What Is a DAC Cable? A Complete Guide to Direct Attach Copper Solutions
Direct Attach Copper (DAC) cables are essential components in today’s high-speed data centers, offering a simple, cost-effective way to connect switches, routers, servers, and storage within short distances. As bandwidth demands grow and efficiency becomes paramount, DAC cables provide a low-latency, energy-efficient alternative to optical transceivers.
What Is a DAC Cable?
A DAC cable (Direct Attach Copper cable) is a factory-terminated, twinaxial copper assembly with fixed connectors such as SFP+, QSFP+, or QSFP28 at both ends. These plug-and-play cables are used for direct, high-speed electrical connections between networking equipment. Because DAC cables do not require separate transceivers, they simplify installation and reduce total system cost.
Available in lengths up to 5 meters, DAC cables come in two primary types:
- Passive DAC cables: Ideal for very short distances (typically up to 5m), requiring no additional power.
- Active DAC cables: Include electronics to boost signal strength, supporting slightly longer distances.
Are DAC Cables Fiber or Copper?
Despite their frequent use in environments with fiber optic systems, DAC cables are made entirely of copper, not fiber. They utilize shielded twinaxial copper conductors—commonly 30 AWG for 1–3 meter assemblies and 26 AWG for 4–5 meter versions. This copper construction offers several advantages for short-reach applications:
- Lower latency due to direct electrical transmission
- Reduced cost versus fiber optic transceivers and patch cords
- Minimal power consumption, especially in passive configurations
Key Benefits of DAC Cables
Cablcon’s DAC cables are engineered for performance and efficiency in high-density environments. Here's why leading data centers choose them:
- Energy Efficiency: Passive DAC cables eliminate power usage at the link, lowering operating costs
- High Reliability: Fewer components reduce points of failure, improving uptime
- Cost Savings: No need for separate transceivers; lower total cost of ownership
- Low Latency: No optical-to-electrical conversion means faster transmission
- Interoperability: Compliant with SFF-8432, SFF-8402, and SFF-8665 for seamless compatibility
Common DAC Cable Applications
Whether in enterprise data centers or cloud-based hyperscale networks, DAC cables are ideal for:
- Top-of-Rack (ToR) switch-to-server connections
- Adjacent rack interconnects
- Storage area network (SAN) links
- Short-distance aggregation layer uplinks
Contact your Cablcon sales representative for more information on how DAC Cable can be used in your application.
Cablcon DAC Cable Solutions
Cablcon offers a full range of high-performance DAC cable assemblies built for today’s most demanding Ethernet applications, including:
- 10GbE, 25GbE, 40GbE, 50GbE, and 100GbE network compatibility
- QSFP/QSFP+ configurations available in standard patch cords or 4-channel breakout cables
- RoHS compliant materials with operational temperature ratings from 0–70ºC
Our DAC solutions are manufactured to meet strict performance and reliability standards, making them a dependable choice for copper connectivity in any data center architecture.
Learn More or Request a Quote
Looking to upgrade your copper connectivity infrastructure? Contact our team to learn more about Cablcon DAC cable solutions or to request a quote tailored to your application.