NVIDIA Mellanox MC220731V-050 Active Fiber Cable, VPI, FDR InfiniBand 56Gb/s or 40GbE Ethernet, QSFP to QSFP, 50m: This enterprise networking cable is a 50-meter active optical fiber cable with QSFP connectors on both ends, part number MC220731V-050. It supports VPI (Virtual Protocol Interconnect) operation at up to FDR InfiniBand 56Gb/s or 40GbE Ethernet, with the protocol determined by the connected devices. As an active cable, it contains laser transceivers at each end. This is a refurbished unit, tested by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS.
Engineering Context
The MC220731V-050 provides a long-distance, high-bandwidth VPI interconnect using multimode fiber optics. At 50 meters, it far exceeds the reach of passive copper DAC cables (limited to approximately 5m for FDR). The active optical design delivers FDR InfiniBand at 56 Gb/s (4x 14 Gb/s lanes) or 40GbE Ethernet with minimal signal degradation over distance. Power is drawn from the QSFP ports at each end (typically 1–2W per connector). The VPI designation means the cable is protocol-agnostic — InfiniBand or Ethernet mode is determined by the connected adapters and switches, not the cable itself.
Deployment & Use Cases
Inter-rack FDR InfiniBand connections in HPC clusters running MPI workloads across multiple rows. Long-distance 40GbE Ethernet links between switches in spine-leaf fabrics spanning a datacenter floor. Storage network connections over 40GbE or FDR InfiniBand where distances exceed passive copper reach. Mixed InfiniBand/Ethernet environments where the same cable plant must support both protocols.
Technical Specifications
OEM: NVIDIA Mellanox
Part Number: MC220731V-050
Type: Active Fiber Cable (AOC)
Data Rate: Up to 56Gb/s (FDR InfiniBand) or 40GbE Ethernet
Lane Rate: 14 Gb/s per lane (4 lanes)
Protocol: VPI (InfiniBand + Ethernet)
Connectors: QSFP to QSFP
Length: 50 meters
Cable Type: Active Optical (multimode fiber)
Power: Requires power from QSFP ports (~1–2W per end)
Condition: Refurbished — Tested by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
Compatibility & Hard Constraints
QSFP Ports Required: Both ends are QSFP (original form factor). Compatible with ConnectX-2, ConnectX-3, and SwitchX/SwitchX-2 QSFP ports. Not compatible with QSFP+, QSFP28, QSFP56, or OSFP without verifying backward compatibility at the port level. FDR Maximum: Speed is limited to FDR (56Gb/s). Not designed for EDR (100Gb/s), HDR, or NDR speeds. Active Cable: Requires power from the QSFP ports. Will not function in unpowered or passive-only cage slots. VPI Protocol: Supports both InfiniBand and Ethernet — protocol determined by connected devices, not the cable. 50m Length: For shorter distances, passive copper DAC cables are more cost-effective. Predecessor: MC220731V-030 (30m). Longer option: MC220731V-100 (100m) if available.
Why Choose T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS tests every active fiber cable for optical power output, signal integrity, and connector condition before shipment. We provide expert consultation on InfiniBand and Ethernet fabric cabling, global shipping with 1–3 business day handling, and a comprehensive warranty.