IBM Mellanox® 01FT722 100GbE QSFP28 Active Optical Cable (AOC): This is a carrier-grade active optical cable assembly designed for high-throughput Ethernet data center fabrics. It integrates four multi-mode fiber lanes with embedded VCSEL transceivers into a single QSFP28 housing, delivering 100Gb/s aggregated throughput. This is a fixed-length integrated cable assembly, not a transceiver with a detachable patch cord, ensuring factory-calibrated optical alignment and protection against contamination.
🔧 Technical Specifications
OEM: IBM
P/N: 01FT722 (Equivalent to MFA1A00-C003 / 980-9I13S-00C003)
Data Rate: 100GbE (4x 25G NRZ)
Form Factor: QSFP28 to QSFP28
Cable Type: Active Optical (Multi-mode Fiber) with LSZH Jacket
Power Consumption: < 2.5W per end (Typical)
🌐 Engineering Context: This AOC is engineered for environments where standard Copper DAC cables fail due to distance, weight, or electromagnetic interference (EMI). Compared to equivalent copper solutions, this AOC offers significantly lower weight (reducing port strain), a tighter bend radius for cable management arms, and total EMI immunity. The Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) jacket is mandatory for poorly ventilated areas or confined spaces to ensure personnel safety during thermal events.
🧠 Typical Use Cases
Connecting IBM Power Systems to 100GbE Top-of-Rack Switches.
High-frequency trading environments requiring EMI-immune data paths.
Inter-rack connectivity (up to 3m) where airflow obstruction must be minimized.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) using RoCE v2 protocols.
 
✅ Compatible With: IBM Power Systems, NVIDIA Spectrum™ Series Ethernet Switches (SN2000/SN3000), and ConnectX-4/5/6 Series Adapters. (Requires ports configured for native 100GbE Ethernet operation and MSA-compliant support).
❌ NOT Compatible With: Legacy 10G/40G QSFP+ ports (unless port supports speed negotiation), SFP28 ports, or environments requiring breakout capabilities (this is a direct attach cable).
 
⚠️ Fiber Handling: Unlike copper, the internal fiber strands are glass. Do not crimp or zip-tie tightly. Maintain a minimum bend radius of 30mm to avoid attenuation or micro-bends.
🔥 Material Safety: This cable utilizes an LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) jacket. In the event of a fire, it emits limited smoke and no toxic halogen gases, making it compliant with strict European and North American building codes for plenum and enclosed spaces.
 
🤝 Why Choose T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS? We specialize in enterprise-grade IBM and NVIDIA networking solutions. Every unit is strictly validated for 100GbE Ethernet performance in our lab. We offer expert consultation, fast worldwide shipping, and a comprehensive warranty to ensure your data center infrastructure runs without compromise.