The 5-meter 100G QSFP28 to 4x25G SFP28 Breakout Direct Attach Copper Cable (DAC) is a passive high-speed interconnect that splits a single 100G port into four discrete 25G channels. At a length of 5 meters, this cable utilizes heavy-duty AWG26 Twinax copper to maintain signal integrity at 25Gbps per lane. It is the most cost-effective zero-power consumption solution for connecting a 100G Leaf switch to 25G servers across adjacent racks (Inter-rack) in a Leaf-Spine architecture.
UnitekFiber's Direct Attach Copper(DAC) Cable is an ideal short-distance connection solution to replace optical modules. They are divided into two categories: high-speed DAC cables (DAC) and active optical cables (AOC). QSFP direct-attached copper cable meets all IBTA, QSFP MSA and SFF-8436, Infiniband QDR specifications, and provides a cost-effective solution for short-distance high-speed data transmission in data centers.
Pushing passive copper to 5 meters at 100G (4x25G) requires premium materials to combat significant high-frequency attenuation.
| Feature | 100G Breakout DAC (5m, AWG26) | 100G Breakout AOC (5m) |
| Media Type | AWG26 Passive Twinax | 850nm Multimode Fiber |
| Power Consumption | 0W (Passive) | ~3.5W (Total Link) |
| Latency | Lowest (Near Zero) | Micro-delays (O-E Conversion) |
| Signal Encoding | NRZ (25.78Gbps per lane) | NRZ |
| Standard | IEEE 802.3bj / SFF-8665 | IEEE 802.3bm |
| Crosstalk Protection | Silver-Plated Shielding | Total EMI Immunity |
At 25Gbps per channel, a 5-meter copper link is at the absolute physical limit for passive transmission. UnitekFiber uses AWG26 wire (thicker than standard AWG30) to provide a larger cross-sectional area, which minimizes the resistive loss and the "Skin Effect" at 12.89 GHz. This ensures that the eye diagram remains open enough for the host switch's RS-FEC (Reed-Solomon FEC) to correct any minor bit errors.
The transition from one QSFP28 housing to four separate SFP28 cables is a critical point for signal reflection. We use automated precision termination and 360° shielding at the breakout manifold to maintain a consistent 100Ω differential impedance, preventing "Ghosting" or crosstalk between the four 25G channels.
Deployment at 5 meters with 100G DAC is an engineering feat. While most vendors stop at 3 meters, our AWG26 breakout cable is designed for engineers who need the OpEx savings of zero-power copper but require the reach of an adjacent rack. Just remember: at this length, your switch must have FEC enabled to ensure a stable 25.78Gbps sync.
One of the main functions of DAC cable is to provide cost-effective networking solutions for short distance connections. As an alternative to optical transceivers and fiber optic cabling, 100G transceiver module DAC copper cable offer comparable performance at a lower cost, making them an economical choice for high-speed data transmission in limited network spaces. By eliminating the need for separate transceivers and fiber optic cabling, direct attach copper cable simplify the network setup process, reducing complexity and simplifying connection configuration. This simplicity means easier installation, maintenance and upgrades, increasing the overall agility of the network infrastructure.
The 40G QSFP+ to 4*10G SFP+ DAC cable are engineered with a focus on low power consumption, delivering energy-efficient networking solutions without compromising performance. By optimizing efficiency and reducing energy usage, the branch DAC cable offer a sustainable solution. Additionally, their reliability and seamless integration capabilities ensure that can enhance network infrastructure without sacrificing efficiency. By choosing branch Direct Attach Copper Cable with low power consumption, can create a more energy-efficient and sustainable networking environment while achieving cost savings.
lSwitches / Routers / HBAs/SAN, NIC cards
lServer & Storage Devices
lData Center Networking
lHigh Performance Compute
lFiber Channel
lInfiniBand QDR/DDR
l10Gbs/40Gbs
The 5m 100G to 4x25G Breakout DAC is the preferred solution for High-Density Computing Clusters and Adjacent Rack Server Access. It allows a single 100G switch port to manage four separate 25G nodes without the cost or power overhead of optical transceivers.
Moving 100G signals over 5 meters of copper requires more than just a cable; it requires a balanced signal path. If you are experiencing link flaps or high CRC error rates in your 25G/100G migration, our team can help you audit your port settings and FEC configurations. We also provide multi-vendor EEPROM coding (e.g., Arista 100G to HPE 25G) to eliminate compatibility barriers.
Let us help you determine if AWG26 copper or an AOC is the better fit for your specific rack's thermal and distance constraints.
Connect with our engineers:
To reach 5 meters, we must use AWG26 wire to reduce signal loss. Thinner AWG30 wire cannot maintain 25Gbps signal integrity over that distance, making the 5m cable thicker but much more reliable.
Yes. Per IEEE 802.3 standards, 25G/100G copper links over 3 meters generally require RS-FEC (Reed-Solomon Forward Error Correction) to be enabled on the host equipment to achieve a reliable Bit Error Rate (BER).
Yes. We specialize in Cisco-compatible coding. Our cables are pre-tested to ensure they are recognized as native assemblies, bypassing any unsupported transceiver lockouts.
Yes, the 40G AOC/DAC cable has a QSFP+ to 4*SFP+ branch cable. Using this specification cable, the 40G port and the 10G port can be interconnected.
The longest transmission distance of copper cable DAC is 7M.
The transmission medium of DAC is copper cable.
Very good service and quality.
The fiber cable was very easy to pull both indoor & outdoor. It's not stiff, went thru conduits nicely.
This product do a well work on the data center, absolutely save the space, save the installation time and could be manage the cable better than before. Highly recommended.
The DAC cable have simplified our cable management and reduced the time required for installation and maintenance.
Wonderful cables.
I have received the order, and your shipping time is out of expected. And the FTTH drop cable are functioning just as expected. we have always been satisfied with our equipment from you.
UnitekFiber's SFP28 DAC cable is simple to deploy, and the copper core not only provides natural heat dissipation but also makes it an environmentally friendly option. The DAC cable has withstood the test of time, performing flawlessly even during peak usage hours.
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