Interconnect

Direct Attach Copper (DAC) cables, like MCP1650-V003, are low-cost and ideal for short runs (up to 5m) within a rack. Active Optical Cables (AOCs), such as MFS1S00-H015E, are lightweight, EMI-resistant, and designed for longer distances (up to 150m).

For HDR 200Gb/s, TES-IT supplies QSFP56 DACs for short rack-to-rack connections and QSFP56 AOCs for longer spans. A popular choice is MFS1S00-HxxxE for long runs, paired with MCX653106A-HDAT ConnectX-6 NICs and MQM8700-HS2F Quantum switches.

Yes. Many data centers use DAC cables (e.g., MCP7F00-A002R30) for short in-rack connections and AOCs (e.g., MFA7A20-C010) for inter-row or long-distance links. Both work seamlessly together in Mellanox-based infrastructures.

Yes. Mellanox QSFP28 and QSFP56 DAC/AOC cables are protocol-agnostic, supporting both Ethernet and InfiniBand, depending on how the NIC and switch ports are configured. This makes them versatile for mixed environments.

Every cable undergoes signal integrity testing, throughput validation, and port compatibility checks with Spectrum switches and ConnectX NICs. Only certified cables are shipped, ensuring reliable 100–200Gb/s connectivity.

Absolutely. TES-IT supplies complete bundles including NICs, Spectrum/Quantum switches, and matching DAC/AOC cables. This ensures correct compatibility, immediate deployment, and same-day global shipping.

For GPU clusters requiring high-bandwidth all-to-all communication, TES-IT recommends QSFP56 HDR DACs for short intra-rack connections and QSFP56 AOCs (MFS1S00-HxxxE series) for inter-row or inter-room links. These provide 200 Gb/s throughput with ultra-low latency, making them ideal for all-reduce operations in AI training.

Yes. Mellanox cables are designed for linear scalability. Universities and HPC centers often start with DACs inside a single rack, then expand with AOCs or MPO/MTP fiber when clusters grow to multiple racks or data halls. TES-IT supplies both types, ensuring seamless cluster expansion.

Absolutely. TES-IT refurbished cables are signal-tested at full rated speed (100 GbE / 200 Gb/s InfiniBand) and certified with Mellanox Spectrum switches and ConnectX NICs. Many enterprise IT departments choose refurbished cables because they deliver OEM performance at up to 70% lower cost, with same-day availability.

Cloud providers typically use:

• DACs (MCP1650 series) for ToR (Top-of-Rack) and short-range connections

• AOCs (MFS1S00-HxxxE) for row-to-row or long-range connectivity

• QSFP28 to QSFP56 breakouts for mixed environments TES-IT can pre-bundle these with NICs and switches for faster deployment.

Low-latency industries (like fintech) use short passive DACs (e.g., MCP7F00-A002R30) to minimize serialization delay. These provide the fastest path between servers and switches, which is crucial for high-frequency trading and enterprise workloads that demand deterministic latency.

Yes. Current QSFP56 HDR cables support 200 Gb/s, and TES-IT also supplies OSFP and QSFP112 cables for next-generation 400 Gb/s NDR fabrics. This ensures HPC centers and cloud providers can future-proof infrastructure without major redesigns.

Yes. TES-IT provides compatibility consulting for academic HPC clusters. We guide IT teams in selecting the right mix of DACs, AOCs, and fiber for their budget, rack layout, and research workloads. Our pre-tested bundles reduce integration time and prevent costly mistakes.