AOC Cables Guide
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AOC Cables — Active Optical Cables for 10G, 25G, 40G, 100G & 400G Networks
Active Optical Cables (AOC) deliver the reach and flexibility of fiber with the plug-and-play simplicity of a DAC cable — no separate transceivers, no patching, no added complexity. At Resilient Tec, every AOC is pre-programmed with platform-specific EEPROM data for your switch or server, ensuring it's recognized on the first boot without errors or manual coding.
Our AOC inventory spans 10GbE SFP+ through 400G QSFP-DD, in lengths from 1M to 100M, compatible with Mellanox/NVIDIA, Cisco, Arista, Juniper, Dell, HP, and more.
What Is an AOC Cable and When Should You Use One?
An AOC cable is a fiber-optic cable with integrated active electronic components (laser drivers and receivers) built into each connector housing. Unlike DAC cables, AOC cables use OM3 or OM4 multimode fiber, which means they can reach significantly farther — typically up to 100 meters — while remaining lightweight, highly flexible, and immune to electromagnetic interference (EMI). AOC cables are the right choice when:
- Runs exceed 5 meters — between racks in the same row, across the data center floor, or up to 100M for inter-row or end-of-row connections
- EMI is a concern — in dense environments with heavy power equipment where copper interference affects signal integrity
- Cable weight and bend radius matter — fiber is dramatically lighter and more flexible than copper, simplifying cable management in high-density racks
- AI and HPC clusters — connecting GPU nodes across multiple racks in DGX SuperPOD, HGX, or similar architectures where DAC reach is insufficient
- Spine-to-leaf cross-rack links — longer fabric interconnects where DAC cables don't reach
AOC vs DAC vs Transceivers — Which Should You Choose?
| Feature | AOC Cable | DAC Cable | Transceiver + Fiber |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Distance | Up to 100M | Up to 5M (passive) | Up to 10km+ |
| Cost | Moderate | Lowest | Highest (2 modules + fiber) |
| Cable Weight | Very light (fiber) | Heavier (copper) | Depends on fiber type |
| Bend Radius | Excellent | Moderate | Depends on fiber type |
| EMI Immunity | Complete (no copper signal) | Susceptible | Complete |
| Power Draw | Low (active optics) | 0W (passive) | Low per module |
| Best For | 5M–100M cross-rack runs | Under 5M in-rack | Long-haul / campus |
Bottom line: If your run is between 5 and 100 meters, or if you need EMI immunity and light weight for dense cabling, AOC is the right solution over DAC.
Compatible Platforms
Every AOC cable in this collection is EEPROM-coded and tested against major platforms, including:
- Mellanox / NVIDIA — Spectrum, Quantum, ConnectX, SN series switches and DGX/HGX servers
- Cisco — Nexus 9000/7000/5000, Catalyst 9000, UCS fabric interconnects
- Arista — 7050, 7060, 7280, 7500 series
- Juniper — QFX5100, QFX5200, QFX10000, PTX series
- Dell — S-Series, Z-Series PowerSwitch
- HP / HPE — FlexFabric, ProCurve series
Not sure if an AOC will work in your switch model or server HBA? Contact us before you buy — we'll confirm compatibility for free.
The Resilient Tec Guarantee
- ✅ Pre-programmed EEPROM — recognized immediately by your switch, no errors on boot
- ✅ Compatibility-tested in our lab before every shipment
- ✅ Lifetime warranty on all AOC cables
- ✅ Talk to a real engineer — not a chatbot
We don't just ship cables. We make sure they work in your environment.