Arista CAB-Q-4S-100G-2M-Arista | 100G to 4x25G Breakout DAC Cable, 2m, Passive Copper

Q: What equipment is this breakout cable compatible with?
A: The CAB-Q-4S-100G-2M is designed for Arista switches and networking equipment with 100G QSFP28 ports. It allows you to break out one 100G port into four separate 25G SFP28 connections, ideal for connecting to servers, storage, or other switches with 25G interfaces.

Q: What is the maximum reach for this passive copper cable?
A: This is a 2-meter passive DAC cable optimized for very short distances within a rack or between adjacent racks. Passive copper cables are cost-effective but limited to short reach applications, typically up to 5 meters maximum depending on the model.

Q: Does this cable require external power or special configuration?
A: No, this is a passive copper cable that requires no external power source. It operates purely through the electrical signal from the host ports. The cable is hot-pluggable and typically recognized automatically by compatible Arista equipment without manual configuration.

Q: Can I mix this cable with other vendor equipment?
A: While this cable is programmed with Arista-specific EEPROM coding for guaranteed compatibility with Arista platforms, some third-party compatible versions may support cross-vendor operation. For mixed-vendor deployments, verify compatibility with your specific equipment or consider vendor-agnostic alternatives.

Q: What are the typical use cases for this breakout cable?
A: This breakout cable is commonly used in data center top-of-rack deployments where you need to connect multiple 25G servers or appliances to a single 100G uplink port on a switch. It provides a cost-effective way to maximize port density and reduce the number of high-speed ports required on core switches.