What Is AOC Cable?_
Active Optical Cable (AOC) integrates optical transceivers at both ends of a fiber cable assembly, converting electrical signals to optical for transmission. AOC supports distances from 30 to 100 meters at 400G/800G speeds and is lighter, more flexible, and immune to electromagnetic interference compared to copper. AOC is used for inter-rack connections in GPU clusters.
Technical Details
AOC cables combine the convenience of a pluggable cable assembly with the distance capability of fiber optics. The transceivers at each end handle electrical-to-optical conversion, meaning the host equipment interfaces electrically just as with DAC. AOC advantages over DAC include longer reach (30–100m at 400G), lighter weight and smaller bend radius, immunity to electromagnetic interference, and no crosstalk between adjacent cables. AOC disadvantages include higher power consumption (transceivers require power), higher cost than DAC, and the inability to replace transceivers independently if one fails. In GPU clusters, AOC is commonly used for connections between racks, such as leaf-to-spine switch links or inter-rack GPU fabric connections.
How Leviathan Systems Works with AOC Cable
Leviathan Systems deploys AOC cables for inter-rack connections in GPU clusters where distances exceed DAC capabilities, ensuring proper cable management and routing for the lightweight but longer cable assemblies.