Cisco Compatible CVR-CFP2-QSFP28
CFP2 to QSFP28G adapter
Product Highlights
As 100G networks mature, many organizations find themselves managing platforms with a mix of CFP2 and QSFP28 port types. Standardizing on a single optics form factor simplifies inventory, reduces procurement complexity, and lowers overall cost — but legacy CFP2 slots can make that difficult.
The CVR-CFP2-QSFP28 solves this challenge by converting a CFP2 port to accept a standard QSFP28 transceiver module. This Cisco compatible adapter enables you to use widely available, cost-effective QSFP28 optics in equipment that only offers CFP2 interfaces, providing a seamless bridge between form factors without sacrificing 100G performance.
Designed as a hot-pluggable, low-power converter, the CVR-CFP2-QSFP28 draws less than 1.8W and supports both 100G Ethernet and OTU4 data rates. It is fully compliant with CFP2 MSA and QSFP28 MSA specifications, ensuring reliable integration across multi-vendor environments. Whether you're interconnecting data center switches, service provider routers, or optical transport platforms, this adapter delivers the flexibility to unify your optics strategy around the QSFP28 form factor while protecting your investment in existing CFP2-equipped hardware.
Features & Benefits
Form Factor Conversion
The CVR-CFP2-QSFP28 converts a CFP2 port to accept a QSFP28 transceiver, enabling usage of the same optics form factor across multiple platforms deployed in your network. This eliminates the need to stock separate CFP2 and QSFP28 optics inventories, reducing spare parts overhead and simplifying procurement.
Low Power Consumption
With power dissipation under 1.8W, this adapter consumes significantly less power than a native CFP2 optical module. Lower thermal output also reduces cooling demands in dense chassis deployments, contributing to overall energy savings in the data center.
Hot-Pluggable & Easy to Deploy
The CVR-CFP2-QSFP28 is a hot-pluggable module that can be installed or removed without disrupting other services on the platform. Simply insert the adapter into a CFP2 slot, plug in your QSFP28 transceiver, and the link comes up — no complex configuration required.
MSA Standards Compliance
Fully compliant with both CFP2 MSA and QSFP28 MSA specifications, this adapter ensures broad interoperability across standards-based networking equipment. This compliance guarantees predictable electrical and mechanical behavior in multi-vendor environments.
100G Ethernet & OTU4 Support
The adapter supports both 100G Ethernet and OTU4 data rates, making it suitable for enterprise data center interconnects as well as service provider optical transport networks. This dual-rate capability provides deployment flexibility across diverse network architectures.
Deployment Scenarios
Data Center Interconnect (DCI)
Connect data center switches and routers that have CFP2 ports to remote sites using widely available and cost-effective QSFP28 LR4 or ER4 optics. The CVR-CFP2-QSFP28 adapter bridges the form factor gap, enabling standardized 100G optics across your DCI infrastructure.
Service Provider Optical Transport
Service providers operating platforms with CFP2 interfaces can leverage the OTU4 support of this adapter to deploy QSFP28 coherent or direct-detect optics. This simplifies sparing and allows a gradual migration to QSFP28-native platforms without replacing existing chassis.
Multi-Vendor Network Standardization
In networks with equipment from multiple vendors — some with CFP2 ports, others with QSFP28 — this adapter lets you standardize on a single QSFP28 optics inventory. Fewer SKUs to manage means lower carrying costs and faster mean time to repair.
Legacy Platform Extension
Extend the useful life of CFP2-equipped routers and switches by enabling them to use next-generation QSFP28 optics. This avoids premature hardware refresh cycles and maximizes the return on your existing infrastructure investment.
General
Performance
Power
Environmental
Compliance
Physical
Compatibility Notes
This is a Cisco Compatible (third-party) adapter module programmed to operate in Cisco platforms that support CFP2 interfaces. It is not manufactured by Cisco Systems, Inc. Verify that your specific platform and software version support CFP2-to-QSFP28 conversion before ordering. Common Cisco platforms with CFP2 ports include certain ASR 9000 series line cards (e.g., A9K-MPA-2X100GE) and NCS series modules — always confirm compatibility with your platform's transceiver compatibility matrix.
Downloads & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
| Part Number | Product | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| CVR-CFP-QSFP28 | CFP to QSFP28 100G Adapter | Converts a full-size CFP port (not CFP2) to QSFP28 — use when your platform has CFP rather than CFP2 slots |
| CVR-CFP2-100G | Cisco CFP2 to QSFP28 100G Adapter (OEM) | Cisco original/OEM version of the CFP2 to QSFP28 adapter — higher cost but carries Cisco branding and TAC support |
| CVR-QSFP28-SFP28 | QSFP28 to SFP28 Adapter | Converts a QSFP28 port to accept an SFP28 transceiver for 25G connectivity — different conversion direction |
| CVR-QSFP-SFP10G | QSFP+ to SFP+ 10G Adapter | Converts a 40G QSFP+ port to accept a 10G SFP+ module — for 10G/40G environments rather than 100G |