Cisco QSFP-4X10G-AOC2M
40GBASE Active Optical QSFP to 4SFP breakout Cable, 2m, Original Cisco
Product Highlights
Migrating from 10G to 40G infrastructure — or running both side by side — shouldn't mean ripping and replacing your entire cabling plant. The Cisco QSFP-4X10G-AOC2M is a 40GBASE active optical breakout cable that connects a single 40G QSFP+ port on one end to four 10G SFP+ ports on the other, providing a clean, cost-effective path for 40G-to-10G interoperability.
This 2-meter active optical cable operates at 850nm over multimode fiber, delivering low-latency, high-bandwidth connectivity purpose-built for short-range data center links. Its lightweight, thin-profile construction and small bend radius make it far easier to route through dense cable trays than bulky copper alternatives, improving airflow and simplifying cable management in high-density racks.
As an original Cisco product, the QSFP-4X10G-AOC2M is certified and tested on Cisco QSFP 40G ports for guaranteed interoperability with Cisco Nexus, Catalyst, and other 40G-capable platforms. It is hot-swappable, supports Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM), and operates within a commercial temperature range of 0°C to 70°C. Whether you're building a new top-of-rack deployment or bridging legacy 10G servers to a 40G aggregation layer, this breakout AOC delivers the performance and reliability your network demands.
Features & Benefits
40G-to-10G Breakout Connectivity
The QSFP-4X10G-AOC2M splits a single 40G QSFP+ interface into four independent 10G SFP+ channels. This enables direct connectivity between 40G spine or aggregation switches and 10G leaf switches, servers, or storage — eliminating the need for separate transceivers and fiber patch cables.
Active Optical Cable Advantages
Active optical cables are significantly lighter and thinner than copper direct-attach alternatives, enabling better airflow in high-density racks. The 850nm multimode fiber path eliminates electromagnetic interference (EMI) concerns, and the low power consumption of approximately 1.5W per end keeps operating costs down even at scale.
Hot-Swappable & DOM-Enabled
Install or replace the cable without shutting down the host device, minimizing maintenance windows. Built-in Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM) lets you monitor real-time optical power levels and link health directly from your switch CLI or NMS, enabling proactive troubleshooting before issues impact traffic.
Original Cisco Quality & Compatibility
As a genuine Cisco product, this AOC is certified and tested on Cisco QSFP 40G ports for superior performance, quality, and reliability. It is interoperable with IEEE-compliant 40GBASE interfaces and supported across a wide range of Cisco Nexus and Catalyst platforms.
Deployment Scenarios
Top-of-Rack 40G-to-10G Aggregation
Connect a 40G uplink port on a top-of-rack switch to four 10G SFP+ ports on servers or downstream access switches. The 2-meter reach is ideal for intra-rack cabling, reducing clutter and improving airflow in dense server cabinets.
Data Center Spine-Leaf Breakout
In a spine-leaf architecture, use the QSFP-4X10G-AOC2M to fan out 40G spine ports to multiple 10G leaf switches within adjacent racks. This maximizes port utilization on 40G-capable spine switches while preserving your existing 10G leaf infrastructure.
Storage & HPC Interconnects
High-performance computing clusters and storage area networks benefit from the low-latency, high-bandwidth breakout connectivity this AOC provides. Connect 40G-capable storage controllers or HPC nodes to 10G endpoints without the bulk and EMI concerns of copper cabling.
General
Performance
Physical
Environmental
Compliance
Compatibility Notes
The Cisco QSFP-4X10G-AOC2M is supported on a wide range of Cisco platforms with 40G QSFP+ ports, including but not limited to:
- Cisco Nexus 9000 Series — N9K-C9272Q, N9K-C9372PX, N9K-C92160YC-X, N9K-X9432PQ, N9K-X9536PQ, N9K-X9636PQ
- Cisco Nexus 7000 Series — N7K-F312FQ-25, N77-F324FQ-25, N7K-M206FQ-23L
- Cisco Nexus 6000 Series — N6K-C6001-64P, N6K-C6001-64T, N6K-C6004-M12Q
- Cisco Nexus 3000 Series — N3K-C3064PQ-10GE, N3K-C3132Q-X, N3K-C3164Q, N3K-C3264Q, N3K-C31128PQ-10GE
- Cisco Nexus 2000 Series — N2K-2348TQ
- Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series — C6800-SUP6T, C6800-SUP6T-XL
Always verify current platform and firmware compatibility via the Cisco Transceiver Compatibility Matrix on cisco.com.
Downloads & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
| Part Number | Product | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| QSFP-4X10G-AOC1M | Cisco 40G QSFP+ to 4×10G SFP+ AOC, 1m | Shorter 1-meter reach for ultra-close intra-rack connections |
| QSFP-4X10G-AOC5M | Cisco 40G QSFP+ to 4×10G SFP+ AOC, 5m | Longer 5-meter reach for cross-rack breakout deployments |
| QSFP-4X10G-AOC10M | Cisco 40G QSFP+ to 4×10G SFP+ AOC, 10m | Extended 10-meter reach for end-of-row or inter-row connections |
| CVR-QSFP-SFP10G | Cisco QSFP+ to SFP+ Adapter | Converts a single QSFP+ port to one SFP+ port (no breakout); uses standard SFP+ optics |
