Eaton N282‑01M‑28‑BK QSFP28 to QSFP28 100 Gbps Passive DAC Cable

Overview :

The Eaton N282‑01M‑28‑BK is a passive direct attach copper (DAC) cable designed for short‑reach, high‑bandwidth interconnects between QSFP28‑equipped network devices. Data center network engineers and systems integrators deploy this cable to link switches, routers, servers, and storage in dense rack environments where fiber optics are cost‑prohibitive or unnecessary. It addresses the need for reliable 100 GbE connectivity over structured copper paths.

Technically, this assembly combines four 28 Gbps SFP channels into a single high‑density QSFP28 interface, delivering aggregate throughput up to 100 Gbps over a 1 m copper link. The passive design draws no power, offers minimal insertion loss, and maintains signal integrity for short, point‑to‑point connections. Ergonomic pull‑tab ejectors on the connectors speed insertion and removal in densely populated racks.

In deployment, the cable is typically used within racks, between adjacent rack bays, or across short horizontal runs in IDF/MDF network infrastructure closets. Its compact form factor simplifies cabling behind top‑of‑rack (ToR) switches, aggregation switches, and high‑performance compute clusters.

Integration is straightforward: connect QSFP28 ports on two 100 GbE‑capable devices using this male‑to‑male DAC cable. No additional transceivers, power modules, or media converters are needed, and it supports standard high‑speed Ethernet, InfiniBand, and Fibre Channel protocols that leverage QSFP28 interfaces.

A practical deployment example includes linking a top‑of‑rack switch to a spine or aggregation switch in a leaf‑spine architecture where short copper runs meet the 100 GbE bandwidth requirement, keeping power and cost lower than equivalent fiber solutions. Because it is passive and short, it also minimizes latency compared to active copper assemblies.

This cable should not be used for long‑distance links beyond typical rack‑to‑rack spans (e.g., over several meters) or in environments demanding optical isolation or extreme EMI resilience; fiber optics are more appropriate in those scenarios.

Key Features

• QSFP28 male‑to‑male 100 GbE passive DAC connection

• Combines four 28 Gbps SFP lanes into 100 Gbps throughput

• 1 m length for rack‑to‑rack/cabinet interconnects

• Zinc die‑cast QSFP28 connectors with pull‑tabs

• Passive copper reduces power and cost vs fiber