NVIDIA Mellanox MFA1A00-E100 100Gb/s InfiniBand EDR Active Optical Cable, QSFP28, 100m LSZH: This is a 100-meter active optical cable (AOC) engineered for 100Gb/s InfiniBand EDR fabrics. The cable uses VCSEL optics over multi-mode fiber with a Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) jacket. It is a fixed-length factory-terminated assembly with integrated QSFP28 transceivers at each end — not a transceiver pair plus separate patch cord. NVIDIA P/N: 980-9I135-00E100. This is a refurbished unit.
Engineering Context
The MFA1A00-E100 is the longest-reach AOC in the MFA1A00 EDR family, designed for inter-row and inter-hall InfiniBand EDR connectivity beyond the reach of passive copper or shorter AOCs. Optical signaling provides full EMI immunity along the 100m run and decouples ground references between distant racks. The integrated retiming and equalization circuitry in the QSFP28 ends maintain BER below 1E-15 across the full length. EDR signaling uses 4 lanes of 25Gb/s NRZ. The LSZH jacket meets data center fire-safety codes that prohibit halogenated jacketing.
Deployment & Use Cases
Long-reach InfiniBand EDR fabric connections between Switch-IB 2 director switches and remote leaf switches. HPC cluster spine connections spanning multiple rows or floors. ConnectX-4 and ConnectX-5 EDR adapter uplinks where copper or shorter AOCs cannot reach. Building-backbone IB connectivity in storage and AI training clusters.
Technical Specifications
- OEM: NVIDIA Mellanox
- Part Number: MFA1A00-E100
- NVIDIA P/N: 980-9I135-00E100
- Form Factor: QSFP28 to QSFP28 (Point-to-Point)
- Data Rate: 100Gb/s (4x 25Gb/s NRZ)
- Cable Type: Active Optical Cable (AOC)
- Length: 100m
- Jacket: LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen)
- Protocol: InfiniBand EDR
- BER: <1E-15
- Condition: Refurbished — Tested by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
Compatibility & Hard Constraints
Compatible with NVIDIA Mellanox Switch-IB 2 (SB7800/SB7890), Quantum HDR-200 in EDR-downlink mode, and ConnectX-4 / ConnectX-5 VPI adapters configured for InfiniBand EDR. Requires QSFP28 ports configured for InfiniBand EDR. Not compatible with 100GbE Ethernet ports without firmware reconfiguration on VPI hardware; on EN-only adapters this AOC will not negotiate Ethernet. Not a breakout cable — direct QSFP28 to QSFP28. Length is fixed at 100m.
Why Choose T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS verifies optical power output, lane integrity, and connector condition on every AOC before shipment. We provide expert consultation on InfiniBand fabric design and 1–3 day handling on stock items. Visit tes-itsolutions.com for full inventory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What data rate does the MFA1A00-E100 have?
The MFA1A00-E100 data rate is 100Gb/s (4x 25Gb/s NRZ), as listed in the specifications for MFA1A00-E100.
What is the MFA1A00-E100 NOT compatible with?
It is a fixed-length factory-terminated assembly with integrated QSFP28 transceivers at each end — not a transceiver pair plus separate patch cord. Confirm fitment against your platform before ordering MFA1A00-E100.
What condition is the MFA1A00-E100 supplied in, and who sells it?
The MFA1A00-E100 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/mfa1a00-e100-active-optical-cable-infiniband-edr-up-to-100gb-s-qsfp28-lszh-100m.