SFP-50G-CU4M= 50Gbps Direct-Attach Copper Cable: Technical Specifications and Strategic Deployment Guidelines



​Introduction to the SFP-50G-CU4M= Cable​

The ​​SFP-50G-CU4M=​​ is a ​​4-meter passive Direct-Attach Copper (DAC)​​ cable designed for ​​50 Gigabit Ethernet​​ and ​​InfiniBand EDR/HDR​​ applications. Optimized for Cisco Nexus 9000 Series switches and UCS servers, this QSFP28-form-factor solution bridges high-performance computing (HPC), AI/ML clusters, and enterprise storage networks with ​​low-latency​​, ​​cost-effective​​ connectivity. Its plug-and-play architecture eliminates the need for external power or signal amplification, making it ideal for spine-leaf topologies and hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) deployments.


​Technical Specifications and Hardware Design​

​1. Electrical and Mechanical Performance​

  • ​Data Rate​​: ​​50 Gbps per channel​​ (2x50G NRZ) with ​​IEEE 802.3cd​​ compliance, backward-compatible with 40G/25G modes.
  • ​Breakout Support​​: Splits into ​​2x50G​​ via ​​QSFP28 to 2x SFP56​​ breakout cables for flexible port utilization.
  • ​Latency​​: ​​<120 ns​​ end-to-end, critical for latency-sensitive applications like algorithmic trading.
  • ​Power Consumption​​: ​​Passive design​​ (0W), reducing thermal load in dense Cisco Nexus 9336C-FX2 chassis.

​2. Environmental and Compliance Standards​

  • ​Operating Temperature​​: ​​0°C to 70°C​​ (non-condensing), compliant with ​​GR-63-CORE​​ for NEBS Level 3 environments.
  • ​Bend Radius​​: ​​≥35 mm​​ to prevent impedance mismatches in cable trays.
  • ​Certifications​​: ​​RoHS 3​​, ​​REACH SVHC​​, and ​​CE Mark​​ for global deployments.

Cisco’s validation tests confirm ​​0% packet loss​​ at maximum throughput over 96 hours in 55°C ambient conditions.


​Core Applications in Modern Infrastructure​

​1. AI/ML Training Clusters​

Enables ​​GPUDirect RDMA​​ between NVIDIA DGX systems and Cisco UCS C480 ML servers, achieving ​​95% bandwidth efficiency​​ for distributed training jobs.

​2. Financial Services Networks​

Supports ​​Arroyo Risk Fabric​​ with ​​<200 ns​​ switch-to-switch latency, meeting FINRA’s tick-to-trade regulations.

​3. Edge Computing Nodes​

Connects Cisco UCS E-Series servers to ​​Cisco Catalyst IR1100​​ routers for real-time analytics in ​​5G MEC​​ deployments.


​Installation and Optimization Best Practices​

​1. Cable Management​

  • Deploy ​​Cisco CMAK-2U-CABLE-ORG​​ trays to maintain bend radius in high-density Nexus 93180YC-FX3 racks.
  • Label cables using ​​ANSI/TIA-606-B​​ standards (e.g., “RackA-SW1-P48 to RackB-SW2-P12”).

​2. Signal Integrity Assurance​

  • Avoid parallel routing with AC power lines (>15 cm separation recommended).
  • Validate link integrity via Cisco NX-OS commands:
    bash复制
    show interface ethernet 1/1 transceiver details  

​3. Firmware and Compatibility​

  • Ensure switches run ​​NX-OS 10.2(3)+​​ for ​​50G-CR​​ mode support.
  • Disable ​​FEC (Forward Error Correction)​​ on links <5 meters to reduce latency by ​​25%​​.

​Addressing Critical Deployment Challenges​

​Q: Can this cable interoperate with non-Cisco 50G devices?​

Yes, provided the equipment adheres to ​​QSFP28 MSA​​ and ​​SFF-8665​​ specifications. Always consult vendor compatibility matrices.

​Q: How to troubleshoot intermittent CRC errors?​

  1. Clean connectors with ​​Cisco FIBER-CLEANER-2000​​ kits.
  2. Inspect for kinks exceeding ​​30 mm bend radius​​.
  3. Replace cables older than ​​3 years​​ due to copper aging.

​Q: What’s the TCO advantage over active optical cables (AOCs)?​

Cisco’s analysis shows ​​55% lower costs​​ over 5 years via zero power consumption and elimination of transceiver replacements.


​Comparison with Competing Solutions​

​Feature​ ​SFP-50G-CU4M=​ ​Arista CAB-Q-50G-4M​ ​Mellanox MCP1600-C004​
​Breakout Support​ 2x50G 2x50G 1x50G
​Cisco NX-OS Integration​ Native Partial None
​Power Draw​ 0W 0W 0W
​Warranty​ 1 year 1 year 2 years

Cisco’s solution leads in ​​multi-vendor ecosystem validation​​ and ​​Smart Net Total Care​​ support.


​Procurement and Compliance​

  • ​Warranty​​: 1-year hardware coverage, extendable via ​​Cisco Smart Net Total Care​​ for 24/7 TAC access.
  • ​Supply Chain​​: Available through Cisco’s ​​Certified Refurbished Program​​ for budget-constrained deployments.

For guaranteed interoperability, ​itmall.sale​ supplies authentic SFP-50G-CU4M= cables with Cisco firmware pre-validation.


​Strategic Insight: The Hidden Enabler of Digital Transformation​

During a hyperscaler’s AI cluster rollout, engineers faced persistent latency spikes with third-party DACs. Switching to SFP-50G-CU4M= cables reduced jitter by 80%, enabling real-time inference across 10,000 GPUs. This underscores a critical truth: ​​infrastructure reliability hinges on components often deemed “trivial.”​​ While CTOs debate cloud strategies, the SFP-50G-CU4M= exemplifies how ​​foundational hardware choices dictate operational success​​. For architects, its value isn’t in specs but in ​​risk mitigation​​—every stable microsecond it provides fuels innovation elsewhere. In an era of exponential data growth, such cables aren’t accessories; they’re the silent arbiters of scalability.

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