Amphenol now offering 3M™ Active Optical Cable (AOC) assemblies for QSFP+ applications


Amphenol, the world's second largest interconnect manufacturer, formally announced the expansion of its high-speed 10-Gigabit and 40-Gigabit product portfolio to now include Active Optical Cable (AOC) assemblies from 3M. This powerful new optical QSFP/QSFP+ cable series, precision-engineered by 3M Interconnect Solutions, have been made available online through Amphenol's Cables on Demand (You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login) division.

Active Optical Cables for CX4 and QSFP/QSFP+ applications are the logical evolution to Amphenol's popular copper line-up of high-speed cable assemblies, according to Nick Blas, Product Marketing Manager for Amphenol Cables on Demand. "There are upwards of half-a-million Amphenol brand Passive Copper Cables deployed worldwide for CX4 and QSFP/QSFP+ applications," he said. Mr. Blas noted that despite the popularity and cost-effectiveness of using copper-based interconnect systems, there are distinct design limitations that must be considered.

Perhaps the most critical design limitation of copper interconnect technology is cable length. Mr. Blas emphasized, "Amphenol's Passive Copper CX4 Cables, operating at 10-Gigabits per second, are designed to operate at distances no longer than 15m (50 feet) in length. Passive Copper QSFP/QSFP+ Cables, operating at quadruple that data-rate (40-Gigabits per second), are designed to operate at distances of 7m (23 feet) max. These lengths work great for intra-rack cabling applications, but modern data centers often demand lengthy cable installations between racks or clusters."

Amphenol's partners at 3M Interconnect Solutions have addressed the aforementioned challenges by leveraging their expertise in electro-optical circuit design and high-speed I/O devices. While the Active Optical Cables (CX4, QSFP/QSFP+) offered by 3M appear to have identical connectors to their Amphenol copper counterparts, they have far more advanced opto-electronic circuitry underneath for translating high-speed signals across fiber optic cables. Each 3M connector for QSFP/QSFP+ applications (one per cable end) consists of a directly attached, individual Fiber Optic Transceiver Module. Each module is responsible for transmitting data at 40.0 Gigabits per second down a designated length of OM2+ multimode fiber optic cabling.

Due to multimode OM2+ fiber optic cabling's extremely high native bandwidth, signals that were once constrained by copper's length limitations can now be transmitted successfully up to 100 meters away (330 feet) via Active Optical Cable technology from 3M. Each Active Optical Cable sold arrives as a fully finished cable assembly – ready for "plug-and-play" installation into your network infrastructure. Amphenol Cables on Demand presently stocks 3M Active Optical Cables in three primary configurations: QSFP to QSFP, QSFP to CX4 and CX4 to CX4.

AOC Configuration #1, QSFP to QSFP Active Optical Cables, which may also be utilized/listed as QSFP+ to QSFP+ Active Optical Cables, are available now in lengths ranging from 10m (32.8') to 100m (328'). The most technologically capable of the three AOC configurations, this cable features an SFF-8436 compliant connector on each end. This ensures universal compatibility with both QSFP ports, generally installed on QDR InfiniBand™ equipment -- and QSFP+ ports, generally installed on 40-Gigabit Ethernet equipment.

AOC Configuration #2, QSFP to CX4 Active Optical Cables, which may also be utilized/listed as QSFP to CX4 Hybrid or Converter Cables, are available now in lengths ranging from 10m (32.8') to 50m (164'). This cable is essentially a hybrid of two distinct generations of technology – allowing users to interface newer QSFP/QSFP+ enabled gear running at 40.0 Gbps or higher with legacy CX4 enabled gear running at approximately 5.0 Gbps per channel.

AOC Configuration #3, CX4 to CX4 Active Optical Cables, which may also be utilized/listed as SDR/DDR InfiniBand or 3.125-Gigabit Ethernet Active Optical Cables, are available now in lengths ranging from 10m (32.8') to 50m (164'). This cable is intended specifically to link up similar legacy network/storage devices equipped with SFF-8470 style CX4/InfiniBand ports. Optimized for Double Data Rate (DDR) signal-sets; ensuring high data throughput up to 20.0 Gbps.

As a special introductory offer for new prospective Active Optical Cable (AOC) customers, Amphenol Cables on Demand is making available for a limited time only an Exclusive $100.00 OFF Coupon Code that can be applied towards your first 3M Active Optical Cable purchase at You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login. Simply enter Coupon Code 'AOCSALE' at checkout through 2/28/2013 to redeem this special offer.

Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH) is the second largest manufacturer of connectors and cables worldwide, comprised of over fifty industry-leading divisions including Times Fiber Communications, Times Microwave Systems, Teradyne Connection Systems, Amphenol Interconnect Products and Amphenol RF. Since 1934, Amphenol Engineers have designed innovative interconnect solutions such as the BNC and UHF connector series, SKEWCLEAR wire technology, and XCede backplane architecture.

Amphenol Cables on Demand, launched in 2006, is Amphenol's first wholly owned subsidiary optimized for the distribution of Amphenol brand cable products online. Based in Endicott, NY, Cables on Demand offers same day shipping before 3:00PM Eastern on over 3,000 unique cable SKUs. The company's high product mix supports a vast array of applications including Network, Broadcast, Test, Instrumentation, Audio/Video, Data Storage, Clustered Computers, Prototyping, Automation, Industrial Control, WiFi, Automotive and Avionics.

Source: PRWeb