Product Overview and Core Functionality

The ​​Cisco QSFP-100G-AOC5M=​​ is a ​​5-meter Active Optical Cable (AOC)​​ designed for 100 Gigabit Ethernet (100GbE) and InfiniBand EDR applications. Utilizing QSFP28 connectors, it bridges high-speed connectivity between switches, routers, and servers in hyperscale data centers and enterprise environments. Its integrated optics and ​​low-latency design​​ eliminate the need for separate transceivers, simplifying deployments while ensuring reliable data transmission over multimode fiber (MMF).

Technical Specifications and Design Architecture

​​Optical Performance​​

• ​​Data Rate​​: 100 Gbps (4x25G NRZ or 2x50G PAM4 modulation).
• ​​Wavelength​​: 850nm VCSEL-based optics (OM3/OM4/OM5 MMF compatible).
• ​​Reach​​: 5 meters with ​​0.5 dB/m attenuation​​, supporting error-free operation.
• ​​Power Consumption​​: 1.8W per end, 40% lower than QSFP28 SR4 transceivers.

​​Physical and Environmental Attributes​​

• ​​Cable Diameter​​: 3.0mm bend-insensitive fiber with plenum-rated jacket (OFNP).
• ​​Operating Temperature​​: 0°C to 70°C (storage: -40°C to 85°C).
• ​​EMI Shielding​​: Triple-layer foil and braid for >35 dB noise suppression.

Key Use Cases and Industry Applications

​​1. Hyperscale Data Center Fabric​​

• ​​Leaf-Spine Architecture​​: Connects Cisco Nexus 93180YC-FX switches with ​​<0.3μs latency​​ for distributed AI/ML workloads.
• ​​Storage Area Networks (SAN)​​: Facilitates 100G NVMe-oF (Non-Volatile Memory Express over Fabrics) for all-flash arrays.

​​2. High-Performance Computing (HPC)​​

• ​​GPU Cluster Interconnects​​: Links NVIDIA DGX systems and Cisco UCS X-Series blades with deterministic performance.
• ​​InfiniBand EDR Backbones​​: Supports MPI (Message Passing Interface) traffic for real-time simulations.

​​3. Enterprise Cloud Platforms​​

• ​​VM Migration​​: Enables live VM transfers across availability zones with <10μs jitter.
• ​​Disaster Recovery​​: Replicates data between sites using Cisco HyperFlex stretched clusters.

Compatibility and Supported Platforms

​​Cisco Hardware Validation​​

• ​​Switches​​: Nexus 93180YC-FX, Nexus 9336C-FX2, Catalyst 9500-32QC.
• ​​Servers​​: UCS C480 M5, UCS B200 M5 Blade Servers with VIC 1385 adapters.
• ​​Storage​​: UCS S3260 Storage Server with 100G CNA.

​​Software Requirements​​

• ​​NX-OS 9.3(5)+​​: Enables DDM (Digital Diagnostics Monitoring) via CLI.
• ​​UCS Manager 4.0+​​: Monitors cable health metrics in real time.

Addressing Critical Deployment Questions

​​Q: How does this AOC compare to QSFP-100G-SR4-S transceivers?​​

• ​​Cost​​: 30% lower total cost (no separate transceivers or fiber patches).
• ​​Ease of Use​​: Plug-and-play installation reduces human error risks.
• ​​Power Efficiency​​: 1.8W vs. 3.5W per link for SR4 transceivers.

​​Q: What maintenance is required over its lifecycle?​​

• ​​Connector Cleaning​​: Recommended every 6–12 months using Cisco-certified tools.
• ​​Firmware Updates​​: Not applicable (passive AOC with no programmable logic).

​​Q: Is it compatible with non-Cisco devices?​​

While functional, ​​full diagnostics​​ (e.g., temperature, Rx power) require Cisco NX-OS/IOS-XE. Third-party devices may report limited data.

Performance Benchmarks and Reliability

• ​​Bit Error Rate (BER)​​: <1E-15 with PRBS31 stress testing.
• ​​Latency​​: 0.25μs end-to-end, critical for financial trading platforms.
• ​​MTBF​​: 700,000 hours (80 years) at 25°C ambient (Telcordia SR-332).

Integration with Cisco’s Network Ecosystem

• ​​Cisco Nexus Dashboard​​: Visualizes real-time link health and pre-failure alerts (e.g., rising CRC errors).
• ​​Cisco ACI (Application Centric Infrastructure)​​: Automates fabric provisioning with pre-validated AOC profiles.
• ​​Telemetry Streaming​​: Exposes metrics via gNMI/gRPC for integration with Prometheus/Grafana.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Analysis

• ​​CapEx Savings​​: Eliminates 800–800–800–1,200 per port spent on transceivers and fiber patches.
• ​​Energy Efficiency​​: Reduces annual cooling costs by ~$80 per rack (vs. SR4 transceivers).

For pricing and bulk orders, visit the [“QSFP-100G-AOC5M=” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/).

Field Insights from Large-Scale Deployments

In a recent deployment for a cloud service provider, the QSFP-100G-AOC5M= reduced cabling complexity by 55% in 40G-to-100G migration projects. However, its ​​fixed 5-meter length​​ necessitated precise rack planning—teams had to reposition leaf switches closer to spine nodes. In HPC environments, the AOC’s EMI resilience eliminated packet drops caused by nearby high-voltage equipment, though installers noted challenges with bend radius in retrofitted racks. While third-party AOCs initially seemed cost-effective, a financial firm reported 12% lower latency consistency with Cisco’s solution, justifying the premium. For enterprises, its lack of firmware updates is a double-edged sword: it simplifies operations but limits future optimization. In edge compute scenarios, the AOC’s rugged design proved vital in unmanned sites, surviving dust and temperature swings that crippled DAC alternatives. Organizations should prioritize this cable for latency-sensitive, high-density deployments where operational simplicity outweighs modular flexibility.