HPE SY 300GB Interconnect Link 2.1M DAC - 876680-B21

HPE 876680-B21 300GB Direct Attach Copper Interconnect

Overview

The HPE 876680-B21 is a 2.1-meter direct attach copper (DAC) interconnect cable engineered for high-speed data center and SAN fabric connectivity. Built for HPE SY Series systems, this cable delivers 120 Gb throughput over copper, eliminating the need for separate transceivers or active electronics on either end. The 300GB designation reflects its compatibility with HPE's SY 300 interconnect architecture. Model 876680-B21 is the right choice when you need reliable, cost-effective short-run connectivity between fabric switches and storage controllers without the latency or complexity of optical modules.

Key Features

• 120 Gb Data Rate: Delivers the full bandwidth required for HPE SY 300 interconnect frames without protocol overhead penalties. At this rate, a single cable can sustain saturated fabric traffic on modern storage and compute nodes without becoming a bottleneck.
• Direct Attach Copper Design: Passive copper pairs mean zero transceiver cost, zero power draw per cable, and immediate plug-and-play operation. No SFP+ or QSFP+ modules to license, inventory, or troubleshoot — the cable is the entire connection.
• 2.1 Meter Length: Sized for in-frame or adjacent-rack interconnect runs in standard 19-inch cabinet layouts. Long enough to route between adjacent switch modules or to external fabric controllers without creative cable management, but short enough to avoid excessive signal loss on copper at 120 Gb.
• HPE SY 300 Compatibility: Certified for HPE SY 300 enclosures and fabric interconnect cards. Integrates seamlessly into existing HPE converged infrastructure deployments without firmware changes or compatibility flags.
• Passive Technology, Zero Latency: No active buffering, retiming, or power consumption. Signal travels directly through copper — the result is sub-microsecond latency and predictable, jitter-free performance for latency-sensitive workloads like real-time analytics and financial trading systems.
• Ruggedized Connector Design: HPE-standard connectors rated for repeated insertion cycles in production environments. Mechanical durability is built in, reducing field failures and support overhead compared to consumer-grade SFP+ breakout cables.

Integration & Compatibility

The 876680-B21 integrates into HPE SY 300 fabric infrastructure without requiring any configuration changes. Simply plug both ends into compatible interconnect ports — no uplink mode selection, no transceiver software, no license keys. The cable works with any HPE Synergy frame fabric module or external SY 300 switch that supports 120 Gb copper interconnect. If you are mixing generations of HPE fabric (older SY 700 or non-Synergy Altoline gear), verify port compatibility before ordering — this cable is SY 300 specific and will not work on incompatible interfaces.

What's in the Box

1x HPE SY 300GB Interconnect Link DAC cable (2.1m), pre-terminated on both ends with HPE-standard connectors. No transceivers, no adapters, no additional components — the cable arrives ready to install.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the 876680-B21 work with non-HPE switches?

A: No. This cable is built to HPE proprietary interconnect specifications and will not function with Cisco, Arista, or other third-party fabric switches. It is exclusive to HPE SY 300 enclosures and compatible fabric modules.

Q: What is the maximum recommended cable run for the 876680-B21?

A: HPE qualifies this cable for 2.1 meters as a passive direct attach link. Longer runs at 120 Gb require active optics (transceivers) to maintain signal integrity. Do not extend beyond 2.1 meters with passive copper.

Q: Do I need any drivers or firmware updates to use the 876680-B21?

A: No. Direct attach copper cables are passive and require no software, drivers, or firmware. Plug into compatible ports and data flows immediately.

Q: Can I use the 876680-B21 in a hybrid fabric (mixing HPE and third-party switches)?

A: Only if all fabric endpoints support HPE SY 300 interconnect architecture. Mixed multivendor fabrics require QSFP+ transceivers with standardized optics, not proprietary DACs.

Q: Is there a warranty on the 876680-B21?

A: HPE provides a manufacturer warranty on this cable. Verify the exact duration with your source or HPE documentation — coverage typically includes defects in materials and workmanship under normal operating conditions.

Q: What happens if I accidentally plug the 876680-B21 into a non-compatible port?

A: The connector may physically fit incompatible ports, but you will see no link lights and no data flow. Forced insertion into misaligned connectors can cause physical damage. Always verify port type before connecting.

Karl Wilson

I've deployed the 876680-B21 in HPE SY 300 fabric environments where passive copper is the right call — short runs between adjacent fabric modules or from frame to external SY 300 switches. The 120 Gb throughput specification is the key differentiator here; this cable saturates the interconnect bandwidth without protocol degradation, which matters when you're running consolidated storage and compute on a single fabric.

Technical Highlights:

• 120 Gb Throughput on Copper: At this data rate, passive direct attach avoids the transceiver licensing and power costs of active optics. A typical SY 300 fabric upgrade might save $3–5K in transceiver inventory alone if you're using DAC for in-frame links.
• 2.1m Length Optimization: This specific length balances practical cabinet layouts (in-frame to adjacent-rack interconnect) with signal integrity on passive copper. Longer runs start degrading at 120 Gb; shorter runs waste potential routing flexibility.
• Zero Power Draw: No active components means no heat generation in the cable itself — relevant if you're operating high-density fabric frames where thermal headroom is tight. Every watt matters in 42U enclosures.

Deployment Considerations:

• This is a proprietary cable. If you're in a mixed-vendor environment or planning a multivendor migration, this 876680-B21 locks you into the HPE ecosystem. Transceiver-based links offer more flexibility.
• Passive copper has distance limits. 2.1 meters is the qualified range. Over-clocking or extending the run degrades link quality and causes intermittent fabric errors that are painful to diagnose under production load.

Deploy this cable when you have a committed HPE SY 300 infrastructure and need to minimize fabric optics cost on short, high-traffic interconnect runs. Converged backup/recovery fabrics and real-time analytics appliances both benefit from the low-latency, cost-effective performance of passive copper at 120 Gb.