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10G AOC active fiber optic cable and DAC direct connect copper cable which is more suitable for data centers
Knowledge Base + 2024.01.25

Speaking of data center 10G network interconnect solutions, have to mention is 10G AOC active optical cable and 10G DAC direct copper cable, the two cables, which one is more suitable for data centers to use?


Let's start with the 10G AOC active fiber optic cable, which uses high-performance fiber core, good bending resistance, bending insensitive, in addition to the use of high-quality ceramic inserts, high return loss, low insertion loss, thickened gold finger, touch stable, cable length can be customized according to the equipment spacing.


10G AOC active fiber optic cable is mainly used in data center 10G Ethernet servers, switches, storage and host card adapters.10G AOC active fiber optic cable compared to 10G DAC direct-connect copper cables, there is no electromagnetic interference, because active fiber optic cables transmit with optical signals, while direct-connect copper cables transmit with electrical signals, so direct-connect copper cables have to be used in the absence of electromagnetic interference in the environment. So the direct-connect copper cable should be used in an environment without electromagnetic interference.


Next, let's take a look at 10G DAC direct-attach copper cables, which are commonly used for top-of-rack cabling in data centers to connect small access switches and servers. Since the SFP+ connectors on both ends of the DAC do not have lasers, detectors, amplifiers, and other optics, as well as MCU control chips, and since copper is cheaper than fiber-optic cables, the overall price of a high-speed DAC cable is much cheaper than that of an optical module and an AOC active fiber-optic cable, which can greatly reduce the cost of interconnecting equipment. 10G SFP+ DACs support passive copper cables with a length of 7m, and since the DACs are purely electrically driven, the transmission distance can be as long as 10G SFP+ DACs. is purely electrically driven, so the transmission distance is generally not far, unless it is an active cable, and the transmission distance will increase after adding an amplifier.


Now we have an understanding of these two transmission options, so which one is more suitable for data center use? In fact, if the budget is sufficient, the choice of 10G AOC active fiber optic cable is a better choice, because its transmission performance in all aspects is really better than the 10G DAC direct cable, if the transmission distance of more than 7 meters, and not more than 30 meters, it is very suitable for the choice of 10G AOC active fiber optic cable, if the transmission distance of 7 meters, and the budget is limited in the case of the appropriate choice of 10G AOC active fiber optic cable is not much more than the 10G DAC direct cable. 10G DAC direct connect cable.


Additional Learning Hub Resources 

Single-mode fiber vs Multi-mode fiber how to choose? 

10G Copper SFP+ SFP+ to RJ45 Solution for beginners 

What is the distance of qsfp28 100g transceiver 



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