HPE SY 300GB Interconnect Link 3M AOC - 876689-B21

HPE 876689-B21 Active Optical Cable Interconnect

Overview

The HPE 876689-B21 is a 3-meter active optical cable (AOC) designed for high-speed interconnect applications in enterprise storage and data center environments. This cable delivers 120 Gb aggregate data throughput, making it suitable for systems requiring sustained bandwidth across moderate distances without signal degradation. The 876689-B21 is factory-new, sourced direct from the manufacturer, with no grey-market or parallel imports.

Key Features

• 120 Gb data rate: Supports high-bandwidth interconnect requirements in storage arrays and modular systems. At 120 Gb throughput, you can move large datasets between nodes without bottlenecking — meaningful when scaling multi-node storage clusters or compute fabrics.
• 3-meter cable length: Pre-terminated active optical design eliminates field termination labor and test costs. You pull, plug, and validate — no splicing, no tuning required. The fixed 3m length works for rack-to-adjacent-cabinet or intra-cluster distances without excess coil overhead.
• Up to 15m maximum distance support: While this unit is 3m, the AOC technology platform supports up to 15m runs, giving you routing flexibility within your data center footprint. If you later need longer spans, the same connector and protocol family scales without cage redesign.
• Active optical architecture: Converts electrical signals to optical on transmit and optical to electrical on receive. This avoids copper-based EMI issues and reduces crosstalk in dense interconnect environments. Especially useful in high-frequency, high-noise machine-room deployments.
• Plug-and-play deployment: No calibration, no firmware updates, no driver configuration. Insert into both endpoints and signal lock occurs in seconds. Reduces commission time and troubleshooting surface when integrating into existing fabric or replacing failed interconnects.
• Enterprise-grade durability: Built to HPE specifications for repeated plug-pull cycles and vibration tolerance. Suitable for production data centers with hot-swap requirements and frequent reconfiguration.

Integration and Compatibility

The 876689-B21 is designed for HPE SY 300 interconnect systems and compatible modular storage platforms that support 120 Gb optical interconnect. Verify your system's AOC connector type and port configuration before ordering — this cable is engineered for specific HPE fabric implementations and is not universally interchangeable across all vendors. Consult your system documentation or HPE pre-sales engineering to confirm endpoint compatibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the 876689-B21 compatible with non-HPE systems?

A: The 876689-B21 is designed specifically for HPE SY 300 and compatible HPE fabric architectures. Compatibility with third-party systems depends on matching connector type and electrical/optical interface specs. Verify with your system documentation before ordering.

Q: Can I extend the 876689-B21 beyond 3 meters?

A: No. This cable is a fixed 3-meter terminated unit. The platform supports up to 15m maximum distances, but longer runs require a separately specified AOC. Contact HPE pre-sales engineering to spec a longer cable if needed.

Q: What is the warranty on the 876689-B21?

A: Manufacturer warranty terms are available from HPE documentation for this part number. Confirm the warranty period in your purchase order or HPE datasheet.

Q: Does the 876689-B21 require any special handling or storage?

A: As an active optical cable, protect the connectors from dust and moisture. Store in a cool, dry environment. Avoid sharp bends or kinks in the optical fiber core — AOC cables have a minimum bend radius specified by HPE. Handle connector caps until installation.

Q: What is the maximum distance I can run the 876689-B21?

A: This specific unit is terminated at 3 meters. The AOC technology platform supports operation up to 15m, but longer distances require a separately ordered cable.

Q: Is the 876689-B21 hot-swappable?

A: Yes. The cable is designed for hot-plug insertion and removal in HPE systems that support live fabric reconfiguration. Verify your specific system supports hot-swap before unplugging a live cable.

Jerry Tildsen

I've pulled the 876689-B21 into dense storage clusters where you need bulletproof interconnect between fabric switches and storage controllers. The 120 Gb throughput on a 3-meter run keeps your I/O predictable without copper EMI crosstalk — and that matters when you're running ten or more fabric cables in a single rack spine.

Technical Highlights:

• 120 Gb aggregate data rate: Eliminates throughput bottlenecks in multi-node storage architectures. You're looking at sustained fabric speed without the latency jitter you see on marginal copper runs in noisy environments.
• 3-meter pre-terminated AOC design: No field splicing, no test calibration. Pull the cable, seat both connectors, and you're live in seconds. Cuts your commissioning labor for a single interconnect from hours to minutes.
• Optical isolation from electrical noise: Active optical conversion means your signal path is immune to rack-level EMI from power supplies and drive spindles. In machine rooms with tight cable density, this isolation is worth its weight in uptime.

Deployment Considerations:

• Verify your HPE fabric endpoints support this exact connector type and optical interface before ordering. A mismatch leaves you with an expensive paperweight.
• The 3-meter fixed length is designed for intra-rack and adjacent-cabinet spacing. If your fabric layout requires longer spans, spec a 5m or 15m variant upfront rather than trying to daisy-chain cables.

This cable is the right pick for production HPE SY 300 fabrics where you need reliable, low-latency interconnect without the crosstalk and maintenance overhead of copper. Don't use it as a general-purpose data-center cable — it's engineered for a specific role and performs that role very well.