Identity & Definition
This passive copper hybrid breakout cable, the NVIDIA Mellanox MCP7901-X002, converts a single 40GbE QSFP port into four independent 10GbE SFP+ connections over a 2-meter twinax assembly. It is a breakout DAC (direct attach cable), not a standard trunk cable or fiber patch cord. The MCP7901-X002 is an Ethernet-only product and does not support InfiniBand. This is a refurbished unit, tested and verified by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS.
Engineering Context
The MCP7901-X002 operates by splitting the four 10 Gb/s NRZ lanes inside a single QSFP interface into four separate SFP+ outputs, each carrying one 10 Gb/s lane. As a passive copper cable, it introduces sub-microsecond latency and draws zero power. The 2-meter length is well within the IEEE 802.3ba passive copper specification for 10GBASE-CR at this gauge. The green pulltab on the QSFP end aids visual identification in dense cable environments.
Deployment & Use Cases
Top-of-rack 40GbE switch breakout to four 10GbE server NICs in VMware ESXi, KVM, or Hyper-V virtualization hosts. Maximizing port utilization on Mellanox SX1036, SN2100, or equivalent 40GbE switches by serving four 10GbE endpoints per switch port. Migration from dedicated 10GbE leaf switches to 40GbE infrastructure with breakout cables. Budget-conscious datacenter builds connecting storage arrays or compute nodes at 10GbE without dedicated 10G switch ports.
Technical Specifications
Manufacturer: NVIDIA Mellanox
Part Number (MPN): MCP7901-X002
Cable Type: Passive Copper Hybrid Breakout DAC (Twinax)
Aggregate Data Rate: 40 Gb/s
Per-Lane Rate: 10 Gb/s NRZ
Breakout Configuration: 1x QSFP to 4x SFP+
Length: 2 meters
Signaling: NRZ (Non-Return-to-Zero)
Power Consumption: 0 W (passive)
Pulltab Color: Green (QSFP end)
Protocol: Ethernet (IEEE 802.3ba)
Condition: Refurbished
Compatibility & Hard Constraints
The QSFP end of the MCP7901-X002 connects to any 40GbE QSFP port that supports breakout mode, including Mellanox SX1036, SN2100, SN2010, and equivalent switches from other vendors that support 4x10G breakout on QSFP ports. The four SFP+ ends connect to standard 10GbE SFP+ ports on server NICs such as ConnectX-3 or ConnectX-3 Pro. This cable is NOT compatible with QSFP28 (100GbE), QSFP56 (200GbE), QSFP-DD (400GbE), OSFP, or SFP28 (25GbE) ports. It does NOT support 100GbE-to-4x25GbE breakout — a different cable is required for that topology. It is NOT an InfiniBand cable and cannot be used in FDR or EDR fabrics. The MCP7901-X002 predecessor in the Mellanox lineup was the MC2609130-002 (different connector keying); the successor for higher-speed breakout is the MCP7F00-A002 (100G to 4x25G).
Why Choose T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS tests every breakout cable for signal integrity and connector condition before shipping. Technical consultation is available for breakout topology planning. Global shipping with 1–3 business day handling from our facility.