP28 port power envelopes even on fully-loaded line cards, which matters when you're speccing a high-density campus core.

Technical Highlights:

• CWDM4 four-lane wavelength plan (1271/1291/1311/1331 nm): Four discrete CWDM lanes aggregated over duplex LC means you get 100G on two fibers — same physical footprint as a legacy 10G link. No MPO, no parallel fiber count headaches on existing SMF plant.
• 3.5 dB average link budget at 2 km: With launch power ranging from -6.5 to +2.5 dBm per lane and receiver sensitivity down to -10 dBm, you have real margin to work with on runs that include a handful of connectors and splices. Calculate your actual plant insertion loss — don't assume the full 2 km always works on a patchy legacy run.
• DDM/DOM with host FEC: Real-time per-lane power, temperature, and bias diagnostics are available from the AOS-CX CLI. Host-side FEC keeps the module lean at 3.5 W while maintaining link integrity per the CWDM4 MSA spec.

Deployment Considerations:

• Verify your specific AOS-CX chassis family and minimum firmware version against the HPE Aruba Transceiver Guide before ordering — CWDM4 support varies by platform and AOS-CX release, and the compatibility matrix is the authoritative source.
• Commercial temperature rating (0°C to 70°C) means this module belongs in conditioned IDF/MDF closets only — not in outdoor enclosures, rooftop cabinets, or unconditioned utility spaces where ambient temperatures can exceed that ceiling.

Best-fit scenario: campus backbone links between conditioned wiring closets on existing G.652 SMF plant, under 2 km, where AOS-CX EEPROM recognition and full DDM visibility are operational requirements rather than nice-to-haves.