| NO. | Brand | Compatible P/N | Remarks |
| 1 | Cisco | QSFP-4SFP25-CU1M | |
| 2 | Arista Networks | CAB-Q28-S28-1M | |
| 3 | Brocade | 100G-Q28-S28-C-0101 | |
| 4 | Huawei | QSFP-4SFP25G-CU1M | |
| 5 | Juniper | QFX-Q-S-DAC-1M | |
| 6 | Dell | DAC-Q28-4SFP28-25G-1M |
This 1-meter breakout cable connects one 100G QSFP28 port to four 25G SFP28 ports. fully compatible with Dell equipment and replaces Dell DAC-Q28-4SFP28-25G-1M
Designed for short distances, the passive copper breakout DAC cable requires zero power to operate, provides ultra-low latency, offering highly cost-effective alternative to expensive optical transceivers and fiber patch cords.
It offers cost-effective interconnect solution for data centers,seamlessly merges 100G switches with 25G host adapters, switches, and high-speed enterprise servers.
This compatible breakout cable is flashed with Dell's unique EEPROM attributes. It is fully recognized by Dell Networking OS6, OS9, and OS10 (SmartFabric OS), allowing instant interface initialization without triggering third-party transceiver warnings.
Dell PowerSwitch S-Series: S5232F-ON, S5248F-ON, S5296F-ON, S5148F-ON, S6100-ON
Dell PowerSwitch Z-Series: Z9100-ON, Z9264F-ON, Z9332F-ON
Dell PowerEdge MX Series (Modular): MX5108n, MX9116n Fabric Switching Engines (configured for breakout mode)
Dell PowerEdge Servers: PowerEdge R740, R750, R760, R650, R660 equipped with Dell-approved 25G SFP28 network adapters (Mellanox ConnectX, Intel, or Broadcom chipsets).
100G to 4x25G Port Splitting: Converting a high-density 100G QSFP28 switch port into four discrete 25G SFP28 ports to optimize port utilization and density.
ToR Leaf-to-Server Connectivity: Directly connecting a 100G Top-of-Rack (ToR) Dell PowerSwitch to up to four downstream servers or storage systems equipped with 25G SFP28 NICs.
Storage Cluster Migration: Providing a high-bandwidth migration path to link dense flash-storage arrays directly to a 100G core fabric within the same rack space.
Cost-Minimized Intra-Rack Patching: Serving as an eco-friendly 1-meter interconnect that eliminates extra cooling loads and active optical costs.
| Dell Compatible | DAC-Q28-4SFP28-25G-1M | Vendor Name | HYTOPTODEVICE |
| Connector | QSFP28 to 4xSFP28 | Max Data Rate | 100Gbps |
| Cable Length | 1m (3.3ft) | AWG | AWG 30 |
| Jacket Material | PVC(OFNR) | Minimum Bend Radius | 25mm |
| Operation Temperature | 0~ 70 °C (32 to 158°F) | Protocols | 100 Gigabit Ethernet |
Q1: Can I use this cable if my devices are 2 or 3 meters apart? A1: No, this specific model has a fixed physical length of 1 meter. For longer rack spans, you will need to select our 3-meter copper version or use an Active Optical Cable (AOC) breakout.
Q2: Can I plug the four SFP28 ends into switches or NICs from different vendors? A2: Yes, but we must multi-vendor program the cable before shipping. We can code the 100G QSFP28 end for your Dell switch, and customize the four 25G ends to match Cisco, HPE, or generic server NICs.
Q3:Is the DAC-Q28-4SFP28-25G-1M an active or passive cable? A3: No, it's a passive breakout cable. It contains no active signal amplification circuitry, boasts extremely high reliability, excellent power consumption (almost 0W), and outstanding latency.
Q4: What is the maximum distance for the QFX-Q-S-DAC-1M? A4: Its maximum physical length is 1 meter (3.3 feet).it transports with a passive copper twinax cable.
Q5:Can I use this Dell-coded DAC cable to connect a Dell switch to a Arista or Cisco switch?A5:If you use a standard Dell-coded cable, the Arista/Cisco end might reject it due to vendor locking. For cross-vendor environments, it is highly recommended to order a Dual-Vendor Coded Cable (Dell-coded on End A, and Arista/Cisco-coded on End B) to ensure seamless plug-and-play compatibility on both sides.
Q6: Can the four SFP28 ends be connected to switches from different vendors? A6: Yes, but it requires customized multi-vendor programming. For example, we can program the 100G end for a Dell switch and the four 25G ends for Cisco or Juniper server NICs. Please specify your requirements when ordering.
Q7:What happens if I only use two of the four 25G legs? A7: The connected channels will operate perfectly as normal 25G interfaces. The remaining two disconnected legs will sit idle without causing any link errors or performance degradation on the active ports.
Q8:Can I use this DAC cable to break out a 40G port into four 10G ports? A: No. This cable is specifically tuned and coded for 100G-to-4x25G applications. For 40G-to-10G setups, you must use a dedicated 40G breakout cable.
Q9: Will Dell switches display a third-party warning flag with this cable? A9: No. Our compatible breakout cable is flashed with exact Dell vendor cryptographic signatures. The operating system will read it as an original Dell DAC-Q28-4SFP28-25G-1M, ensuring clean port initialization.
Q10: What happens if I only plug in two or three of the 25G SFP28 ends? A10: The connected legs will work perfectly fine. The channels operate independently. The unused SFP28 ends can be left disconnected without affecting the traffic on the active legs.
HYTOPTODEVICE has supplied over 200,000 passive Direct Attach Copper(DAC) cable to data centers and enterprise networks across 100+ countries since 2011. Every passive DAC cable undergoes comprehensive 100% performance, signal integrity, and compatibility testing before shipment。
"We replaced 100 Cisco-branded DACS with HYTOPTODEVICE equivalents across our spine layer — zero compatibility issues, 40% cost reduction."— Network Architect, Tier-2 ISP, England
Quality Certification & Compliance：
At HYTOPTODEVICE, our quality commitment is backed by industry-standard validations. From passive DAC cable manufacturing to final inspection, our processes ensure global compliance and reliability.
We adhere to rigorous standards for our passive DAC cable and network solutions:
ISO 9001: Certified quality management and production consistency.
CE & FCC: Fully compliant for seamless Global Market Access.
RoHS: Committed to environmental responsibility and hazardous material control.
Proven Reliability: Rigorous testing to reduce compliance risk and ensure safety.
Certified Quality. Global Standards. Guaranteed Performance.
