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Axiom 100G-QSFP-4SFP-P-0501-AX 100GBASE-CR4 QSFP28 to 4 SFP28 Passive DAC Twinaxial Cable - 5m (16. 4 ft) Brocade Compatible
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Product Features
Technical Overview
This cable implements the 100GBASE-CR4 standard using a QSFP28 connector on one end that splits into four SFP28 connectors on the opposite end. The twinaxial copper construction provides electrical signaling for 100 Gbit/s aggregate bandwidth across the four lanes, each operating at 25 Gbit/s.
The passive design means the cable contains no signal conditioning, retiming, or amplification circuitry, relying instead on the host devices' electrical interfaces. This approach reduces power consumption, minimizes latency, and simplifies integration while maintaining signal integrity over the specified 5-meter distance.
Key Product Advantages
This direct-attach cable offers several practical benefits for network infrastructure deployment and maintenance.
Simplified High-Density Connectivity
The QSFP28 to 4x SFP28 configuration enables efficient port utilization by connecting a single 100GbE port to four 25GbE ports, optimizing switch port density and reducing cable clutter in high-performance computing and storage environments.
- Consolidates four SFP28 connections into one QSFP28 port
- Reduces cable management complexity
- Maximizes switch port efficiency
Cost-Effective Short-Reach Solution
As a passive twinaxial cable, this solution provides a more economical alternative to active optical cables or separate transceivers with fiber patch cords for distances up to 5 meters, with lower power consumption and no configuration requirements.
- Lower total cost than optical solutions
- Zero power draw from cable itself
- Plug-and-play installation
Deployment / Use Cases
This cable serves specific connectivity needs in modern network architectures where high bandwidth and reliable short-reach links are critical.
In data center environments, it commonly connects top-of-rack switches with QSFP28 ports to servers or storage arrays equipped with SFP28 interfaces. The 5-meter length accommodates typical rack-to-adjacent-rack deployments while maintaining signal quality without intermediate equipment.
Leaf-Spine Network Fabric
Ideal for connecting spine switches with QSFP28 uplinks to leaf switches with SFP28 ports in Clos network architectures, providing the 100GbE backbone connectivity required for modern software-defined networking and cloud infrastructure.
High-Performance Computing Clusters
Supports interconnect requirements for compute nodes and storage systems in HPC environments where low-latency, high-throughput data transfer between components is essential for parallel processing and large dataset handling.
Highlights
- 100 Gbit/s data transfer rate for high-bandwidth network applications
- QSFP28 to 4x SFP28 connector configuration optimizes port density
- 5-meter (16.4-foot) twinaxial cable length for flexible deployment
- Passive design requires no external power or configuration
- Brocade platform compatibility for seamless integration
- Supports network devices, routers, and switches
- Direct-attach copper solution for cost-effective short-reach connectivity
- Lifetime limited warranty for long-term reliability assurance
Specifications
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Axiom Memory Solutions |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 100G-QSFP-4SFP-P-0501-AX |
| Brand Name | Axiom |
| Product Name | 100GBASE-CR4 QSFP28 to 4 SFP28 Passive DAC Brocade Compatible 5m |
| Product Type | Network Cable |
| Technical Information | |
| Cable Type | Twinaxial |
| Cable Length | 16.4 ft (5 m) |
| Connector Type on First End | QSFP28 Network |
| Connector Type on Second End | SFP28 Network |
| Connector on Second End Details | 4 x SFP28 Network |
| Device Supported | Network Device,Router,Switch |
| Data Transfer Rate | 100 Gbit/s |
| Features | Passive |
| Warranty | |
| Limited Warranty | Lifetime |
FAQ
What is the difference between this passive DAC and an active optical cable?
This passive direct-attach copper cable uses electrical signaling through twinaxial copper conductors without any signal conditioning electronics. It's designed for short-reach applications up to 5 meters and doesn't require power. Active optical cables use fiber optics with built-in electronics for signal conversion and can support longer distances but typically cost more and consume power.
Which devices are compatible with this QSFP28 to 4 SFP28 cable?
This cable is compatible with network devices, routers, and switches that support QSFP28 and SFP28 interfaces. It has specific compatibility with Brocade platforms, but will generally work with any equipment that implements the 100GBASE-CR4 standard for direct-attach copper connectivity between QSFP28 and SFP28 ports.
What is the maximum supported distance for this passive twinaxial cable?
This cable supports reliable 100 Gbit/s transmission up to 5 meters (16.4 feet). Passive DAC cables have distance limitations based on signal integrity over copper, with 5 meters being a common maximum for 100GBASE-CR4 implementations without signal conditioning. For longer distances, active cables or optical solutions would be required.
Does this cable require any special configuration or software?
No special configuration or software is required. As a passive direct-attach cable, it functions as a simple electrical connection between compatible ports. The host devices automatically negotiate the link parameters according to the 100GBASE-CR4 standard. Installation is plug-and-play once physically connected to compatible QSFP28 and SFP28 ports.
| Qty | Price | Available |
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