AOC-QSFP-40G-10M-BCC | Dell Compatible QSFP to QSFP Active Optical Cable, 40GB, 40GBASE-AOC | 10M

Q: Will this work in place of the Dell AOC-QSFP-40G-10M?
A: Yes. This cable matches the Dell AOC-QSFP-40G-10M in form factor, data rate, wavelength, and MSA compliance. It is coded for Dell platforms and provides plug-and-play compatibility with any Dell switch or router that accepts the original part.

Q: Which Dell platforms support this cable?
A: This cable is compatible with Dell networking switches and routers equipped with QSFP+ ports that support 40GBASE-SR4 or 40G Ethernet operation. This includes Dell Force10, Dell EMC Networking S-Series, Z-Series, and other platforms with 40G QSFP+ interfaces. Confirm your device has QSFP+ ports rated for 40 Gb/s operation.

Q: What fibre types are used internally in this AOC?
A: This active optical cable uses multi-mode fibre internally, operating at 850nm over four parallel lanes. The embedded optical transceivers at each end convert electrical signals to optical and back, so the cable appears as a standard QSFP+ module to the host. No external fibre patch cords are required.

Q: Can I monitor cable health and diagnostics through the QSFP+ interface?
A: Yes. The cable supports I2C management via the QSFP+ ModSelL and two-wire serial interface. You can read vendor information, temperature, voltage, and operational status from the module memory map as defined in SFF-8436. Check your switch documentation for commands to access digital diagnostics.

Q: How does an AOC compare to a passive DAC for 10 meter runs?
A: At 10 meters, an AOC provides superior signal integrity and lower insertion loss compared to passive copper DAC, which becomes impractical beyond 7 meters at 40 Gb/s. AOCs also offer better electromagnetic immunity and lighter weight. Power consumption is slightly higher than passive DAC but significantly lower than active copper alternatives.