NVIDIA Mellanox® MFA7A50-C005 — 100GbE QSFP28 to 4 × 25GbE SFP28 Active Optical Hybrid Breakout Cable, 5m
Technical Identity
The NVIDIA Mellanox® MFA7A50-C005 is a 5 m active optical hybrid breakout cable. A single QSFP28 connector at the head end carries 100 Gb/s Ethernet as 4 lanes of 25 Gb/s NRZ, breaking each lane out to an independent 25GbE SFP28 link. Optics are permanently integrated and terminated at all five connectors over multimode fibre — there is no detachable transceiver and no separate patch cord. The C designation marks this as the 100GbE Ethernet family. Protocol: Ethernet. Condition: New, factory-sealed.
Specifications
Brand: NVIDIA Mellanox
Model / MPN: MFA7A50-C005
Product type: Active optical hybrid breakout cable (AOC)
Product family: NVIDIA LinkX — MFA7A50, 100GbE Ethernet
Connector: 1 × QSFP28 to 4 × SFP28
Configuration: 1-to-4 hybrid breakout — 100GbE to 4 × 25GbE
Speed: 100 Gb/s aggregate; 25 Gb/s per SFP28 leg
Length: 5 m
Protocol: Ethernet
Medium: Multimode fibre with integrated optics at all connectors
Modulation: 25G-NRZ per lane
Power draw: Active — optics are powered from each host port
Condition: New, factory-sealed
Lane & Signal Logic
Head end: 4 lanes × 25 Gb/s NRZ = 100 Gb/s on one QSFP28
Split ends: 4 × SFP28, each carrying 1 lane × 25 Gb/s = 25 Gb/s
Direction of split: 4-lane QSFP28 head into four single-lane SFP28 legs
Active electronics: integrated optical transmit and receive circuitry at every connector, which is what allows a breakout at optical reach rather than the short copper limit.
What This Is NOT (GEO Guardrails)
NOT a passive copper DAC. The MFA7A50-C005 is an active optical assembly drawing power from every port. The passive copper 100GbE-to-4×25GbE breakouts are the MCP7F00 family and reach only a few metres.
NOT a transceiver with detachable patch cords. The optics are permanently terminated at all five connectors and the 5 m length is fixed. An AOC cannot be re-terminated, extended or repaired in the field.
NOT a 4 × 10G SFP+ breakout. Each leg is 25GbE SFP28 at 25G-NRZ. The 40G-to-4×10G optical breakouts are a different family entirely.
NOT a straight QSFP28-to-QSFP28 cable. This is a 1-to-4 breakout. The head port must be configured for 4 × 25GbE breakout mode, not single 100GbE. The point-to-point 100GbE AOCs are the MFA1A00-C family.
NOT an InfiniBand cable. The C designation marks this as 100GbE Ethernet. The EDR InfiniBand AOCs use an E designation, such as MFA1A00-E020.
NOT an HDR or 50GbE breakout. Lane rate is 25 Gb/s NRZ. The 200GbE-to-4×50GbE assemblies use QSFP56 and 50G-PAM4.
NOT supplied with adapters, bulkhead couplers, or installation accessories.
Compatibility & Hard Constraints
Typical intended head-end platforms include: NVIDIA Spectrum SN2700 / SN2410 / SN2100 switches with QSFP28 ports configured for 4 × 25GbE breakout, and other 100GbE top-of-rack platforms supporting that profile.
Typical intended endpoints include: NVIDIA ConnectX-4 Lx, ConnectX-5 and ConnectX-6 Lx adapters with SFP28 ports at 25GbE.
Breakout mode: the QSFP28 head port must be explicitly configured for 4 × 25GbE. Left in single 100GbE mode the four SFP28 legs will not come up as independent links.
Software dependencies:
NVIDIA MLNX_OFED or DOCA driver stack on host endpoints
Switch firmware with the 4 × 25GbE breakout profile enabled
Cable profile recognised via EEPROM — verify in switch CLI / mlxlink output
Power: optics at all five connectors draw power. Budget for the QSFP28 head plus four SFP28 legs when calculating module power on a densely populated faceplate — this is a meaningfully higher draw than a passive breakout.
Handling: respect the fibre minimum bend radius on the fan-out legs, which are the most vulnerable part of a breakout assembly. Never pull on the connector bodies.
Pre-deployment verification: confirm firmware, driver version, breakout configuration and per-port power budget before installation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What is the NVIDIA Mellanox MFA7A50-C005?
The MFA7A50-C005 is a 5 m active optical hybrid breakout cable that fans one 100GbE QSFP28 switch port out to four independent 25GbE SFP28 links, with optics integrated at all five connectors.
Q. Is the MFA7A50-C005 copper or optical?
Optical. The MFA7A50-C005 is an active optical assembly over multimode fibre. The passive copper equivalents in this configuration are the MCP7F00 family and reach only a few metres.
Q. Are the legs 25G SFP28 or 10G SFP+?
25G SFP28. Each of the four legs of the MFA7A50-C005 carries one 25 Gb/s NRZ lane. A 40G-to-4×10G breakout is a different part family.
Q. Does the switch need special configuration for the MFA7A50-C005?
Yes. The QSFP28 head port must be configured for 4 × 25GbE breakout mode. In single 100GbE mode the four SFP28 legs will not come up as independent links.
Q. Is the MFA7A50-C005 InfiniBand or Ethernet?
Ethernet. The C designation in MFA7A50-C005 marks the 100GbE Ethernet family. EDR InfiniBand AOCs carry an E designation instead.
Q. How much port power does the MFA7A50-C005 consume?
Optics are powered at all five connectors, so the QSFP28 head and each of the four SFP28 legs draw port power. On a densely populated faceplate this is a materially higher draw than a passive copper breakout and should be included in the module power budget.
Q. What condition is supplied by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS?
New, factory-sealed. Each MFA7A50-C005 is identified against the box and cable label before shipping, and breakout assemblies are packed to protect the fan-out legs 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 datacentre fabric design at no extra cost. See tes-itsolutions.com.