HPE R5Z83A 200GB QSFP56 MPO SR4 100M Transceiver

Overview

The HPE R5Z83A is a 200Gb QSFP56 SR4 optical transceiver built for short-reach multimode fiber links inside the data center — the module you spec when you need to connect switches, servers, or storage arrays across a row or a room without pulling single-mode fiber. Rated for 100 meters over OM4-class multimode cabling with an MPO connector, the R5Z83A fits standard leaf-spine and top-of-rack architectures where port density and cable management matter as much as raw throughput. This module slots into QSFP56 cages on supported HPE switching and server platforms, giving network architects a straightforward path to 200Gb links without redesigning the fiber plant.

Key Features

• 200Gb QSFP56 form factor: delivers 200 gigabit throughput per port in the same physical footprint as earlier QSFP generations, so you can upgrade link speed during a switch refresh without re-architecting rack layout or cable pathways.
• SR4 (Short Range 4-lane) optics: splits the 200Gb signal across four parallel lanes, which is what makes the MPO multi-fiber connector necessary — this is the standard approach for short-haul, high-bandwidth links between adjacent racks or within the same row.
• MPO connector: a single multi-fiber push-on connector replaces what would otherwise require multiple duplex LC pairs, simplifying trunk cabling and reducing the number of individual fiber terminations a technician has to manage during install or troubleshooting.
• 100-meter reach: covers the vast majority of intra-data-center runs — server-to-leaf-switch, leaf-to-spine within a hall — without stepping up to the cost of long-range single-mode optics. If your run exceeds 100m, this is not the right module; plan for a longer-reach variant instead.
• QSFP56 electrical interface: backward-compatible cage design means this module can be deployed into QSFP56-capable ports on supported HPE switch and server platforms without special adapters, easing mixed-speed rollouts during a phased upgrade.

Integration & Compatibility

Deploy the R5Z83A into QSFP56 ports on supported HPE networking and server hardware where 200Gb short-reach connectivity is required. Because it uses a standard MPO interface, it pairs directly with OM4 multimode trunk cabling already common in structured cabling plans built for 100G/200G migrations — worth checking against your existing fiber plant before ordering, since MPO polarity and fiber count must match on both ends of the link. For broader network planning, review current network switches and pair this transceiver with a documented PoE and network planning guide if you're scoping a mixed camera and data-center uplink deployment. Architects standardizing on a single vendor stack should also browse the full HPE catalog for compatible switching hardware.

What's in the Box

The R5Z83A ships as a single hot-pluggable transceiver module. No mounting hardware or cabling is included — MPO trunk cable and patch cords are ordered separately based on your run length and fiber count.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What connector type does the HPE R5Z83A use?

A: The R5Z83A uses an MPO (multi-fiber push-on) connector, standard for parallel-lane SR4 optics running over multimode fiber.

Q: What is the maximum reach of the R5Z83A?

A: The R5Z83A is rated for 100 meters over multimode fiber, suitable for intra-data-center and intra-row links.

Q: What speed does the R5Z83A support?

A: The R5Z83A is a 200Gb QSFP56 transceiver.

Q: Is the R5Z83A a QSFP56 or QSFP+ module?

A: The R5Z83A is a QSFP56 form factor module, designed for 200Gb SR4 short-reach links.

Marty Allison

The R5Z83A is a straightforward spec once you know your fiber plant: 200Gb over QSFP56, SR4 optics, MPO connector, 100-meter reach on multimode. I get asked about this module mostly during switch refreshes where someone's jumping from 100G to 200G and needs to know if the existing cabling survives the upgrade.

Technical Highlights:

• 200Gb QSFP56: doubles per-port throughput versus a 100G QSFP28 module in the same physical cage style, useful when you're consolidating uplinks instead of adding more fiber runs.
• SR4 4-lane optics: parallelizes the signal across four lanes rather than pushing it down a single wavelength pair, which is why this needs an MPO connector instead of duplex LC.
• 100m reach on MPO/multimode: covers standard intra-row and intra-hall distances — this is not a campus or building-to-building module, so don't spec it for anything past 100m.

Deployment Considerations:

• Confirm MPO polarity method (A/B/C) matches on both ends of the trunk before pulling cable — a mismatched polarity kills the link even though every individual fiber tests fine.
• This is a multimode module — if a future run needs to exceed 100m or move to single-mode backbone, you'll need a different optic, not this one.

Right fit for a data-center leaf-spine refresh moving from 100G to 200G within the same row, where the existing OM4 MPO trunk cabling can be reused instead of re-pulled.