HPE QK729A Premier Flex MPO/MPO OM4 8F 10M Cable
Overview
The HPE QK729A is a Premier Flex MPO-to-MPO trunk cable built on OM4 laser-optimized multimode fiber, terminated with 8-fiber MPO connectors on each end at a fixed 10-meter length. It's the interconnect you reach for when linking switches, blade enclosures, or SAN fabric that need parallel-optics throughput rather than a standard duplex LC run. QK729A ships as a factory-new, commercial-grade patch cable intended for structured cabling inside the data center or server room, not a field-terminated or user-configurable assembly.
Key Features
- MPO/MPO connectors: Both ends terminate in 8-fiber MPO connectors, so this cable drops straight into MPO-based trunk and breakout schemes without adapter panels — useful when standardizing a rack on parallel-fiber infrastructure instead of mixing connector types.
- OM4 multimode fiber: OM4 supports longer reach at higher data rates than OM3 on the same multimode budget, which matters if your switch-to-switch or switch-to-enclosure runs push toward the upper end of a 40/100GbE parallel-optics link.
- 8-fiber count: An 8-fiber MPO trunk is sized for a single 40GbE QSFP+ or 100GbE QSFP28 parallel-optics link (4 fibers transmit, 4 receive), so you're not over-provisioning strand count for a single-link run.
- Fixed 10-meter length: A pre-terminated 10m run covers typical intra-row or adjacent-rack distances without on-site splicing or termination labor — order the length that matches the run instead of coiling slack.
- Premier Flex construction: HPE's Premier Flex cable line uses a bend-tolerant fiber design, which helps in tight cable trays and dense patch panels where a stiffer legacy multimode cable would be harder to route without loss.
Integration & Compatibility
QK729A pairs with HPE switches, blade interconnects, and storage arrays that use 8-fiber MPO parallel-optics ports rated for OM4 multimode. Confirm your transceiver's optical budget and connector polarity (Type A/B/C) against your specific hardware before ordering, since MPO polarity schemes vary by deployment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What connector type does the QK729A use?
A: MPO connectors on both ends (MPO/MPO), 8-fiber configuration.
Q: What length is the QK729A?
A: 10 meters.
Q: Is the QK729A OM3 or OM4 fiber?
A: OM4 laser-optimized multimode fiber.
Q: Is the QK729A new or refurbished?
A: Factory-new, genuine HPE Premier Flex cable.
QK729A is a straightforward spec once you know what you're routing: 8-fiber MPO/MPO, OM4, fixed at 10 meters. That fiber count is the detail buyers miss — it's sized for one 40GbE or 100GbE parallel-optics link, not a multi-link breakout trunk.
Technical Highlights:
- OM4 multimode: gives you more reach headroom at 40/100GbE than OM3 on the same connector and fiber count — matters if the run is near the edge of your optical budget.
- 8-fiber MPO/MPO: matches a single QSFP+/QSFP28 parallel-optics transceiver pair directly, no breakout cassette required for a straight switch-to-switch or switch-to-enclosure link.
- 10m fixed length: right-sized for adjacent-rack or intra-row runs — order QK729A for that distance rather than using a longer trunk and managing slack in the tray.
Deployment Considerations:
- Verify MPO polarity (Type A/B/C) against the transceivers and any intermediate patch panels on both ends before pulling cable — polarity mismatches on MPO trunks are a common install-day surprise.
- This is a fixed-count 8-fiber trunk, not a 12/24-fiber cable — if the deployment plan involves breaking out to multiple duplex links later, QK729A isn't the right part; check HPE's higher-fiber-count Premier Flex trunks instead.
QK729A fits a data center row where you're running a single 40GbE or 100GbE parallel-optics link between adjacent racks and want a factory-terminated OM4 trunk instead of field-splicing fiber on-site.
