DAC Direct Attach Cables

DAC stands for Direct Attach Cable, also known as direct cable, direct copper cable, or high-speed cable. It serves as a low-cost solution for short-distance connections, replacing optical modules. DAC cables have cable assemblies at both ends resembling modules, connecting only to fixed ports. Notably, the module head and copper are inseparable in DAC cables.

In contrast to active optical cables, DAC cables do not require costly optical lasers or additional electronic components in their connector modules. As a result, they offer savings in both cost and power consumption for short-distance connections.

Direct attached Twinax cables find widespread use in data center interconnections, including SATA storage devices, RADI systems, core routers, core switches, servers for 10G/40G/100G Ethernet, and InfiniBand. These cables offer a cost-effective and high-performance solution for various scenarios:

• Top of Rack (ToR)/Adjacent Rack: Passive or active DAC cables are suitable for shorter ToR or rack-to-rack operations, particularly when cost-effectiveness is a priority.

• Middle of Row: Active DACs may be preferred for this application, provided that the transmission distance remains below 15 meters.

• End of Row: DAC cables are well-suited for end-of-row architectures, given that the distance falls within the 15-meter limit.