Arista AOC-S-S-10G-3M | 10G SFP+ Active Optical Cable, Multimode, 3M

Q: What is the difference between an Active Optical Cable (AOC) and a Direct Attach Copper (DAC) cable?
A: An AOC like the AOC-S-S-10G-3M uses optical fibre internally with integrated transceivers at each end, offering lower signal loss, lighter weight, and better EMI immunity compared to DAC copper cables. AOCs are generally preferred for runs over 3–5 metres or in environments with significant electromagnetic interference, while DACs are typically lower cost for very short runs under 3 metres.

Q: Which Arista switches and devices is the AOC-S-S-10G-3M compatible with?
A: The AOC-S-S-10G-3M is compatible with Arista switches, routers, NICs, and network storage systems that feature SFP+ ports. It is MSA-compliant (SFF-8431/SFF-8432/SFF-8472), which also allows use with compatible third-party equipment supporting standard 10G SFP+ interfaces.

Q: What protocols does this AOC support beyond 10 Gigabit Ethernet?
A: In addition to 10GbE, the AOC-S-S-10G-3M supports 4G and 8G Fibre Channel as well as InfiniBand QDR, DDR, and SDR — making it suitable for SAN storage connectivity and high-performance computing (HPC) interconnect applications, not just standard Ethernet networking.

Q: Is this cable hot-pluggable and does it require any special configuration?
A: Yes, the AOC-S-S-10G-3M is fully hot-pluggable. It can be inserted and removed from active SFP+ ports without powering down the device. No additional software configuration is required for physical layer connectivity — simply plug in and the link will establish automatically.

Q: Can I purchase the Arista AOC-S-S-10G-3M in Australia from IP Trading?
A: Yes. IP Trading (iptrading.com.au) is an authorised Australian B2B IT hardware reseller supplying Arista optics and cables with fast shipping across Australia. Contact our team for volume pricing, lead times, or assistance selecting the right cable length or form factor for your deployment.

Q: What warranty is included with the AOC-S-S-10G-3M?
A: The Arista AOC-S-S-10G-3M comes with a 1-Year Limited Hardware Warranty covering parts, repair, or replacement with a 10 business day turnaround after the unit is received. Next Business Day and 4-hour advance hardware replacement support services are also available for organisations requiring higher service levels.