Ubiquiti UACC-AOC-QSFP28-10M 10-Meter Direct Attach Optical Cable
Overview
The Ubiquiti UACC-AOC-QSFP28-10M is a 10-meter direct attach optical cable designed for enterprise data center and network infrastructure deployments requiring high-speed interconnects beyond the typical 3-meter passive copper DAC range. This cable delivers 100 Gbps throughput and integrates with any Ubiquiti switch, router, or compatible network equipment featuring QSFP28 ports. The 10-meter length bridges network closets, distributed equipment racks, and cross-cabinet connections where standard passive copper direct attach cables or additional transceiver modules would otherwise be required.
Key Features
- 100 Gbps Throughput: Full-rate performance means you can max out QSFP28 port capacity without bottleneck — critical when aggregating traffic from multiple 25 Gbps or 40 Gbps uplinks into a single spine switch port.
- 10-Meter Reach: Passive copper DACs max out around 3–5 meters before signal integrity drops. This 10-meter active optical cable (AOC) extends that range by roughly 2–3x, eliminating the need for additional transceivers or inline modules in mid-range cabinet-to-cabinet runs.
- Direct Attach QSFP28 Connectors: No additional optics or adapters required — plug directly into QSFP28 ports on Ubiquiti switches, routers, and third-party QSFP28-equipped gear (Juniper, Cisco, Arista, etc.). Reduces inventory complexity and per-link cost compared to breakout modules.
- Lightweight (0.25 lb): Minimal cable weight reduces mechanical stress on port connectors and simplifies overhead cable trays and conduit runs in high-density environments.
- Hot-Plug Ready: Install or swap cables without powering down endpoints — useful for live network reconfiguration or maintenance windows.
- Vendor-Agnostic: Works with any network equipment that supports standard QSFP28 connectivity, not locked to Ubiquiti hardware alone. Useful if you have mixed-vendor switching architecture.
Integration & Compatibility
Before ordering, verify that your Ubiquiti switch, router, or third-party network appliance has available QSFP28 ports. If you're currently using passive 3-meter DACs and hitting physical or thermal constraints, this cable is a straightforward swap — same connectors, no firmware or configuration changes required. For data center cabling planning, confirm your run distance does not exceed 10 meters; if it does, consider intermediate switches or separate transceiver-based solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use the UACC-AOC-QSFP28-10M with non-Ubiquiti network equipment?
A: Yes. The cable uses standard QSFP28 connectors, so it will work with any switch, router, or network appliance that has QSFP28 ports — Juniper, Cisco, Arista, and others. No vendor lock-in.
Q: What is the maximum supported cable distance for this AOC?
A: The UACC-AOC-QSFP28-10M is rated for 10 meters (approximately 33 feet). Runs beyond this may result in signal degradation or link loss.
Q: Is this cable better than a passive copper DAC for long-distance runs?
A: Yes, for runs beyond 3–5 meters. Passive DACs are limited by signal attenuation and crosstalk over longer distances. Active optical cables (AOCs) like the UACC-AOC-QSFP28-10M actively regenerate the signal, making them the standard choice for 10-meter cabinet-to-cabinet interconnects.
Q: Do I need special power or management for this cable?
A: No. The cable is passive from the user's perspective — it draws minimal power from the QSFP28 port itself. No additional power supply, configuration, or monitoring is required.
Q: Will this work with my existing switch without firmware upgrades?
A: Yes. QSFP28 is a standard transceiver interface. As long as your switch or router has an available QSFP28 port and supports QSFP28 optics, the cable will plug in and negotiate link speed automatically.
Q: What happens if I run the cable longer than 10 meters?
A: Performance is not guaranteed beyond 10 meters. You may experience link instability, packet loss, or complete link failure. Ubiquiti specifies the 10-meter limit for reliable 100 Gbps operation — respect it.
Ted PerryPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
The UACC-AOC-QSFP28-10M solves a specific and common problem: passive copper DACs top out at 3–5 meters before you hit signal integrity limits, and anything longer forces you to buy additional transceivers (SFP28 or QSFP28 modules) and fiber on both sides. At 10 meters with active optical regeneration, this cable is cheaper per link than the transceiver-plus-fiber path and cuts latency slightly since there's no intermediate optic conversion. The 100 Gbps performance is full-rate — no oversubscription or negotiation down to lower speeds.
Technical Highlights:
- 100 Gbps Rated Throughput: Delivers full QSFP28 line rate; no bandwidth reduction or speed negotiation. Matters when aggregating multiple 25/40 Gbps flows into a single spine port or linking co-located racks with heavy east-west traffic.
- 10-Meter Active Optical Path: Integrated laser and receiver regenerate the signal, eliminating the copper DAC range wall. Compare to passive DACs, which degrade visibly beyond 5 meters due to insertion loss and crosstalk.
- 0.25 lb Weight: Low physical stress on QSFP28 connector pins — relevant in high-density ToR or modular chassis environments where cable management and connector longevity matter.
Deployment Considerations:
- Verify the receiving equipment actually has an available QSFP28 port; many older or lower-tier switches use SFP+ (10 Gbps) or SFP28 (25 Gbps), not QSFP28. Wrong port type = cable doesn't fit.
- 10 meters is the hard limit for signal integrity on this cable. Longer runs will degrade or fail. If your cabinet-to-cabinet distance exceeds 10 meters, use a separate fiber run with transceivers instead.
- Hot-plug capability is standard, but power-cycling the ports after installation is still good practice to ensure clean link negotiation, especially in noisy electrical environments.
Best fit: data center and enterprise campus environments where you're linking ToR or core switches across multiple cabinet rows and want to avoid the cost and complexity of separate SFP28 transceiver pairs. Not for long-distance inter-building runs — that's fiber with transceivers. Solid tactical choice for 3–4 year replacement cycles in mid-scale switching fabrics.
