A QSFP56 port operates at 200 Gbps, utilizing four electrical lanes, each running at 50 Gbps with PAM4 signaling (4x50G). A common and standard breakout configuration for this port is to split it into two separate 100 Gbps interfaces. Each of these 100 Gbps interfaces uses two of the 50 Gbps lanes (2x50G). The physical connectors for these 100 GbE breakout ends are typically QSFP28, which is the standard form factor for 100 GbE transceivers. This configuration is supported by HPE Aruba Networking switches and is documented in their official transceiver and cable guides.

A. QSFP56 -> 4x 50 GbE QSFP28: While a 200G port can break out to four 50G interfaces, the correct connector form factor for the 50G end is SFP56, not QSFP28.

C. QSFP56 -> 8x 10 GbE SFP+: This is not a standard breakout configuration. A QSFP56 port has four electrical lanes, and a direct breakout to eight individual interfaces is not supported by standard cables.

D. QSFP56 -> 4x 25 GbE SFP28: This is the standard breakout configuration for a 100 GbE QSFP28 port, not a 200 GbE QSFP56 port. This would also underutilize the 200G port's capacity.

1. HPE Transceiver and Cable Guide (Volume 17

March 2024): This guide explicitly lists breakout cables for this configuration.

Page 10

Table "HPE Direct Attach Copper (DAC) Cables": Lists part number R8P12A

described as "HPE 200G QSFP56 to 2x100G QSFP28 3m Breakout Direct Attach Copper Cable". This directly confirms option B.

Page 10

Table "HPE Direct Attach Copper (DAC) Cables": Lists part number R8P15A

described as "HPE 200G QSFP56 to 4x50G SFP56 3m Breakout Direct Attach Copper Cable". This confirms that the correct form factor for 4x50G breakout is SFP56

invalidating option A.

2. HPE Aruba Networking CX 9300 Switch Series Data Sheet (6AA8-2183ENW

November 2023): This document details the capabilities of switches using these high-speed ports.

Page 2

"Product highlights" section

under "High-density connectivity": Mentions "Flexible

high-density 1/10/25/40/50/100/200/400GbE connectivity with breakout". It further specifies that the 32 QSFP-DD ports can be configured for "2x100GbE"

which is the breakout scenario described in option B.