Active Optical Cables (AOCs) are transceiver products permanently integrated with fiber optic cables, offering consistent and predictable link distances. They find application in multi-lane data communication and interconnect scenarios, enhancing storage, data, and high-performance computing.
AOC cables serve as an alternative to Direct Attach Copper (DAC) cables, extending distances and are favored in data centers and high-performance computing environments. Their advantages over copper cables include improved speed and distance capabilities, facilitating rapid data transfer over longer distances and enhancing computing efficiency.
Compared to DAC cables, which are twinax copper cables connecting ports within active equipment, AOC cables offer direct connections while surpassing passive cable limitations. They provide superior speed and find use in a broader range of applications.
For instance, the Amphenol QSFP DD 200G Active Optical Cable features a high-density connector with eight channel lanes, doubling port density compared to 100G QSFP28 AOC connectors. These connectors offer up to 200Gb/s aggregate bandwidth, making them ideal for higher-capacity networks and data center applications.
Similarly, QSFP28 Active Optical Cables are 4-channel, small form factor fiber optic transceivers designed for 100G data rates. They are reliable, cost-effective, power-efficient, and suitable for high-density signal transmission, commonly deployed in data centers and high-performance computing setups requiring cable lengths of up to 100 meters.
