Direct attached cables are a type of data cable made up of Twinax cable. They typically have transceiver housings on each end of the cable. They are used for data transmission over short distances, usually in data centers.
DAC Cable Basics
DAC cables consist of two copper wires twisted within a single housing. The ends have special transceiver housings. They are usually both QSFP modules. However, some DAC cables have a single QSFP module on one end and four SFP modules on the other.
Direct cables use copper wiring instead of fiber optic cables. As a result, they provide a cost-effective solution for short-distance data transmission. They support 4x10G and 4x25G applications.
Industries such as cloud computing, telecommunications, and high-performance computing use direct attach cables to connect ports within hardware. Their SFP or QSFP modules connect to network equipment such as servers, switches, and drives.
Their simple construction and copper composition make DAC cables less expensive to produce than fiber optic cables. This makes them an economical choice for applications where fiber optics are not necessarily needed.
Uses for DAC Cables
Many people wonder what a DAC cable is used for. Direct attach cables connect network components directly through transceiver housings. They work well for short-distance top-of-the-rack data center applications. You can also use direct cables for middle-of-row and end-of-row applications under 15 meters.
Applications for DAC Cables
- Ethernet servers (10G/40G/100G/400G)
- Core routers and switches
- InfiniBand
- SATA storage devices
DAC cable is best suited for short-distance applications of less than about 15 meters. The exact distance depends on the diameter cable, transmission rate, and technology used in their construction. There are two main types of DAC cables: passive and active.
Passive DAC cable is suitable for up to about seven meters, although many consider the upper limit closer to five meters. These cables contain no electronics for signal conditioning.
Active DAC cables contain electronics to help support data transmission. You can use them for distances up to about 15 meters. However, advances in technology and transmission speeds mean that most DAC cables will be limited to five meters or less for speeds above 100 GbE.
Benefits of DAC Cables
DAC Cables are generally more affordable than other types of data cables, making them a cost-effective solution for transmission. They offer several benefits in addition to their affordability.
Benefits of DAC Cables
- Energy efficiency: Copper naturally dissipates heat, making direct attach cables an energy-efficient choice.
- Minimal power use: No or minimal electronic components means that DAC cables use very little power during normal operation.
- Simple construction: Our cables feature simple but robust construction for reliable performance.
Additionally, direct cables are very dependable, offering reliable performance over time. The connections are reliably strong, and copper is a durable cabling material.
Premium DAC Cables
At Equal Optics, we supply premium networking solutions to data centers, government offices, educational institutions, and many other industries. We supply DAC cables for diverse brands of equipment in various configurations. Shop our online store or contact us for a consultation. Our specialists will help you find data transmission cables to fit your needs.
