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Axiom SP-CABLE-FS-Q285-AX Twinaxial Network Cable - 16. 4 ft (5 m) QSFP28 to QSFP28100GbE Passive DAC
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Product Features
Technical Overview
This twinaxial cable operates at a data transfer rate of 100 Gbit/s, supporting high-bandwidth applications such as data aggregation, storage networking, and high-performance computing. The QSFP28 connectors provide a compact, high-density interface that is hot-pluggable and designed for reliable signal integrity over copper media.
The passive design means the cable contains no active electronics for signal amplification, resulting in lower power consumption and reduced heat generation compared to active optical cables. This makes it ideal for environments where power efficiency and thermal management are priorities.
Key Product Advantages
This cable delivers several practical benefits for network administrators and data center operators. The twinaxial construction provides excellent electromagnetic interference (EMI) resistance, ensuring stable performance in dense rack environments. The passive design eliminates the need for external power, simplifying deployment and reducing points of failure.
Cost-Effective 100GbE Connectivity
Offers a more affordable alternative to optical transceivers and fiber cabling for short-distance 100GbE links, reducing overall infrastructure costs while maintaining performance.
- Lower initial investment compared to optical solutions
- No separate transceivers required
- Reduced power consumption
Simplified Deployment
The pre-terminated design with factory-installed connectors ensures consistent quality and eliminates the need for field termination, saving installation time and reducing potential errors.
- Ready-to-use out of the box
- Consistent electrical performance
- No specialized termination tools needed
Deployment / Use Cases
This cable is specifically designed for 100GbE network environments where short-reach, high-speed connections are required. Its 16.4-foot length makes it suitable for typical rack-to-rack or within-rack deployments in data centers and enterprise network closets.
Common deployment scenarios include connecting top-of-rack switches to leaf switches in spine-leaf architectures, linking servers to aggregation switches in high-performance computing clusters, and providing inter-switch links in network distribution layers. The cable's compatibility with routers and switches from various manufacturers makes it versatile for heterogeneous network environments.
Data Center Interconnects
Ideal for connecting network devices within the same rack or adjacent racks in data center environments, supporting high-bandwidth applications like virtualization, cloud services, and big data analytics.
Enterprise Network Upgrades
Enables organizations to upgrade their network infrastructure to 100GbE without the complexity and cost of fiber optic deployments, particularly for distances under 10 meters.
Highlights
- 16.4 ft (5 m) twinaxial network cable with QSFP28 connectors on both ends
- Supports 100 Gbit/s data transfer rate for high-bandwidth applications
- Passive direct attach cable design with no external power required
- Compatible with network devices, routers, and switches supporting QSFP28 interfaces
- Hot-pluggable connectors for easy installation and maintenance
- Twinaxial construction provides good EMI resistance for stable performance
- Cost-effective alternative to optical solutions for short-reach connections
- Lifetime warranty for long-term reliability assurance
Specifications
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Axiom Memory Solutions |
| Manufacturer Part Number | SP-CABLE-FS-Q285-AX |
| Brand Name | Axiom |
| Product Name | Twinaxial Network Cable |
| Product Type | Network Cable |
| Technical Information | |
| Cable Type | Twinaxial |
| Cable Length | 16.4 ft (5 m) |
| Connector Type on First End | QSFP28 Network |
| Connector on First End Details | 1 x QFP28 Network |
| Connector Type on Second End | QSFP28 Network |
| Connector on Second End Details | 1 x QFP28 Network |
| Device Supported | Network Device,Router,Switch |
| Data Transfer Rate | 100 Gbit/s |
| Features | Passive |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Warranty | |
| Limited Warranty | Lifetime |
FAQ
What type of cable is the Axiom SP-CABLE-FS-Q285-AX?
The Axiom SP-CABLE-FS-Q285-AX is a twinaxial network cable, also known as a direct attach copper cable (DAC). It features QSFP28 connectors on both ends and supports 100 Gbit/s data transfer rates. The cable is 16.4 feet (5 meters) long and uses a passive design, meaning it doesn't require external power for operation.
What devices is this cable compatible with?
This cable is compatible with network devices, routers, and switches that support QSFP28 interfaces. It's designed for 100GbE networking equipment and can be used to create high-speed connections between compatible devices in data center and enterprise network environments. Always verify specific device compatibility before deployment.
What does 'passive' mean for this network cable?
Passive means the cable contains no active electronics for signal amplification or retiming. Unlike active optical cables or active DACs that include signal conditioning electronics, this passive cable relies on the signal strength from the connected devices. This results in lower power consumption, reduced heat generation, and typically lower cost, though it's generally limited to shorter distances (typically up to 5 meters for 100GbE).
What is the maximum data transfer rate supported?
This cable supports a maximum data transfer rate of 100 Gbit/s (100 gigabits per second). This makes it suitable for high-bandwidth applications such as data center interconnects, storage area networks, high-performance computing clusters, and network backbone connections that require 100GbE throughput.