...

Introduction

Part of the 400GE,100GE and 40GE optical interfaces on Pica8 switch can be used as a single interface or split into four independent interfaces. The 40GE interface can be split into four independent and logical 10 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces. The 100GE interface can be split into four independent and logical 25 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces or four 10 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces.The 400GE interface can be split into four 100 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces.

After a single interface is split into Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, the 10GE optical interfaces or the 25GE optical interfaces supports the same configurations and features as other non-breakout optical interface except that the interface is named in a different way. If the port name of the optical interface is xe-1/1/n before port breakout; however, after port breakout the port name of the four interfaces are xe-1/1/n.1, xe-1/1/n.2, xe-1/1 /n.3 and xe- 1/1/n.4.

...

After the interface is split, you need to use a breakout cable to connect to the device at the other end. For example, as shown in the following figure, a 40GE interface must use a breakout cable to connect to the device at the other end after being split into 4 x 10GE interfaces. If the connected peer interface is also a split 40GE interface, the interfaces on both ends can be plugged into the same type of 40GE optical module and connected by one optical fiber instead of using a breakout cable.

Figure 1. The breakout cable

Image Modified

Configuring Port Breakout and Port Merge

We can configure port breakout for the the 40GE, 100GE or 100GE 400GE interfaces of the switch, the procedures are described as below.

...