Cisco Direct-Attach Breakout Cable - Network cable - QSFP+

Cisco Direct-Attach Breakout Cable – QSFP+ to 4 x SFP+

The Cisco Direct‑Attach Breakout Cable is a high‑performance, active optical solution designed for modern data center and enterprise networking environments. It provides a seamless transition from a single QSFP+ port on a switch or router to four individual SFP+ ports, enabling flexible uplink configurations without the need for additional hardware.

Key Technical Features

• Connector Configuration: One QSFP+ connector on one end and four SFP+ connectors on the other, allowing a single high‑speed port to fan out into multiple lower‑speed links.
• Active Optical Technology: The cable incorporates signal regeneration circuitry that amplifies and restores optical signals, ensuring reliable data transmission over longer distances than passive cables.
• Length: Available in a standard 3 m length, which balances reach with minimal latency for most rack‑to‑rack or rack‑to‑blade deployments.
• Color Coding: The cable is manufactured in a distinctive orange color, facilitating quick identification and organization within dense cabling environments.
• Compatibility: Designed to work with Cisco Nexus series switches such as the Nexus 31XX, 93XX, 93XXX, X97160, and X9736, as well as other compatible platforms that support QSFP+ uplinks.
• Signal Integrity: Maintains high data integrity at speeds up to 10 Gbps per lane, with a total aggregate bandwidth of up to 40 Gbps.
• Harmonized System Code: Classified under HS code 85444290, indicating its status as an optical fiber cable for telecommunications.

Design and Construction

The cable’s construction emphasizes durability and performance. It features a robust outer jacket that protects against mechanical stress, while the internal optical fibers are shielded to minimize signal loss. The active components are housed in a compact module that is seamlessly integrated into the cable’s core, ensuring minimal additional length or bulk.

Installation and Deployment

Installing the Cisco Direct‑Attach Breakout Cable is straightforward:

1. Identify the QSFP+ port on your switch or router that will serve as the uplink.
2. Insert the QSFP+ connector of the cable into this port, ensuring a secure fit.
3. Connect each SFP+ connector to the desired downstream devices—such as other switches, servers, or storage arrays—using standard SFP+ modules.
4. Verify link status through your network management interface; all four links should come up simultaneously if the cable is functioning correctly.

This method eliminates the need for additional breakout boards or adapters, reducing rack space usage and simplifying cable management.

Performance Benefits

• Reduced Latency: Active regeneration ensures that signal quality is maintained without introducing significant delay, which is critical for latency‑sensitive applications such as high‑frequency trading or real‑time analytics.
• Scalability: By converting a single QSFP+ port into four SFP+ ports, network architects can scale uplink capacity incrementally without replacing existing hardware.
• Energy Efficiency: The active components are designed to consume minimal power, keeping overall energy consumption low compared to separate breakout modules.

Use Cases Across Industries

The versatility of the Cisco Direct‑Attach Breakout Cable makes it suitable for a wide range of scenarios:

• Data Centers: Enables efficient interconnects between spine and leaf switches, supporting dense topologies.
• Enterprise Networks: Provides flexible uplinks for branch offices or campus environments where space is at a premium.
• High‑Performance Computing (HPC): Facilitates rapid data movement between compute nodes and storage arrays.
• Telecommunications: Supports carrier‑grade backhaul links that require reliable, high‑bandwidth connections.

Maintenance and Reliability

The cable’s active design includes built‑in diagnostics that can alert administrators to signal degradation or component failure. Routine checks of link status and optical power levels are recommended to ensure ongoing reliability. The robust construction also means the cable can withstand typical rack vibrations and handling without compromising performance.

Conclusion

The Cisco Direct‑Attach Breakout Cable – QSFP+ to 4 x SFP+ is a critical component for modern networking infrastructures that demand high bandwidth, low latency, and flexible deployment options. Its active optical technology, combined with a compact 3 m length and distinctive orange color coding, makes it an ideal choice for engineers seeking to maximize uplink capacity while minimizing cabling complexity.