Cisco QSFP-4X10G-AOC5M= 40GBASE QSFP to 4SFP 5m | Active Optical — QSFP-4X10G-AOC5M=

Move 40GBASE traffic across short rack distances with a breakout cable built for dense infrastructure. Cisco’s QSFP-4X10G-AOC5M= converts a single QSFP interface into four SFP connections over 5 m, giving teams a practical way to distribute bandwidth without adding separate transceivers and patching complexity. Because this is an active optical cable, it is suited to environments where copper DAC reach is not enough or where maintaining signal quality over a longer short-reach span matters. The integrated optical design helps keep the link compact while supporting cleaner cable routing, fewer discrete parts, and more predictable deployment in high-density switch fabrics. For enterprise data centers, this breakout format is especially useful when you need to fan out a 40G uplink into multiple 10G endpoints. It reduces rack clutter, simplifies procurement, and fits neatly into standardized build patterns where consistency matters as much as throughput. When the cost of downtime or rework is high, choosing the right breakout cable is a small decision with outsized operational impact. Ideal For Fan out a 40G uplink into four 10G server or switch connections Connect adjacent racks where copper DAC reach is insufficient Standardize high-density switch fabric cabling Reduce discrete optics in short-reach enterprise deployments Why This Product 1 Active optical design for better short-reach flexibility 2 QSFP to 4 SFP fan-out for multi-endpoint connectivity 3 5 m reach for adjacent rack deployments 4 More reach and signal margin than passive DAC alternatives