The TE Connectivity 2-2170808-6 is a QSFP28 cage assembly — a ganged 1 x 2 configuration with an integrated heat sink, designed for press-fit termination to a through-hole, right-angle PCB footprint. This is the cage and shield structure that receives a QSFP28 pluggable module; it is not the module itself. The EMI-shielded shell and built-in light pipe for port-status indication make it a complete front-panel interconnect solution for 100G Ethernet and InfiniBand EDR line cards.
This is the standard mounting for faceplate I/O: the cage body sits flush against the panel cutout, and the press-fit pins anchor it through the board. The right-angle through-hole footprint also provides mechanical retention against the insertion and extraction forces of the QSFP28 module.
EMI Shielding and Light Pipe Integration
The EMI-shielded cage contains radiated emissions from the high-speed module — critical for systems that must pass FCC or EN 55032 Class A/B. The integrated light pipe routes LED status indicators from the board to the front bezel, eliminating a separate light-pipe assembly. This saves one part number and one assembly step per port.