Who is building USFP

Four companies have a public role in USFP so far. Cisco and NVIDIA say more partners are expected; we add a company here only once it, or Cisco and NVIDIA, announces what it is doing. A module maker that "will probably" build USFP isn't listed until it says so.

Announced USFP participants

• Cisco

  Co-developer

  Plans USFP for networks built on its Silicon One switch chips. Its optics business (Bill Gartner, who leads optical systems and optics, co-wrote the launch post) works on the modules. Cisco Blogs (Bill Gartner and Will Eatherton)

• NVIDIA

  Co-developer

  Plans USFP for Spectrum-X Ethernet switches and SuperNICs. Gilad Shainer, senior vice president, spoke for NVIDIA at launch. NVIDIA investor relations

• TE Connectivity

  Cages, connectors and modules

  Named as a partner building the cage and the new two-dimensional connector the module plugs into. Cisco Newsroom

• Amphenol

  Cages, connectors and modules

  Named as a partner on cages, connectors and modules. Amphenol also co-wrote the OSFP MSA white paper on OSFP1600 and OSFP-XD. Cisco Newsroom

Optical module makers

None has announced a USFP module yet. The modules themselves will most likely come from the companies that make OSFP optics today, once there is a specification to build to. When one announces samples or joins the MSA, it goes on this page with the source.

Makers and suppliers can tell us about USFP products, samples or MSA membership at [email protected]. Listings are free and based on what you've announced publicly; nobody pays to be listed or ranked.

The rival camps

• XPO. Led by Arista. Microsoft spoke in support at launch, and Counterpoint names Coherent and Lumentum among its backers. Counterpoint Research
• Open CPX. Founded by Ciena, Coherent, Marvell, Molex, Samtec and TeraHop, with 39 contributing companies (45 members in all). Open CPX MSA (Business Wire release)
• OSFP and OSFP-XD. The OSFP MSA, whose white paper was written by Amphenol and Arista with its members. OSFP MSA

Arista, the leader of XPO, isn't part of USFP, and Cisco and NVIDIA aren't part of XPO. Suppliers often back more than one format; Coherent is behind both XPO and Open CPX.