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Arista Active Optical (AOC) Cables - Refurbished, Used, New
Arista active optical cables (AOCs) are fiber cables with a transceiver permanently fitted to each end, used to link Arista switch ports across a row of racks or a data hall where a copper DAC cannot reach. The optics are sealed into the cable, so there is no fiber to clean, no connector to mismatch and nothing to inspect in the field. This collection covers Arista AOCs at 10G, 25G, 40G, 100G and 400G in lengths from 1m to 75m. NetworkTigers sells them refurbished, used and new, and every cable is tested before it ships.
Arista AOC cables by speed
| Part-number family | Speed, connectors and lengths on this page | Shop |
|---|---|---|
| AOC-S-S-10G-xM | 10G SFP+ to SFP+, 3m, 5m, 7m, 10m, 15m and 20m | 3m | 5m | 7m | 10m | 15m | 20m |
| AOC-S-S-25G-xM | 25G SFP28 to SFP28, 3m, 5m, 7m, 10m and 30m | 3m | 5m | 7m | 10m | 30m |
| AOC-Q-Q-40G-xM | 40G QSFP+ to QSFP+, 3m, 5m, 10m, 15m, 20m, 25m and 75m | 3m | 5m | 10m | 15m | 20m | 25m | 75m |
| AOC-Q-Q-100G-xM | 100G QSFP28 to QSFP28, 1m, 3m, 5m, 7m, 10m, 15m, 20m and 30m | 1m | 3m | 5m | 7m | 10m | 15m | 20m | 30m |
| AOC-D-D-400G-xM | 400G QSFP-DD to QSFP-DD, 1m and 10m | 1m | 10m |
| Related Arista | Copper cables and separate optics for the same ports | Arista optics hub | DAC cables | Breakout cables | 40G QSFP+ | 100G QSFP28 |
AOC, DAC or transceivers and fiber?
Inside one rack, or to the rack next door, a DAC is the cheapest link and the one to pick. Past the reach of passive copper, which shrinks as speed rises, an AOC gives you a single part number, lower power than two optics, and a thinner, lighter cable that is easier to route through overhead trays than twinax. The trade is flexibility: the length is fixed, the ends cannot be swapped, and if either end fails the whole cable is replaced. Choose transceivers plus structured fiber when the run goes through patch panels, when you want to change speeds later without recabling, or when the distance is beyond the longest AOC in the family. For an AOC, measure the routed path and pick the next length up, and confirm both switch ports are the matching form factor: SFP+ at 10G, SFP28 at 25G, QSFP+ at 40G, QSFP28 at 100G, QSFP-DD at 400G.
Frequently asked questions
Does an AOC need the port to be set up differently from a transceiver?
No. EOS sees each end of an AOC as a transceiver of the matching speed, so the port configuration is the same as it would be for a pluggable optic. There is no fiber type or wavelength to match because the fiber inside the cable is already paired to its ends.
Can I run an AOC through a floor or ceiling cable tray next to power?
Yes. The cable is fiber, so it is immune to electrical interference. The things to protect are the bend radius along the run and the transceiver ends, which should be capped until they are plugged in.
Will an Arista AOC link an Arista switch to a server adapter from another vendor?
Usually. The Arista end is coded for the switch, which is the side that checks. Most server NICs accept any standards-based end at the right speed, but a few adapter vendors lock their ports to their own coding, so check the adapter's documentation or send us the adapter model and we will confirm.
NetworkTigers has sold enterprise network equipment since 1996. Every cable carries the NetworkTigers 365-day warranty. Need a length or quantity that is not listed? Ask us for a quote.
Arista AOC-D-D-400G-1M 1m 400G QSFP-DD Active Optical Cable
