NVIDIA Mellanox MC2206128-004 Passive Copper Cable, VPI, up to 40Gb/s, QSFP, 4m: This is a 4m passive direct-attach copper (DAC) cable for QSFP+ ports, supporting VPI operation up to 40Gb/s — InfiniBand FDR10/QDR or 40GbE Ethernet. The cable is fully passive and requires no power from host ports. This is NOT an active copper or AOC cable, and not a transceiver. This listing is for a Lot of 4 refurbished units.
Engineering Context
The MC2206128-004 is a 4m passive QSFP-to-QSFP twinax assembly designed for short-reach intra-rack and adjacent-rack interconnects in HPC and data center fabrics. It uses copper twinax wire pairs with no active electronics, which keeps power draw at 0W per port. As a VPI cable it can be used in either InfiniBand or Ethernet mode, depending on switch and adapter configuration. Latency is in the nanosecond range — significantly lower than any optical AOC. The connectors comply with the SFF-8436 QSFP+ mechanical specification.
Deployment & Use Cases
Top-of-Rack switch to server NIC connections in HPC clusters. InfiniBand FDR10/QDR fabric links between Mellanox switches and ConnectX-2 / ConnectX-3 adapters. 40GbE Ethernet uplinks within or between adjacent racks. Storage fabric interconnects where short reach makes optical cabling unnecessary. GPU compute node interconnect at 40Gb/s on legacy Mellanox infrastructure.
Technical Specifications
OEM: NVIDIA Mellanox
Part Number: MC2206128-004
Form Factor: QSFP+ to QSFP+ (SFF-8436)
Data Rate: Up to 40Gb/s (IB FDR10/QDR or 40GbE)
Cable Type: Passive Copper Direct Attach (DAC)
Length: 4m
Protocol: InfiniBand VPI / 40GbE Ethernet
Power Draw: 0W (passive, no electronics)
Conductor: Copper twinax
Lot Size: 4 units
Condition: Refurbished — Tested by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
Compatibility & Constraints
Compatible with Mellanox switches supporting QSFP+ at QDR/FDR10 or 40GbE — including IS5000 series and SwitchX-2-based switches in 40Gb/s mode. Compatible with ConnectX-2, ConnectX-3, and ConnectX-3 Pro adapters in QDR/FDR10/40GbE mode. NOT rated for FDR (56Gb/s) operation — use the MC2207126/MC2207128/MC2207130 series for 56Gb/s. Fixed 4m length; passive copper cables cannot be extended or repaired. OEM-equivalent compatibility with third-party QSFP+ ports are not guaranteed; verify with your switch vendor compatibility list before deployment.
Why Choose T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS tests every passive copper cable for continuity, signal integrity, and connector condition before shipment. We provide expert consultation on InfiniBand and Ethernet fabric cabling, global shipping, and 1–3 day handling. Visit tes-itsolutions.com for additional inventory and support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What protocol does the MC2206128-004 have?
The MC2206128-004 protocol is InfiniBand VPI / 40GbE Ethernet, as listed in the specifications for MC2206128-004.
What is the MC2206128-004 NOT compatible with?
This is NOT an active copper or AOC cable, and not a transceiver. Confirm fitment against your platform before ordering MC2206128-004.
What condition is the MC2206128-004 supplied in, and who sells it?
The MC2206128-004 is supplied in Refurbished condition by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS from EU stock, with 1-3 business day handling and worldwide B2B shipping. See https://www.tes-itsolutions.com/product-page/mellanox-mc2206128-004-cable-compatible-40g-qsfp-passive-direct-attach-copp-4m.