NVIDIA Mellanox® MFA1A00-C015 100GbE QSFP28 Active Optical Cable (AOC): This is a long-reach, high-performance active optical cable assembly engineered for inter-rack and cross-row Ethernet connectivity. It leverages multimode fiber technology driven by embedded VCSELs (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers) to deliver consistent 100Gb/s throughput over 15 meters, distances where passive copper solutions are physically impossible. This is a fixed-length integrated cable assembly, not a transceiver with a detachable patch cord, ensuring sealed optics and zero field contamination.
🔧 Technical Specifications
OEM: NVIDIA / Mellanox
P/N: MFA1A00-C015 (Equivalent to 980-9I13A-00C015)
Data Rate: 100GbE (4x 25G NRZ Lanes)
Length: 15m (Active Optical)
Connector Type: QSFP28 to QSFP28
Jacket Rating: LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen)
BER (Bit Error Rate): < 1E-15
🌐 Engineering Context: Designed for "Middle-of-Row" (MoR) or "End-of-Row" (EoR) topologies, this 15m AOC bridges the gap between Top-of-Rack switches and aggregation layers. Unlike heavy copper bundles that sag and obstruct airflow, this lightweight fiber assembly puts negligible stress on switch ports ("Port Pull"). It provides complete "EMI Immunity," essential when routing cables near power distribution units (PDUs) or high-voltage lines. The LSZH jacket ensures compliance with strict data center fire safety codes.
🧠 Typical Use Cases
Cross-row connectivity between racks in a data hall.
Connecting GPU Compute Nodes to Storage Appliances over longer spans.
Data Center Spine-Leaf Interconnects where reach exceeds 5m.
Deployments in older data centers with limited cable tray weight capacity.
 
✅ Compatible With: NVIDIA Spectrum™ Series Switches (SN2000, SN3000, SN4000), NVIDIA ConnectX-4, ConnectX-5, and ConnectX-6 Dx EN Adapter Cards. (Requires ports configured for native 100GbE Ethernet operation and MSA-compliant support).
❌ NOT Compatible With: InfiniBand EDR ports (unless the switch supports Ethernet/InfiniBand VPI mode reconfiguration), SFP28 ports, or standard 40GbE ports without forward error correction (FEC) adjustments.
 
⚠️ Cable Management: At 15 meters, slack management is critical. Use "Figure-8" looping for excess length rather than tight coils to prevent bend-radius violations. The minimum bend radius is 30mm. Do not crush the fiber cable with zip ties; use velcro straps.
⚠️ Latency Profile: While slightly higher latency than a 1m DAC due to O/E (Optical-to-Electrical) conversion, the signal integrity at 15m is superior to any copper alternative. FEC (Forward Error Correction) is typically required on the host port for robust link stability.
 
🤝 Why Choose T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS? We specialize in enterprise-grade NVIDIA networking solutions. Every unit is strictly validated for 100GbE Ethernet performance and optical power levels in our lab. We offer expert consultation, fast worldwide shipping, and a comprehensive warranty to ensure your data center infrastructure runs without compromise.