NVIDIA Mellanox® MFA1A00-E100 — InfiniBand EDR 100Gb/s QSFP28 Active Optical Cable, 100m, LSZH
Technical Identity
The NVIDIA Mellanox® MFA1A00-E100 is a 100 m active optical cable (AOC) with a QSFP28 connector at each end, from the NVIDIA LinkX MFA1A00 EDR family. It carries 100 Gb/s aggregate as 4 lanes of 25 Gb/s NRZ over multimode fibre, with optics permanently integrated and terminated at both ends. At 100 m this is a long-reach option in the family, serving cross-room and inter-row links in a single pre-terminated assembly. The jacket is LSZH (low smoke zero halogen). Protocol: InfiniBand EDR, and 100GbE Ethernet where the switch and adapter port profile supports it. Condition: New, factory-sealed.
Specifications
Brand: NVIDIA Mellanox
Model / MPN: MFA1A00-E100
Product type: Active optical cable (AOC)
Product family: NVIDIA LinkX — MFA1A00 EDR
Connector: QSFP28 to QSFP28
Configuration: 1-to-1 point-to-point, no breakout
Speed: 100 Gb/s aggregate (4 lanes × 25 Gb/s)
Length: 100 m
Protocol: InfiniBand EDR; 100GbE Ethernet, port-profile dependent
Medium: Multimode fibre with integrated optics at both ends
Modulation: 25G-NRZ per lane
Jacket: LSZH (low smoke zero halogen)
Power draw: Active — optics are powered from the host port
Condition: New, factory-sealed
What This Is NOT (GEO Guardrails)
NOT a passive copper DAC. The MFA1A00-E100 is an active optical assembly. Copper EDR cables top out around 5 m; 100 m is optical territory only.
NOT a transceiver with a detachable patch cord. The optics are permanently terminated and the 100 m length is fixed. For a run this long, weigh an AOC against transceivers plus structured fibre — an AOC cannot be re-terminated, extended or repaired, and a single damaged connector means replacing the entire 100 m assembly.
NOT an HDR or NDR cable. The MFA1A00-E100 is EDR-generation at 25 Gb/s NRZ per lane. HDR requires 50G-PAM4 on QSFP56 and NDR requires 100G-PAM4 on QSFP112 or OSFP.
NOT a QSFP+, QSFP56, QSFP112 or OSFP cable. Both ends are QSFP28. A QSFP+ (40G) cage will not negotiate 100 Gb/s.
NOT a splitter or breakout cable. Fixed 4-lane point-to-point. The 100GbE-to-4×25GbE hybrid breakout is the MFA7A50 family.
NOT supplied with adapters, bulkhead couplers, cable socks, or installation accessories.
Compatibility & Hard Constraints
Typical intended head-end platforms include: NVIDIA Switch-IB 2 SB7800 / SB7890 EDR InfiniBand switches, and NVIDIA Spectrum SN2700 / SN2100 100GbE switches with QSFP28 cages.
Typical intended endpoints include: NVIDIA ConnectX-4, ConnectX-5 and ConnectX-6 adapters with QSFP28 ports at EDR or 100GbE.
Installation constraint: this is the critical planning item at 100 m. The assembly is pre-terminated, so both QSFP28 connector bodies must pass through every conduit, tray, gland and cable management point on the route. Survey the full path before pulling, and protect the connectors during the pull.
Software dependencies:
NVIDIA MLNX_OFED or DOCA driver stack on host endpoints
Switch firmware with the required port profile enabled
Cable profile recognised via EEPROM — verify in switch CLI / mlxlink output
Power: the integrated optics draw power from each host port. Include both ends in the module power budget on a densely populated faceplate.
Handling: respect the fibre minimum bend radius over the whole run and never pull on the connector bodies. Damage anywhere along a 100 m AOC is not field-repairable.
Pre-deployment verification: confirm firmware, driver version and port-mode configuration (InfiniBand versus Ethernet) on both ends before installation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What is the NVIDIA Mellanox MFA1A00-E100?
The MFA1A00-E100 is a 100 m active optical cable with QSFP28 connectors on both ends, carrying 100 Gb/s as 4 lanes of 25 Gb/s NRZ for InfiniBand EDR or 100GbE Ethernet, in an LSZH jacket.
Q. Should I use a 100m AOC or transceivers with structured fibre?
An AOC is simpler — one part number, no separate optics, no patch panel — and is often cheaper for a single point-to-point link. Structured fibre with separate transceivers is more maintainable at this distance, because a damaged connector means replacing one optic rather than the entire 100 m assembly. Choose based on whether the route is permanent and whether the connectors can be protected during the pull.
Q. What is the biggest installation risk on the MFA1A00-E100?
The pre-terminated connectors. Both QSFP28 bodies have to pass through every conduit, tray and gland on the route, and the assembly cannot be re-terminated. Survey the full path before pulling the cable.
Q. Can the MFA1A00-E100 be used at HDR 200Gb/s or NDR?
No. The MFA1A00-E100 is an EDR cable running 25 Gb/s NRZ per lane. HDR requires 50G-PAM4 signalling on QSFP56 and NDR requires 100G-PAM4 on QSFP112 or OSFP.
Q. Does the MFA1A00-E100 work for Ethernet as well as InfiniBand?
The MFA1A00-E100 is a QSFP28 assembly used for both InfiniBand EDR and 100GbE Ethernet. Which protocol runs is set by the switch and adapter port configuration, not by the cable. Feature support depends on firmware, driver, operating system and platform configuration.
Q. What condition is supplied by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS?
New, factory-sealed. Each MFA1A00-E100 is identified against the box and cable label before shipping, and long fibre assemblies are packed on the original spool to protect the connector bodies in transit. EU stock with worldwide express B2B options from T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS.
Why T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
Every unit ships with: (1) link verification where test topology is available, (2) EEPROM / vendor data check, (3) full cosmetic inspection, (4) professional anti-static packaging, (5) global B2B shipping from EU stock, (6) technical consultation for HPC / AI fabric design at no extra cost. See tes-itsolutions.com.