NVIDIA 100Gb Ethernet VCSEL-Based Active Fiber Cable

The NVIDIA MFA1A00-C005 is an active optical cable that delivers 100 Gb Ethernet connectivity through QSFP28 connectors on both ends. It relies on VCSEL technology and uses four multimode fiber transceivers per side, each operating at up to 25 Gb/s. Combined, these lanes provide an aggregated bandwidth of 100 Gb/s for links as long as 100 meters.

Engineers and network administrators who build modern data centers or high-performance computing clusters can use this cable to connect servers, switches, or storage appliances across rows without worrying about signal loss. Selectable lane retiming, programmable input equalizers, and output pre-emphasis help preserve signal integrity, so throughput remains consistent even in electrically noisy racks.

The cable runs on a single 3.3 V supply and typically draws only 2.2 W per end, an advantage for installations that need high bandwidth but must stay within tight power budgets. Its hot-pluggable QSFP28 interface simplifies maintenance, and the built-in I2C management interface supports real-time monitoring and diagnostics.

Compliance with SFF-8665 and SFF-8636 standards means the MFA1A00-C005 integrates smoothly with most 100 Gb Ethernet networking equipment that accepts QSFP28 active optical cables.

Highlights:

• Provides 100 Gb Ethernet connectivity over distances up to 100 meters
• Four 25 Gb/s VCSEL-based multimode fiber lanes aggregate to 100 Gb/s
• QSFP28 connectors on both ends with hot-pluggable design
• Selectable per-lane retiming, input equalization, and output pre-emphasis maintain signal quality
• Typical power consumption of 2.2 W per side on a single 3.3 V supply
• Compliant with SFF-8665 QSFP28 and SFF-8636 management standards with I2C interface