AOC Active Optical Cable
AOC Active Optical Cable
AOC Active Optical Cable is a cabling technology that accepts the same electrical inputs as a direct attach cable, but uses optical fiber “between the connectors”. AOC uses electrical-to-optical conversion on the cable ends to improve speed and distance performance of the cable without sacrificing compatibility with standard electrical interfaces.
AOC Active Optical Cable Structure
Active Optical Cables (AOCs) are transceiver products that have fiber optic cables permanently embedded in each end for applications with predictable and consistent link distance needs. Available in edge pluggable variants only, these “ready to use” electrical-to-optical converters provide generations of optical connectivity at data rates up to 100Gb/s and link distances up to 100 meters. AOCs and passive copper Direct Attach Cables (DAC) are commonly deployed in server to Top-of-Rack type applications, where link distances are typically less than 30 meters. The advantage of AOCs are longer link distances, less bulky physical cabling and an active digital high speed electrical interface facing the host ASIC. Target applications include LAN Ethernet, InfiniBand, OmniPath and Proprietary Interconnect networks.
What are the Applications of Active Optical Cables?
AOC cables were developed as an alternative to traditional Direct Attach Copper cables (DAC) to provide greater distance. They are generally used in data centers and High-Performance Computing (HPC) applications where a mix of length and value is required. As more enterprises rely on high-performance computers and networked storage solutions, Active Optical Cables are poised to become considerably more ubiquitous in the coming years, rendering their copper counterparts obsolete.
Overview: Active Optical Cables (AOC) are high-performance, plug‑and‑play fiber optic assemblies that integrate transceivers and optical fiber into a single cable solution. They are designed for short‑range, high-speed data transmission between switches, servers, storage, and high‑performance computing systems. ME Fiber Optic AOC products deliver exceptional bandwidth, lightweight design, and EMI immunity suited for modern data center and enterprise environments.
Main Features
- Transmission Speeds: Available in 10G SFP+, 25G SFP28, 40G QSFP+, 100G QSFP28, 400G QSFP‑DD versions
- Data Rate Support: Up to 400 Gbps full‑duplex transmission
- Connector Interfaces: SFP+, QSFP+, QSFP28, QSFP‑DD, CXP optional
- Typical Lengths: 1 m – 100 m (custom options available)
- Power Consumption: ≤ 3.5 W (per end, for QSFP28)
- Low EMI: Immune to electromagnetic interference in noisy environments
- Hot‑Pluggable: Fully compliant with InfiniBand and IEEE 802.3 standards
- Operating Temperature: 0 °C ~ 70 °C (Standard / Commercial grade)
- Compliance: RoHS, CE, FCC certified
Benefits
- Higher bandwidth and signal integrity compared to copper DAC cables
- Lightweight and easy to route in high-density racks
- Reduced power consumption and cooling requirements
- Eliminates need for separate optical transceivers and jumpers
- Reliable option for short‑to‑medium data interconnects
Applications
- Data centers and cloud server interconnects
- High‑performance computing (HPC) systems
- Switch‑to‑server and switch‑to‑switch connections
- Enterprise storage and SAN infrastructure
- Telecommunication equipment backplane links
Performance Comparison
| Parameter | Active Optical Cable (AOC) | Copper DAC Cable |
|---|---|---|
| Max Distance | Up to 100 m | Up to 7 m |
| Weight | Light (~80% less than DAC) | Heavier |
| EMI Immunity | Excellent (optical isolation) | Limited |
| Bandwidth | 10G–400G | Up to 25–100G |
| Power Consumption | Low | Medium |
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FAQ – Active Optical Cable (AOC)
What is an Active Optical Cable (AOC)?
An AOC integrates transceivers and optical fiber into a single assembly, converting electrical signals to optical and back, allowing high-speed transmission over short to medium distances.
How far can an AOC transmit data?
Typical lengths range from 1 meter to 100 meters depending on the model and data rate, suitable for intra‑rack and inter‑rack connections.
What are the common AOC interface types?
Available interfaces include SFP+, SFP28, QSFP+, QSFP28, CXP, and QSFP‑DD for 400G high‑speed applications.
What are the main advantages of AOC over DAC?
AOC cables offer greater reach, lower weight, and complete immunity to EMI, making them ideal for dense, high‑speed data center environments.
Are AOCs compatible with existing network equipment?
Yes. AOCs are fully compliant with IEEE and InfiniBand standards, enabling seamless use with compatible switch and server ports.
