Cisco QDD-400-AOC5M 400G QSFP-DD Active Optical Cable, 5M | Data Center — QDD-400-AOC5M

Maintain 400G connectivity where short, direct runs matter most. Cisco’s QDD-400-AOC5M active optical cable is designed for QSFP-DD ports that need high-bandwidth interconnects without the stiffness and reach limits of traditional copper. At 5 m, it fits cleanly between adjacent racks, top-of-rack switches, and nearby aggregation layers. Active optical cabling is a strong fit when you need predictable performance in a compact footprint. It helps reduce cable congestion, supports cleaner routing, and avoids the signal loss concerns that can complicate longer passive copper runs at 400G speeds. For teams building dense leaf-spine fabrics, this cable offers a practical way to keep pathways organized while maintaining the throughput demanded by modern workloads. Choose this model when the distance is known and the priority is clean, reliable 400G transport in a short-reach deployment. Cisco branding also matters in environments that standardize on validated infrastructure components and want fewer surprises during rollout and maintenance. Ideal For Connect adjacent top-of-rack switches in a leaf-spine fabric Link nearby aggregation equipment across short rack spans Support high-bandwidth server-to-switch pathways in dense cabinets Replace bulky copper assemblies in 400G short-reach deployments Why This Product 1 Shorter 5 m reach for adjacent rack connections 2 Active optical design for cleaner 400G transport 3 Less bulky than many copper alternatives 4 Cisco-branded component for standardized infrastructure