Q1. What is a Direct Attach Cable (DAC)?
A: A Direct Attach Cable (DAC) is a high-speed copper cable with transceivers permanently attached at both ends, used for short-distance data transmission between switches, servers, and network devices.
Q2. What data rates are supported by DAC cables?
A: DAC cables support a wide range of data rates, including 10G, 25G, 40G, 100G, 200G, 400G, and 800G, depending on the cable type and connector form factor.
Q3. What are the main advantages of using DAC cables?
A: DAC cables offer low latency, low power consumption, high reliability, and cost-effective short-distance connectivity compared to optical transceivers and fiber cables.
Q4. What is the typical transmission distance for DAC cables?
A: DAC cables are typically used for short distances, usually ranging from 0.5m to 5m, with some configurations supporting up to 7m depending on data rate and cable quality.
Q5. What is the difference between passive and active DAC cables?
A: Passive DAC cables do not require power and are used for very short distances, while active DAC cables include signal conditioning to support longer distances and higher data rates.
Q6. Are DAC cables compatible with Cisco, Juniper, and HPE devices?
A: Yes. These DAC cables are fully compatible with Cisco, Juniper, HPE, and other major networking brands, and are coded to meet MSA and device compatibility standards.
Q7. What connector types are used for DAC cables?
A: DAC cables commonly use SFP+, SFP28, QSFP+, QSFP28, QSFP56, QSFP-DD, QSFP112, or OSFP connectors, depending on the supported data rate.
Q8. What is a DAC breakout cable?
A: A DAC breakout cable allows a single high-speed port to be split into multiple lower-speed ports, enabling flexible port utilization and network scalability.
Q9. What breakout configurations are available for DAC cables?
A: DAC breakout cables support configurations such as 1×2, 1×4, and 1×8, depending on the data rate and switch port capabilities.
Q10. Which data rates support DAC breakout cables?
A: Breakout DAC cables are commonly available for 40G, 100G, 200G, and 400G applications, supporting various fan-out configurations.
Q11. What is a 40G DAC breakout cable used for?
A: A 40G DAC breakout cable is typically used to split one 40G QSFP+ port into four 10G SFP+ ports for server or access-layer connectivity.
Q12. How is a 100G DAC breakout cable commonly configured?
A: A 100G DAC breakout cable is commonly configured as 1×100G to 4×25G or 2×50G, enabling flexible high-density network deployments.
Q13. What breakout options are available for 200G and 400G DAC cables?
A: 200G DAC cables can be configured as 1×200G to 2×100G or 4×50G, while 400G DAC cables support configurations such as 1×400G to 2×200G, 4×100G, or 8×50G.
Q14. Do DAC breakout cables require specific switch support?
A: Yes. The switch or router must support port breakout functionality and be properly configured in software to recognize the breakout ports.
Q15. Can DAC cables be used for top-of-rack (ToR) connections?
A: Yes. DAC cables are widely used for top-of-rack and server-to-switch connections due to their low latency, low power consumption, and cost efficiency.
Q16. Are DAC cables hot-swappable?
A: Yes. DAC cables support hot-swappable installation, allowing them to be connected or replaced without powering down network devices.
Q17. Do DAC cables support Digital Diagnostic Monitoring (DDM)?
A: Yes. Most active DAC cables support DDM, enabling monitoring of temperature, voltage, and signal parameters, while passive DAC cables may offer limited or no diagnostics.
Q18. What are common applications for high-speed DAC cables?
A: DAC cables are commonly used in data centers, cloud computing environments, HPC clusters, AI networks, and enterprise core or access-layer networks.
Q19. Are these DAC cables tested before shipment?
A: Yes. Each DAC cable is individually tested for signal integrity, compatibility, and performance before shipment to ensure reliable operation.
Q20. Can DAC cable length and compatibility be customized?
A: Yes. DAC cables can be customized in length and coded for specific switch or server models upon request.
Q21. What is the difference between DAC and AOC cables?
A: DAC cables use copper conductors for short-distance connections, while AOC cables use optical fiber and are suitable for longer distances with lighter weight and better EMI resistance.
Q22. What warranty is provided for DAC cables?
A: All DAC cables are backed by a standard warranty and professional technical support, ensuring long-term reliability and customer confidence.