C8R24A HPE SFP+ Transceiver 16GBPS LC Connector MMF 300m 850nm Fiber

HPE C8R24A MSA 2040 Transceiver Kit

The HPE C8R24A MSA 2040 16Gb SW FC SFP+ 4-pack Transceiver Module is engineered to deliver high-speed fibre channel connectivity for enterprise storage and networking environments. This wired solution ensures reliable data transfer and seamless integration with HPE systems.

General Information

• Brand: Hewlett Packard Enterprise
• Part Number: C8R24A
• Device Type: SFP+ Transceiver Module

Technical Specifications

• Wired fibre channel interface
• Stable and secure data transmission

Cabling Type

• Fibre Channel cabling for enterprise-grade performance

Data Link Protocol

• 16Gb Fibre Channel (SW)

Data Transfer Rate

• Up to 14.025 Gbps throughput

Expansion and Connectivity

• 1 x 16Gb Fibre Channel (SW)

Key Benefits

• High-speed fibre channel connectivity for storage networks
• Reliable wired technology for consistent performance
• Compact SFP+ design for easy integration
• Optimized for HPE MSA 2040 systems

HPE C8R24A 16Gbps Fibre Channel SFP+ Transceiver Overview

The HPE C8R24A 16Gbps Fibre Channel SFP+ with LC Connector Multi-mode Fiber 300m Range 850nm Wavelength Transceiver is a high-performance optical networking component designed for enterprise-grade Storage Area Networks (SANs) and high-speed data center environments. Engineered to support 16Gbps Fibre Channel connectivity, this transceiver module plays a critical role in enabling fast, reliable, and low-latency data transfer between storage systems, servers, and networking switches. Built on Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus (SFP+) architecture, it ensures compact integration with modern HPE storage and switching platforms while maintaining high signal integrity across multi-mode fiber infrastructure.

This transceiver is widely deployed in mission-critical environments where data throughput, resilience, and predictable latency are essential. It is optimized for short to medium-range optical transmission up to 300 meters over OM3 or OM4 multi-mode fiber using an 850nm wavelength, making it highly suitable for intra-data center connectivity and rack-to-rack communication.

Core Technical Specifications and Engineering Design

16Gbps Fibre Channel High-Speed Transmission

At the heart of the HPE C8R24A module lies its 16 Gigabits per second Fibre Channel capability, which is designed to support modern storage networking demands. This speed allows enterprise systems to handle large-scale virtualization, cloud workloads, database replication, and high-frequency transactional environments without bottlenecks. Fibre Channel technology ensures lossless transport, which is especially important for storage traffic where packet integrity is critical.

The 16Gbps throughput provides a significant performance upgrade over legacy 8Gbps and 4Gbps solutions, enabling organizations to consolidate infrastructure while still meeting increasing data demands. This improvement reduces congestion in storage fabrics and enhances overall application responsiveness.

SFP+ Form Factor and Hot-Swappable Design

The SFP+ form factor of the HPE C8R24A transceiver ensures compactness and flexibility in dense networking environments. Designed for hot-swappable operation, it allows administrators to install or replace modules without powering down critical infrastructure, minimizing downtime in enterprise operations.

This modular approach provides scalability, enabling organizations to expand their Fibre Channel networks incrementally. The standardized SFP+ interface also ensures compatibility with a wide range of HPE switches, directors, and storage arrays, simplifying procurement and maintenance processes.

850nm Wavelength Multi-Mode Fiber Optimization

Operating at an 850nm wavelength, this transceiver is optimized for multi-mode fiber (MMF) environments. The wavelength is specifically chosen for efficient short-reach optical transmission, balancing performance and cost-effectiveness. Multi-mode fiber systems benefit from larger core diameters, which allow easier alignment and lower installation complexity compared to single-mode fiber.

The 850nm VCSEL (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser) technology used in this module provides stable optical performance, low power consumption, and consistent signal output, making it ideal for dense data center deployments where energy efficiency is a priority.

LC Duplex Connector Interface

The LC connector interface integrated into the HPE C8R24A ensures precise optical alignment and minimal insertion loss. LC connectors are widely adopted in enterprise environments due to their compact size and reliable locking mechanism. The duplex configuration allows simultaneous transmission and reception of data, supporting full-duplex Fibre Channel communication.

This connector type enhances installation reliability and reduces the risk of signal degradation caused by improper alignment or physical stress on the fiber cable.

Fibre Channel Architecture and Data Center Integration

Role in Storage Area Networks

The HPE C8R24A transceiver is a fundamental building block in Fibre Channel Storage Area Networks. SANs are designed to provide dedicated, high-speed networks for storage traffic, separating it from general-purpose LAN traffic. This separation ensures predictable performance and improved reliability for critical storage workloads.

In SAN architectures, this transceiver facilitates communication between host bus adapters (HBAs), Fibre Channel switches, and storage arrays. Its 16Gbps capacity ensures that data-intensive operations such as backup, replication, and virtualization are executed efficiently.

Redundancy and High Availability Considerations

Enterprise SAN environments rely heavily on redundancy to ensure continuous availability. The HPE C8R24A supports dual-path or multi-path configurations, allowing failover mechanisms to maintain connectivity even in the event of link or hardware failure. This redundancy is essential in environments such as financial systems, healthcare databases, and cloud infrastructure where downtime is not acceptable.

Data Center Fabric Optimization

Modern data centers utilize highly optimized network fabrics to ensure seamless data flow between compute and storage resources. The integration of 16Gbps Fibre Channel transceivers like the HPE C8R24A contributes to reduced latency, improved throughput, and better overall fabric utilization.

By enabling high-speed interconnects between switches and storage arrays, this transceiver helps eliminate performance bottlenecks and supports scalable storage architectures.

Optical Performance and Transmission Characteristics

300-Meter Transmission Range Capability

One of the defining features of the HPE C8R24A transceiver is its ability to support transmission distances up to 300 meters over OM3 or OM4 multi-mode fiber. This range is sufficient for most intra-building and intra-data center applications, including cross-rack and cross-room connectivity.

The 300-meter reach ensures flexibility in data center layout design, allowing architects to optimize rack placement without compromising connectivity performance.

Signal Integrity and Loss Management

Maintaining signal integrity in high-speed optical networks is crucial. The HPE C8R24A incorporates advanced error reduction techniques and stable optical emission characteristics to minimize attenuation and dispersion. This ensures that data packets are transmitted with minimal error rates across the supported distance range.

The use of high-quality optical components and precision engineering ensures consistent performance even in densely populated network environments.

Power Efficiency and Heat Management

Energy efficiency is a critical factor in modern data center design. The HPE C8R24A transceiver is engineered for low power consumption while maintaining high performance output. Reduced power usage directly contributes to lower operational costs and improved thermal management within networking equipment.

Efficient heat dissipation ensures stable long-term operation, reducing the risk of thermal-induced performance degradation.

Compatibility and Ecosystem Integration

HPE Storage and Switch Compatibility

The HPE C8R24A is designed to integrate seamlessly within the HPE ecosystem, including Fibre Channel switches, directors, and storage arrays. Its compatibility ensures that organizations can deploy it across existing infrastructures without complex configuration changes.

This interoperability reduces deployment time and ensures consistent performance across heterogeneous storage environments.

Multi-Vendor Fibre Channel Environments

Although optimized for HPE systems, this transceiver is often used in multi-vendor environments where standardized Fibre Channel protocols are implemented. Its adherence to industry standards ensures compatibility with a wide range of SAN equipment from different manufacturers.

Firmware and Diagnostics Integration

Advanced diagnostic capabilities allow administrators to monitor optical performance metrics such as transmit power, receive power, and temperature. These metrics are essential for proactive maintenance and troubleshooting within enterprise networks.

Performance Optimization in Enterprise Environments

Latency Reduction Strategies

The 16Gbps speed of the HPE C8R24A significantly reduces latency in storage communications. Lower latency translates into faster application response times, improved virtual machine performance, and more efficient database operations.

Bandwidth Aggregation and Scaling

In large-scale SAN deployments, multiple transceivers are often aggregated to increase total bandwidth. The scalability of Fibre Channel architecture allows enterprises to expand their infrastructure without redesigning existing systems.

Workload Distribution Efficiency

Balanced workload distribution across Fibre Channel links ensures optimal utilization of network resources. The HPE C8R24A contributes to this balance by providing stable and predictable data transmission performance.

Use Cases Across Enterprise Infrastructure

Virtualized Data Center Environments

Virtualization platforms require high-speed storage access to support dynamic workload allocation. The HPE C8R24A enables efficient communication between hypervisors and storage systems, ensuring smooth virtual machine performance.

Cloud Storage and Hybrid Infrastructure

In hybrid cloud environments, the transceiver supports rapid data movement between on-premises storage and cloud-connected systems. This ensures seamless integration between different layers of infrastructure.

High-Performance Database Systems

Database applications benefit significantly from low-latency Fibre Channel connectivity. The high throughput of this transceiver supports fast query execution, replication, and backup operations.