HPE 845414-B21 100GB QSFP28 to QSFP28 15M Active Optical Cable
Overview
The HPE 845414-B21 is a 100Gb/s QSFP28 to QSFP28 active optical cable (AOC) with a 15-meter reach — the right choice when you need to bridge top-of-rack switches to spine-layer equipment across a mid-sized datacenter row without the signal degradation that passive copper hits at this distance. At 15 meters, passive DAC cables lose signal integrity at 100G speeds; AOC technology converts the electrical signal to optical at the transceiver end, travels the fiber span loss-free, and converts back — giving you a clean 100Gbps link where copper would require active re-driving circuitry anyway. The 845414-B21 packages that functionality into a single integrated cable assembly, eliminating the need for separate transceivers and patch fiber.
Compatibility
The 845414-B21 is engineered for HPE FlexFabric and Synergy switching platforms that accept QSFP28 form-factor ports operating at 100GbE or 4x25G breakout configurations. Compatible infrastructure includes HPE FlexFabric 5940 series switches, HPE Synergy interconnect modules with QSFP28 uplinks, and HPE ProLiant servers equipped with 100GbE QSFP28 network adapters. The cable also interoperates with any standards-compliant QSFP28 port using the 100GBASE-SR4 or 100G AOC specification — verify port firmware compatibility on non-HPE endpoints before deployment, as AOC cables rely on vendor-coded EEPROM data that some third-party switches may reject without firmware allowlisting.
Installation Notes
Route with a minimum bend radius appropriate for 15-meter fiber assemblies — excessive bending at the transceiver boot will degrade optical coupling and raise bit-error rates without triggering a hard link-down event. Seat both QSFP28 connectors fully until the latch clicks; partial seating is the leading cause of intermittent 100G link flap. AOC cables are not field-repairable — treat the integrated assembly as a single line-replaceable unit. Store in the original packaging if not immediately installed to protect the optical faces from contamination.
