assembly is the first for QSFP+ Cable applications

3M Electronic Solutions Division has unveiled an active optical cable for applications requiring interoperability of 40 Gigabit Ethernet (40 GbE) switch ports and 10 GbE server ports. The fiber fanout cable assembly is the first for QSFP+ Cable applications, the company asserts.The active optical cable leverages VCSEL and 3M light-engine technologies, which the company believes will help the cable find use in data centers and high-performance computing (HPC) clusters.The hybrid active optical cable assembly transitions a single QSFP+ Cable to CX4 port with four parallel channels to four individual, single-channel SFP+ ports in top-of-rack (ToR) applications. As the fanout assembly supports direct-attach transitions at a one-to-four QSFP+ Cable ratio, more 40 GbE uplinks can be deployed in these applications, 3M says.

 

“This new AOC fanout assembly from 3M helps simplify cable routing for 10 GbE aggregation and 40 GbE top-of-rack applications while allowing optimization of the limited QSFP+ Cable uplinks found on today’s network switches,” said Jeff Bullion, marketing manager, System and Components Business, 3M Electronic Solutions Division. “It provides a true plug-and-play, low-cost, low-power and low-latency alternative to the pluggable modules and patch cords commonly used today.”AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)– A fiber fanout cable assembly  document specifies supporting the interoperability of 40 Gigabit Ethernet (40 GbE) switch ports and 10 GbE server ports is now available from the 3M Electronic Solutions Division. The first-of-its-kind, 3M Active Optical Cable (AOC) Assembly for QSFP+ Cable Applications incorporates industry-leading VCSEL and 3M light-engine technologies to deliver exceptional cost and performance value for data centers and high-performance computing (HPC) clusters.