Pluggable Cables

Image	Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity	Rfq
	0745464181 Woodhead - Molex	16X TO (2) 8X PCIE, STANDARD PIN	0
	1003453351 Woodhead - Molex	CABLE ZQSFP-ZSFP M-M 3.5M	0
	0745862111 Woodhead - Molex	CABLE MINISAS 8X M-M 300MM	0
	1110403104 Woodhead - Molex	CABLE QSFP+ M-M 1M	0
	1110404404 Woodhead - Molex	CABLE QSFP+ M-M 4M	0
	1003453401 Woodhead - Molex	CABLE ZQSFP-ZSFP M-M 4M	0
	1110402505 Woodhead - Molex	CABLE QSFP+ M-M 5M	0
	0745472022 Woodhead - Molex	CABLE MINISAS-LNLINK M-M 2M	0
	0745090005 Woodhead - Molex	CABLE ASSY CXP M-M 7M	0
	0745951050 Woodhead - Molex	CABLE INFINIBAND 4X M-M 5M	0
	0750001048 Woodhead - Molex	TDP 48 CKT ASY W/O CARRIER STRIP	0
	0745090004 Woodhead - Molex	CABLE ASSY CXP M-M 5M	0
	1003461251 Woodhead - Molex	CABLE ZQSFP-2ZQSFP M-M 2.5M	0
	5038453003 Woodhead - Molex	HARNESS ASSY MINISAS 6G I/O KEY	0
	1110403404 Woodhead - Molex	CABLE QSFP+ M-M 4M	0
	0745580002 Woodhead - Molex	CABLE MINISAS-SAS M-M 1M	0
	1110403505 Woodhead - Molex	CABLE QSFP+ M-M 5M	0
	0745571001 Woodhead - Molex	CABLE MINISAS-SATA M-M 500MM	0
	0747642401 Woodhead - Molex	CABLE QSFP+TO 4SFP+ M-M 4M	0
	1110404605 Woodhead - Molex	CABLE QSFP+ M-M 6M	0

Pluggable Cables

1. Overview

Pluggable cables are modular cable assemblies designed for rapid deployment and hot-swappable connectivity in high-speed data transmission systems. These cable solutions integrate standardized connectors and interface protocols to enable flexible networking configurations. Key advantages include reduced installation time, scalable infrastructure management, and compatibility with evolving communication standards. They play a critical role in modern data centers, telecommunications networks, and industrial automation systems where reliable high-bandwidth connectivity is essential.

2. Main Types and Functional Classification

Type	Functional Characteristics	Application Examples
QSFP (Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable)	High-density 4-channel architecture, supports 40G-800G data rates	Data center switches, high-performance computing clusters
SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable)	Compact hot-pluggable interface, supports 1G-25G speeds	Enterprise networking equipment, fiber optic transceivers
DAC (Direct Attach Copper)	Passive copper cables with low latency and power consumption	Short-distance server/storage connections within racks
AOC (Active Optical Cable)	Optical fiber with integrated transceivers, supports long-distance transmission	Inter-rack connections in large-scale data centers
RJ45 Pluggable	Standard Ethernet interface with backward compatibility	Local area networks (LANs), PoE-enabled devices

3. Structure and Components

Typical pluggable cable assemblies consist of:

Conductive Core: Stranded or solid copper conductors (for electrical signals) or optical fibers (for AOC variants)
Insulation Layer: High-density polyethylene or fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) for signal integrity
Shielding: Braided copper or foil shielding to prevent EMI interference
Connector Housing: Thermoplastic or metal casing with latching mechanisms (e.g., LC, MPO interfaces)
Integrated Circuitry: EEPROM chips for digital diagnostics and identification (SFP-DD, QSFP-DD variants)

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Significance
Transmission Rate	Determines data throughput capacity (10G-800Gbps)
Insertion Loss	Measures signal attenuation ( 0.5dB for high-speed DACs)
Return Loss	Indicates impedance matching quality ( 20dB)
Operating Temperature	Defines environmental tolerance (-40 C to +85 C)
MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures)	Reliability indicator (>10,000 hours)
Compliance Standards	Specifies adherence to IEEE 802.3, SFF-8431, and RoHS

5. Application Fields

Primary industries utilizing pluggable cables include:

Data Centers: High-density server racks, top-of-rack (ToR) switches
Telecommunications: 5G base stations, optical line terminals (OLTs)
Enterprise Networks: Campus backbone infrastructure, security systems
Industrial Automation: Ethernet-based control systems, IoT gateways
Medical Imaging: High-resolution diagnostic equipment with real-time data transfer

6. Leading Manufacturers and Products

Manufacturer	Representative Product	Key Features
Cisco Systems	SFP-10G-LR	10GBASE-LR with 1310nm wavelength, 2km reach
Finisar	QSFP-40G-SR4	MPO interface, 100m OM4 MMF support
Molex	Active Optical Cable 100G	LC connectors, error correction coding
Amphenol	RJ45-PLUG-CAT6A	Shielded Cat6A, PoE++ compatibility

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations for optimal selection:

Bandwidth Requirements: Match cable speed to equipment capabilities (e.g., 400G QSFP-DD for AI servers)
Distance Constraints: DAC for 5m (cost-effective), AOC for >10m (low latency)
Environmental Factors: Choose industrial-grade cables for vibration-prone environments
Backward Compatibility: Verify form factor alignment (SFP+, QSFP28, etc.)
Total Cost of Ownership: Balance initial cost vs. power efficiency and maintenance needs

Case Study: A hyperscale data center upgraded to 400G QSFP-DD DAC cables, achieving 35% lower power consumption compared to previous generation AOC solutions.

8. Industry Trend Analysis

Emerging developments include:

Speed Advancements: Transition to 800Gbps per channel using PAM4 modulation
Optical Integration: Silicon photonics enabling pluggable optical engines
Smart Cabling: Embedded sensors for real-time monitoring of temperature and signal quality
Modular Design: Universal backplane solutions supporting mixed media types
Sustainability: Development of halogen-free materials and recyclable components

Market forecasts predict a 22% CAGR for pluggable cable assemblies through 2028, driven by 5G expansion and AI infrastructure growth.