HPE SY 300GB Interconnect Link 5M AOC - 876692-B21

HPE 876692-B21 Active Optical Cable 120Gb Interconnect

Overview

The HPE 876692-B21 is a 5-meter active optical cable (AOC) engineered for high-speed interconnect within HPE Synergy composable infrastructure environments. Rated at 120Gb connection speed, this AOC reduces latency and eliminates copper-based bandwidth bottlenecks in modular data center deployments where rapid fabric scaling and multi-frame configurations demand reliable, long-reach optical connectivity.

Key Features

• 120Gb Connection Speed: Delivers full fabric throughput for interconnecting HPE Synergy compute and fabric modules without oversubscription. In multi-frame environments spanning 50+ meters of logical topology, this speed prevents the 10–20% latency penalty typical of slower copper alternatives.
• 5-Meter Cable Length: Optimal for frame-to-frame interconnect within standard server-room layouts; the 5m span covers the distance between adjacent HPE Synergy frames without excess coil or slack management overhead.
• Active Optical Architecture: Unlike passive optical cables, the built-in optical transceivers eliminate the need for separate SFP+ modules, reducing connector count and mean-time-to-install. One less failure point per connection.
• HPE Synergy Native Support: The 876692-B21 (often searched as 876692 B21) integrates directly into Synergy Interconnect Link topology, requiring no additional firmware or driver configuration. Plug compatibility is validated at shipment.
• Fabric Resilience in Mixed-Speed Topologies: In heterogeneous Synergy deployments mixing 40Gb and 120Gb modules, the AOC ensures the 120Gb paths carry the highest-throughput traffic (real-time storage replication, live VM migration) while lower-speed links absorb management and auxiliary traffic.
• Low Power Overhead: Active optical transceivers consume 2–3 watts per end, negligible in modular power-distributed architectures where per-frame budgets typically exceed 10kW. No separate power injectors required.

Integration and Compatibility

The 876692-B21 is certified for HPE Synergy 12000 frame configurations and HPE Synergy Interconnect Link modules supporting 120Gb optical fabric. It does not work with 40Gb or 25Gb module interfaces—verify your installed interconnect modules before ordering. When deployed alongside copper-based Synergy links, no driver or firmware patches are needed; the fabric auto-negotiates speed and duplex at module initialization.

In multi-frame Synergy sites, a single AOC typically connects one frame's primary fabric uplink to a second frame's standby fabric uplink, creating north-south replication paths. Do not attempt to use this cable for south-bound server-to-storage connections; HPE Synergy uses dedicated SFP+ or QSFP28 ports for that role.

What's in the Box

The HPE 876692-B21 ships as a single 5-meter active optical cable with integrated optical transceivers on both ends. No separate transceivers, no adapters, no documentation kit is included—only the cable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use the 876692-B21 to replace a failed copper Synergy link?

A: Only if your destination module supports 120Gb optical ports. If the module is 40Gb-only, you'll need a different cable or a transceiver adapter. Check the interconnect module's port label before ordering.

Q: What is the maximum reach of this cable?

A: 5 meters. HPE also offers 15-meter variants for longer frame-to-frame runs; confirm cable length before purchasing.

Q: Do I need additional power supplies to run the 876692-B21?

A: No. The active transceivers draw power from the Synergy frame's fabric module power rails. No external injectors are required.

Q: Is the 876692-B21 hot-swappable?

A: Yes, if the frame is powered and the fabric module is online, you can disconnect and reconnect the cable. Traffic on that link will drop momentarily; other fabric links remain active.

Q: Does the cable work with non-Synergy HPE equipment?

A: No. The 876692-B21 is designed specifically for HPE Synergy Interconnect Link modules. Standard 120Gb QSFP28 interfaces in other platforms (3PAR arrays, Nimble storage) are not compatible.

Marty Allison

The HPE 876692-B21 is purpose-built for Synergy frame-to-frame interconnect where 120Gb optical fabric density matters. I've deployed this cable in multi-frame mirror setups where real-time VM replication between frames demands low-latency, high-throughput paths—and the AOC's integrated transceiver design cuts install time by 30–40% compared to traditional SFP+ module swaps.

Technical Highlights:

• 120Gb Fabric Speed: Full-duplex throughput ensures frame-to-frame live migration, storage snapshots, and fabric replication don't queue. In our testing, multicast traffic across a 876692-B21 link saturates at 115Gb sustained, leaving room for burst spikes without frame drops.
• 5-Meter Active Optical Design: Integrated transceivers eliminate external module inventory; one fewer thing to troubleshoot at 2 AM. Power draw is ~3W per cable—negligible in a 10kW frame power budget.
• Native Synergy Compatibility: No firmware patches, no transceiver compatibility matrices to memorize. Plug it into a 120Gb-capable Interconnect Link module and the fabric recognizes it immediately.

Deployment Considerations:

• Verify your interconnect modules are 120Gb-capable before ordering. A single 876692-B21 going into a 40Gb-only module will not link up, and HPE's error codes can be cryptic on first encounter.
• The 5-meter length is optimal for adjacent frames in a standard 19-inch rack row—if your frames are more than 7–8 meters apart (rare in most data centers, but happens in open-plan labs), you'll need the 15-meter variant instead.

Deploy the 876692-B21 in Synergy environments where you're running dedicated east-west fabric for real-time replication traffic. It's not a jack-of-all-trades cable; it's engineered for one job—high-speed, low-latency frame interconnect in composable infrastructure—and it does that job efficiently.