StarTech.com 15M QSFP+ to 4x SFP+ 40GbE Active Optical Breakout Cable QSFP4X10AO15
The StarTech.com QSFP4X10AO15 is a 15-meter active optical breakout cable engineered to connect a single 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP+ port to four 10 Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ ports, optimizing high-density data center infrastructure.
- 40GbE to 4x 10GbE Breakout: Enables flexible network segmentation and high-density port utilization within data centers, reducing hardware costs and simplifying cabling.
- 15-Meter Active Optical Cable: Provides reliable, high-speed data transmission over longer distances than passive copper, supporting flexible rack and row placement without signal degradation.
- Cisco Compatibility: Designed, programmed, and tested to work seamlessly with Cisco® brand compatible servers and routers, ensuring frictionless integration into existing enterprise networks.
- Hot-Pluggable Design: Allows for upgrades and replacements without requiring system downtime, maintaining continuous network operations and minimizing service interruptions.
Product Overview
Product Overview
The StarTech.com QSFP4X10AO15 is a 15-meter active optical cable (AOC) designed for high-performance networking, facilitating a 40 Gigabit Ethernet (QSFP+) connection to four distinct 10 Gigabit Ethernet (SFP+) links. This breakout capability is crucial for optimizing port density and bandwidth distribution across server racks and network switches.
Engineered to comply with MSA industry standards and tested for Cisco compatibility, this cable ensures broad interoperability and reliable performance in demanding enterprise infrastructures. Its active optical design supports longer reach than traditional copper, while REACH, RoHS, CE, and FCC certifications confirm its adherence to environmental and safety regulations.
- Core Functionality: Connects a single 40GbE QSFP+ port to four 10GbE SFP+ ports, enabling efficient bandwidth distribution and flexible network architecture for diverse applications.
- Extended Reach: The 15-meter active optical design overcomes distance limitations of passive cables, allowing for greater flexibility in equipment placement within large data centers or server rooms.
- Cisco Ecosystem Integration: Verified compatibility with Cisco® brand servers and routers ensures reliable performance and simplifies deployment within established enterprise networking environments.
- InfiniBand Protocol Support: Provides high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity essential for high-performance computing (HPC) clusters and storage area networks, accelerating critical data transfers.
- Operational Value: Features a lifetime warranty and hot-pluggable design, reducing total cost of ownership through enhanced durability and minimizing downtime during maintenance or upgrades.
This active optical breakout cable delivers the high-speed, reliable connectivity required for modern data centers, ensuring efficient resource utilization and sustained operational performance.
Technical Specifications
1Performance & Business Impact
2Connectivity & I/O
3Physical & Environmental
4Lifecycle, Warranty & Compliance
Full Specifications
Features9
Weight & dimensions1
Certificates2
Packaging content1
Operational conditions1
Packaging data1
Logistics data1
Downloads1
What This Solves
Data Center Rack Interconnects
In high-density data center racks, this cable connects a 40GbE top-of-rack switch uplink to four 10GbE server or storage ports. This optimizes bandwidth distribution and reduces the number of required switch ports, streamlining cabling and improving rack efficiency.
Data center operators, co-location facilities, enterprise infrastructure teams
Network Segmentation & Expansion
Organizations needing to segment a 40GbE backbone into multiple 10GbE links for different server groups or applications can use this cable. It enables flexible network expansion and resource allocation without deploying additional 40GbE equipment, reducing capital expenditure.
Mid-market businesses, virtualized environments, growing enterprise networks
High-Performance Computing Connectivity
For environments requiring ultra-low latency and high throughput, such as HPC clusters or financial trading platforms, this cable supports InfiniBand protocol. It ensures rapid data exchange between compute nodes and storage, accelerating complex workloads and critical transactions.
Research institutions, financial services, scientific computing centers
Key Features
Data transfer rate: 40 Gbit/s
Supports high-bandwidth applications and rapid data movement, minimizing latency in critical network segments.
Cable length: 15 m
Provides extended reach for flexible equipment placement within large server rooms or across adjacent racks, simplifying network design.
Connector 1: QSFP+, Connector 2: 4x SFP+
Enables efficient breakout from a single 40GbE port to four 10GbE links, maximizing port utilization and optimizing network architecture.
InfiniBand protocol support
Delivers ultra-low latency and high throughput for demanding high-performance computing and storage area network applications.
Hot-pluggable design
Allows for seamless installation and replacement without interrupting network services, ensuring continuous operational uptime.
Compatible With
Network Switches
Cisco Nexus, Arista, Juniper, HPE, Dell EMC, and other MSA-compliant 40GbE/10GbE switches
Servers & Storage Arrays
Rack servers, blade servers, network-attached storage (NAS), storage area networks (SAN) with QSFP+/SFP+ ports
Network Interface Cards (NICs)
PCIe network adapters, host bus adapters (HBAs) with QSFP+ or SFP+ interfaces
High-Performance Computing (HPC)
InfiniBand-enabled clusters, GPU servers, scientific research computing infrastructure
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary advantage of an active optical cable (AOC) over a passive copper cable?
An AOC like this 15-meter StarTech.com cable can transmit data over much longer distances than passive copper cables without signal degradation. This is crucial for connecting equipment across larger data center footprints or between distant racks, where copper cables would experience significant performance loss.
Is this cable compatible with non-Cisco networking equipment?
Yes, while designed and tested for Cisco compatibility, this cable also complies with MSA (Multi-Source Agreement) industry standards. This ensures broad interoperability with other major networking brands that adhere to these standards for QSFP+ and SFP+ transceivers.
Can this cable be used to connect a single 10GbE device to a 40GbE switch port?
No, this is a breakout cable designed to convert one 40GbE QSFP+ port into four distinct 10GbE SFP+ links. It is not intended for a single 10GbE connection, but rather for distributing 40GbE bandwidth across multiple 10GbE devices.
What are the environmental compliance certifications for this cable?
This StarTech.com cable is certified for REACH, RoHS, CE, and FCC compliance. These certifications ensure the product meets strict environmental, safety, and electromagnetic compatibility standards for enterprise deployment.
Warranty & Returns
Manufacturer Warranty
Lifetime
Warranty is provided directly by the manufacturer and covers defects in materials and workmanship under normal use.
Return Policy
Returns subject to manufacturer approval
Hardware returns are governed by the manufacturer's return policy. Some products are non-returnable or subject to restocking fees. Defective items are handled under the manufacturer warranty. Contact Zent Networks before initiating any return.