High-speed cables (DAC, Direct Attach Cable) include passive copper cables, active copper cables (ACC), and active cables (AEC). They are significantly cheaper than fiber optics, which can greatly reduce the costs of data centers. Compared to DAC, active optical cables (AOC) offer advantages such as being lighter, smaller, having lower error rates, and supporting longer transmission distances. DAC and AOC are widely used for short-distance interconnections in network cards, switches, servers, supercomputers, cloud computing, and data centers. All these cables support both direct and branching connections.
800G DAC
The rise of large and ultra-large-scale data centers has significantly increased the power capacity of individual server racks, shortening the vertical wiring distance. Therefore, the 800G DAC wiring solution for data centers is widely used to connect servers within racks. They operate using passive copper wires and ensure high-quality connections without the need for additional power. DAC comes in two branching types: direct connection and branching connection, suitable for OSFP and QSFP-DD.
800G ACC/AEC
In high transmission rate scenarios, the loss of copper cables increases, and the interconnection length cannot meet the demand, leading to the introduction of ACC and AEC. ACC uses a Redriver chip architecture to adjust the gain at the Rx end through CTLE equalization, functioning more like an active cable that amplifies analog signals. AEC, on the other hand, employs a retimer chip architecture that not only amplifies and equalizes signals at both the Tx and Rx ends but also reshapes the signals at the Rx end. ACC and AEC are also used to connect TOR and servers. They simplify the patching process and provide a cost-effective solution for short links, enabling greater bandwidth transmission.
800G AOC
The 800G AOC increases bandwidth, minimizes latency, and reduces power consumption, making it highly suitable for distributed data centers and cloud environments. Additionally, the PAM4 DSP technology optimizes the performance of VCSEL while lowering costs and complexity. Ruijie Optoelectronics‘s 800G AOC point-to-point interconnect speed can reach 800Gbps, with a distance of up to 100 meters, and supports a single 800Gbps interface connecting two 400G QSFP-DD modules in a branching cable configuration. This branching cable is ideal for connecting next-generation switches operating at 800Gbps to existing ports running at 400Gbps without the need for additional conversion or mapping.
Optical cable solutions for 800G data centers
Compared to DAC and AOC, 800G optical cables provide superior performance and efficiency for high-speed data transmission, suitable for high-density wiring solutions. The advantages of optical cables are significant, featuring minimal latency, low power consumption, and longer transmission distances, ensuring more stable and reliable connections for long-distance requirements. The deployment of 800G data centers requires careful consideration of different factors.
About Ruijie
As a leading brand in AI optical modules, Ruijie Optoelectronics is committed to providing innovative products and solutions for global data centers, supercomputing centers, intelligent computing centers, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence customers. Ruijie Optoelectronics continuously drives technological innovation, with high-performance 400G and 800G optical modules already in mass production, and 1.6T optical modules under development.
Ruijie Optoelectronics serves over 1500 global customers, with subsidiaries and operation centers established in Shenzhen, Beijing, Hong Kong, and other regions. It has a research and development center in Shenzhen and a smart manufacturing base of over 3000 square meters, providing OEM/ODM/JDM services for high-speed optical modules (including liquid cooling), high-speed cables, active optical cables, and more. Ruijie Optoelectronics collaborates with you to create an AI future!