NVIDIA LinkX Ethernet DAC Cables

Learn about direct attach copper (DAC) cables and splitters for GPU-accelerated computing.

NVIDIA^® LinkX^® Ethernet DAC cables are the lowest-cost way to create high-speed 100G–400G links in Ethernet switching networks and for NVIDIA GPU-based systems. DACs are widely used in data centers to connect servers and GPU compute systems to the top-of-rack (TOR) switches and link spine-to-superspine switches inside racks over short cable lengths. Designed and manufactured by LinkX Optics, every part is extensively tested in live GPU and switching systems and used in the NVIDIA-Certified Systems™.

Lowest Cost, Power, and Latency

LinkX-certified cables are 100 percent tested in actual NVIDIA GPU and switching systems to ensure optimal signal integrity and the best end-to-end performance. NVIDIA DAC cables are designed for use in supercomputers and hyperscale systems that have very stringent requirements. All NVIDIA cables are tested to bit error ratios (BER) lower than IEEE industry standards. They’re available in lengths from 0.5m to 7m, in small form-factor pluggable (SFP) and quad small form-factor pluggable (QSFP) options, and with 10G/25G-non-return-to-zero (NRZ) and 50G-4-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM4).

The low-loss 25G- NRZ-based DAC cables support the IEEE CA-N and CA-L specifications. When used at <2 meters, they enable running switches with NO-forward error correction (FEC) or reduced-FEC to save latency and power.

Highlights

PORT SPEEDS

10G-400Gb/s

STRAIGHT AND SPLITTERS

1x, 2x, 4x

FORM FACTORS*

SFP, QSFP, QSFP-DD

MODULATION TYPES

25G NRZ, 50G-PAM4

* QSFP-DD: quad small form-factor pluggable double density

Low Cost, Near-Zero Power, Low Latency and Insertion Loss

LinkX AOC cables are used extensively in cloud and supercomputers due to their low-cost, high-value proposition and increased reliability over connectorized transceivers. LinkX AOCs match the same splitter configurations as direct-attach copper (DAC) cables but are lighter, more flexible, allow more airflow, and support longer reaches, extending up to 30–100 meters. AOCs are used extensively to link NVIDIA GPU-based artificial intelligence systems to Ethernet networks and Ethernet storage fabrics (ESF).

Key Features
- 25G-NRZ up to 5 meters; 50G-PAM4 up to 2.5 meters
- 25G-NRZ supports IEEE CA-N No-FEC or reduced-FEC low-latency operation
- Available in two-, four-, and eight-splitter configurations
- Extensive 10/25/50/100/200/400G product offering
- Designed and manufactured by NVIDIA LinkX-Optics
- Tested and certified in NVIDIA GPU, DGX™, EGX™, and DPU systems

Benefits

Lowest-cost, high-speed interconnect
Consumes near-zero power and has near zero-latency delays
Every part tested in NVIDIA GPU and switching systems for guaranteed out-of-the-box optimal operation
Designed to beyond IEEE industry BER standards for reliable operation under harsh operating conditions
Highly reliable with no electronics or optical connectors

High-Speed Interconnects

The latest rapid growth in data center traffic and cloud computing has resulted in tremendous increases in machine-to-machine traffic due to rapid adoption of server virtualization, software-defined networks (SDNs), and in-cloud computing. Now add the massive bandwidth requirements for networking terabytes of data for training Artificial Intelligence (AI) machine learning (ML) GPU-based systems.

This is driving massive demands for high-bandwidth and low-latency networks. High-speed DAC and AOC cables and optical transceiver interconnects are playing a critical role in these modern data center technologies.

Ethernet DAC Straight Cable

* LSZH: low-smoke, zero-halogen cable jackets; PVC: polyvinyl chloride cable jackets.
** 50G-PAM4-based 50G, 200G, and 400G DACs support 3m IEEE cable standards, but 2.5m in NVIDIA switching systems.

Ethernet DAC Splitter Cable

Splitter cables are also called “breakout” cables.
* LSZH: Low-smoke, zero-halogen cables support IEEE CA-N and CA-L low-loss specifications; PVC: polyvinyl chloride cable jackets.
** See product briefs for detailed product codes, specifications, and reach lengths.
*** 50G-PAM4-based 50G, 200G, and 400G DACs support 3m IEEE standards, but 2.5m in NVIDIA switching systems.