Hi,

yep, that's the right way to work cleanly, just add a «special patch panel» instead of dealing with plenty of additional wires.

We use such method to do 10GE with routers modules full of QSFP+ configured as 4x10. On our side we went for a modular Huber+Suhner solution, 1 U with a maximum of 18 MTP (from 18 QSFP+) internally wired to 72 LC duplex.
I searched a bit before choosing this, it looks like this was (still is ?) the denser solution.

They are divided in modules of 3 MTP to 12 LC-duplex (wired accordingly to the QSFP+ / MTP8 pairing):
https://ecatalog.hubersuhner.com/product/E-Catalog/Fiber-optics/Fiber-management-systems/Modules/ITD-12-LCUD-03-08CF-SM-NS-00WW

They go inside some various chassis, we use their 1U one than can host 6 of such modules:
https://ecatalog.hubersuhner.com/product/E-Catalog/Fiber-optics/Fiber-management-systems/Chassis/IANOS-STD-CHASSIS-FLX-1U-2G-T4

We use them since 2017: https://twitter.com/OBenghozi/status/885528976801837057


regards,
Olivier

Le 9 janv. 2020 à 17:29, Baldur Norddahl <baldur.norddahl@gmail.com> a écrit :

 Hello

In my opinion the "nice" way of breaking out QSFP into 10G is something like this:


40GBASE-PLR4 to 10GBASE-LR Breakout Panel 1U Rack-Mount, 24x LC Quad, 12x MTP Elite (0.35dB IL), Single Mode

You connect your QSFP module using a MTP cable to the breakout panel. That particular panel will accept up to 12x MTP connections (12 QSFP ports) which equals 48x 10G LR 10 km single mode. 

If you don't need quite that many breakouts this solution is also available in smaller cassettes:


MTP-8 to 4x LC Duplex, 8 Fibres OS2 Single Mode FHD MTP Cassette

That will terminate one MTP cable (1 QSFP port).

I prefer the panel solution over breakout cables because the later assumes all the connections are going the same place. Also the panel solution will appear as an extension of the switch or router. Mentally it is simply extra ports on a separate panel.

Regards,

Baldur