HPE 844483-B21 25GbE SFP28 to SFP28 7-Meter Active Optical Cable

Overview

The HPE 844483-B21 is a 25Gb/s SFP28 active optical cable (AOC) in a 7-meter length, designed for high-density top-of-rack and inter-switch connections in HPE server and switching environments. AOC construction eliminates the reach limitations of passive Direct Attach Copper (DAC) at this distance — 7 meters exceeds the reliable range of passive copper assemblies at 25GbE speeds, making this the correct cable choice when switch-to-server or switch-to-switch runs cross a rack boundary or span a longer in-row cabinet distance. The integrated SFP28 transceivers at each end present a standard optical interface to the host port, with no additional modules required.

Compatibility

Designed for use with HPE FlexFabric and Aruba switching platforms that support SFP28 25GbE ports, including the HPE FlexFabric 5710 and 5945 series switches, as well as HPE ProLiant Gen9 and Gen10 servers equipped with 25GbE FlexLOM or PCIe adapters carrying SFP28 ports. The SFP28 form factor is electrically backward-compatible with SFP+ ports at 10GbE line rates — useful when connecting to mixed-generation infrastructure — though the cable is rated and sold for 25GbE operation. Verify SFP28 AOC support against your specific switch or adapter firmware revision before deployment; some early firmware releases restricted supported vendor cables.

Installation Notes

Active optical cables require no additional power connections — optical power is drawn from the host SFP28 port. Handle with standard fiber precautions: avoid sharp bends below the cable's minimum bend radius and do not over-tension during cable management. At 7 meters, route carefully through cable trays to prevent kinking. No tools are required for insertion; SFP28 modules latch into cages with a standard pull-tab release. Store in the original packaging with dust caps seated until installation to protect the optical interfaces.