The MFA1A00-C003 is a 100G QSFP28 Active Optical Cable (AOC) designed for high-density data centers, AI/HPC clusters, and spine-leaf networks where copper DAC cables can't reach. At 3 meters with OM3 multimode fiber, it delivers 100GbE connectivity with the lightweight, bend-friendly flexibility of fiber — and none of the bulk or EMI sensitivity of copper. Pre-programmed with EEPROM compatibility data and validated before every shipment.
Will This Cable Work With My Switch or Adapter?
Pre-coded for seamless plug-and-play recognition on:
-
Mellanox / NVIDIA Spectrum switches (SN2700, SN3800, SN4600 series)
-
NVIDIA ConnectX adapters (ConnectX-5, ConnectX-6 and compatible)
-
Mellanox networking platforms and MSA-compliant QSFP28 ports
- Enterprise Ethernet switches and servers with 100GbE QSFP28 ports
Not sure about your exact platform? Contact us before you buy — we'll confirm compatibility for free.
AOC vs DAC — Which Do You Need?
| Feature |
AOC (This Cable) |
Passive DAC |
Transceivers + Fiber |
| Reach |
✅ Up to 100m |
Up to 3m |
Up to 10km+ |
| Cable Weight |
✅ Very light |
Heavier (copper) |
Light |
| Bend Radius |
✅ Very flexible |
Moderate |
Careful handling needed |
| EMI Immunity |
✅ Full (optical) |
Susceptible |
✅ Full |
| Cost |
Medium |
✅ Lowest |
Highest |
| Power Draw |
Low (active) |
✅ 0W (passive) |
Higher |
Choose AOC when: your run is between 3–100 meters, you need flexibility in tight cable trays, or you're running through EMI-sensitive environments. Choose DAC for intra-rack runs under 3 meters where passive copper is cheaper and simpler.
Ideal Use Cases
-
Top-of-rack to end-of-row switch connections (3–30m)
-
Server-to-switch connectivity in dense AI and HPC deployments
-
Spine-to-leaf uplinks where cable trays are tight or long
-
Storage networking — NVMe over Fabric, iSCSI, NFS at 100GbE
-
Cross-row and inter-rack connections where DAC falls short
Common Mistakes This Cable Prevents
-
Ordering DAC for runs over 3M — passive copper won't reliably reach; AOC is the right tool
-
OEM-locked cables causing port rejection — our EEPROM pre-coding eliminates firmware-level incompatibility
-
Using transceivers + patch fiber when AOC is simpler — one cable, no separate fiber patch, no transceiver management
-
Underestimating airflow benefits — AOC is significantly lighter and slimmer than copper DAC, improving rack airflow
Technical Specifications
-
Part Number: MFA1A00-C003
-
Data Rate: 100Gb/s (100GbE)
-
Cable Type: Active Optical Cable (AOC)
-
Connector Type: QSFP28 to QSFP28
-
Cable Length: 3 Meters
-
Fiber Type: OM3 Multimode Fiber (MMF)
-
Input Voltage: 3.3V
-
Operating Temperature: 0°C to 70°C
-
Standards: QSFP28 MSA compliant
-
Protocol Support: 100GbE
The Resilient Tec Guarantee
- ✅ Pre-programmed EEPROM — recognized immediately by compatible switches and adapters
- ✅ Compatibility-tested before every shipment
- ✅ Lifetime warranty on all cables
- ✅ Talk to a real engineer — not a chatbot
We don't just ship cables. We make sure they work in your environment.
Related Products
- 100G QSFP28 AOC — other lengths (1M, 5M, 10M, 15M)
- 100G QSFP28 Passive DAC Cables (for intra-rack runs under 3M)
- 100G QSFP28 Transceivers (SR4, LR4) for longer distances
- 200G QSFP56 AOC Cables for higher-bandwidth applications
📋 View the full NVIDIA & Mellanox Interconnect Compatibility Guide for the complete tested model catalog.
