Arista CAB-D-4Q-400G-3M | 400G QSFP-DD to 4x 100G QSFP56 Breakout DAC Cable, 3m

SKU:CAB-D-4Q-400G-3M

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Description

The Arista CAB-D-4Q-400G-3M is a 400GBase-CU passive direct attach copper (DAC) breakout cable connecting one QSFP-DD port to four QSFP56 ports over 3 meters. This twinax cable delivers power-efficient 400G to 4x100G connectivity for short-distance data centre applications, using PAM-4 signalling with 2x 50G electrical lanes per 100G QSFP. Ideal for upgrading legacy 100G infrastructure to 400G spine-leaf architectures without requiring active optics.

Features

Passive twinax construction requires no external power, reducing operational costs and heat generation
- PAM-4 modulation delivers 100G per QSFP56 port using only 2x 50G electrical lanes
- Hot-pluggable design allows installation and removal without powering down equipment
- Compliant with IEEE 802.3ck 400GBASE-CR8 and 100GBASE-CR2 standards
- Low-latency copper connectivity ideal for intra-rack and adjacent-rack deployments
- Durable twinax cable construction with EMI shielding for reliable signal integrity
- MSA-compliant form factor ensures interoperability across vendors
- Cost-effective alternative to active optical cables for short-reach applications
- Supports full 400G aggregate bandwidth with breakout to four independent 100G paths

Warranty

All products sold by XS Network Tech include a 12-month warranty on both new and used items. Our in-house technical team thoroughly tests used hardware prior to sale to ensure enterprise-grade reliability.

All technical data should be verified on the manufacturer data sheets.

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Technical Specifications

FAQs

Technical Specifications

Cable type: 400GBase-CU passive direct attach copper (DAC)
- Connector 1: 1x QSFP-DD (400G)
- Connector 2: 4x QSFP56 (100G each)
- Cable length: 3 meters (9.8 feet)
- Signalling: PAM-4 (2x 50G lanes per 100G QSFP)
- Cable gauge: 28 AWG twinax copper
- Compliant with MSA (Multi-Source Agreement) standards
- Operating temperature: Commercial (0°C to 70°C)
- Power consumption: Passive, no external power required
- Hot-pluggable form factor

FAQs

Q: What is the primary use case for this breakout cable?
A: This cable is designed for data centre spine-leaf architectures where a single 400G QSFP-DD switch port needs to connect to four separate devices with 100G QSFP56 ports, enabling efficient scaling and legacy infrastructure integration.

Q: Can this cable be used with non-Arista equipment?
A: While coded for Arista switches, this cable follows industry-standard MSA specifications and may work with other vendors' equipment. Always verify compatibility with your specific switch models before deployment.

Q: What is the difference between passive and active DAC cables?
A: Passive DAC cables like this one use no active electronics and consume no power, making them cost-effective and energy-efficient for short distances up to 3m. Active cables support longer distances but require power and cost more.

Q: Is this cable suitable for 200G breakout configurations?
A: No, this specific cable model (CAB-D-4Q-400G) is designed for 400G to 4x100G breakout using PAM-4 signalling. For 200G breakouts, you would need the CAB-D-2Q-200G or CAB-D-4Q-200G series cables.

Q: Does this cable require any special licensing or software configuration?
A: No special licensing is required. The cable is plug-and-play once the switch port is configured for 400G breakout mode in the operating system. Consult your switch documentation for the specific breakout configuration commands.