The 228 positions break down as 38 contacts per port across six ports, matching the standard QSFP+ pinout. The press-fit termination eliminates soldering, making this a backplane-friendly, reworkable interconnect for high-density switch and router line cards. The cage is EMI shielded, which is not optional at 25 Gbps+ per lane — the stamped metal cage and gasket form the chassis ground return path that keeps radiated emissions inside the box.
The press-fit and right-angle mounting decision
That is the standard for backplane daughtercards where the connector goes through the board and the opposite side must stay flat for a midplane or orthogonal mating. The through-hole mounting gives the 228-pin assembly the mechanical anchor it needs to survive repeated module insertion and extraction without lifting pads.
Contact finish and signal integrity
The nickel barrier below the gold keeps copper migration out of the signal path.