Specifications
10G SFP+ and 25G SFP28 Direct Attach Copper Cable Series
E.C.I. NETWORKS INC. Direct Attach Copper cables are factory-terminated Twinax copper cable assemblies designed for short-reach, point-to-point connections between switches, routers, servers, network interface cards and storage equipment.
DAC cables provide a cost-effective, low-power and low-latency alternative to separate optical transceivers and fiber patch cables for connections within a rack or between adjacent racks. E.C.I. NETWORKS supports customizable EEPROM or MCU programming over the I²C interface, allowing each cable end to be coded for the connected equipment vendor. The company reports tested compatibility with platforms from Cisco, Juniper, Arista and other network-equipment manufacturers.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Product Series | 10G SFP+ and 25G SFP28 Direct Attach Copper Cable Series |
| Part-Number Families | EN-SFPP-DAC-XXM-xx for 10G; EN-S28-DAC-XXM-xx for 25G |
| Form Factor | SFP+ to SFP+ for 10G; SFP28 to SFP28 for 25G |
| Ethernet Data Rate | 10GbE or 25GbE |
| Electrical Line Rate | 10.3125 Gb/s for 10GbE; 25.78125 Gb/s for 25GbE |
| Number of Lanes | One electrical lane in each direction |
| Signaling Format | NRZ electrical signaling |
| Cable Type | Factory-terminated Twinax copper cable assembly |
| Available Constructions | 10G: passive and active copper; 25G: passive copper in the attached product series |
| 10G Passive Lengths | 1m, 2m, 3m, 4m, 5m and 7m |
| 10G Active Lengths | 1m, 2m, 3m, 5m, 7m, 10m and 15m |
| 25G Passive Lengths | 1m, 2m, 3m, 4m and 5m |
| Custom Lengths | Available on request, subject to technical validation |
| Conductor Gauge | Approximately 30–25 AWG depending on length |
| Wavelength | Not applicable—this is an electrical copper cable |
| Fiber Type | Not applicable |
| Optical Connector | None; fixed SFP+/SFP28 cable ends |
| CDR | Passive DAC: no built-in CDR. |
| Power Supply | Single nominal 3.3 V host-interface supply |
| Management and Identification | EEPROM or MCU over I²C for product identification and vendor-specific coding |
| Digital Diagnostics | SFF-8472 compliant |
| Operating Temperature | –5°C to +70°C |
| 10G Interface Compliance | SFF-8431 electrical interface, SFF-8432 module/cage; 10GbE direct-attach copper |
| 25G Interface Compliance | SFF-8402 SFP28, SFF-8432 module/cage and IEEE 802.3by 25GBASE-CR/25GBASE-CR-S |
| Environmental Compliance | RoHS-6 compliant |
| Vendor Compatibility | Programmable for Cisco, Juniper, Arista and other supported platforms |
| Vendor-Code Suffix | The trailing xx identifies vendor/platform compatibility; for example, CO for Cisco-compatible SKUs |
Features
- Supports 25 Gigabit Ethernet over one 25.78125 Gb/s NRZ electrical lane.
- Passive SFP28-to-SFP28 Twinax cable construction.
- Standard lengths listed up to 5 m.
- SFP28 connectors at both cable ends.
- SFF-8402 and SFF-8432 compliant interfaces.
- IEEE 802.3by 25GBASE-CR/25GBASE-CR-S application support.
- Nominal 3.3 V host-interface supply.
- I²C EEPROM or MCU for identification and vendor coding.
- Operating temperature from –5°C to +70°C.
- RoHS-6 compliant.
Connectivity examples
DAC cable assemblies are normally used for direct, short-reach connections within a rack or between adjacent racks. No separate optical transceivers or fiber patch cords are required.
25G Switch to 25G Switch Direct Connectivity
25G Switch to 25G NIC Direct Connectivity
DAC Features and Advantages
Compared with AOCs or separate optical transceivers and fiber patch cables, DAC assemblies offer:
- Lower acquisition cost for short-reach connections.
- Very low latency because no electrical-to-optical conversion is required.
- Very low power consumption for passive versions.
- A single factory-terminated assembly with no separate optics or fiber patch cords.
- Reduced installation complexity.
- No optical connector inspection or fiber-end cleaning.
- Custom vendor coding for multi-vendor environments.
- Active 10G versions for links that exceed normal passive-copper reach.
Applications
Deployment scenarios for this module
Data Center & Enterprise Networks
High-speed connectivity for leaf-spine architectures, server aggregation, and backbone upgrades supporting growing east-west traffic.
Telecom & Service Provider Transport
Robust optical connectivity for aggregation, metro, and long-haul transport across carrier and service provider networks.
Cloud, AI & Hyperscale Infrastructure
Reliable, low-latency links designed for high-performance computing, AI workloads, and scalable cloud environments.
Quality Certification
At E.C.I. NETWORKS, all our optical transceivers are CE, FCC, RoHS, and FDA laser compliant, meeting global standards for safety, environmental responsibility, and electromagnetic performance.
Key Certifications
Emissions and immunity compliance for IT and multimedia equipment.
Verified as unintentional radiators with SDoC available.
Safety-certified and laser-classified (Class 1).
U.S. laser safety regulations.
Free from hazardous substances and environmentally responsible.
Available on selected models per regional or customer needs.
Compliance Standards
These certifications ensure our transceivers are safe, interoperable, and built to meet the highest global compliance standards across data center, telecom, and enterprise environments.
Conflict-Free Sourcing
We comply with the SEC Conflict Minerals Rule, supporting ethical sourcing practices for minerals like tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold.
Quality Certification
At E.C.I. NETWORKS, all our optical transceivers are CE, FCC, RoHS, and FDA laser compliant, meeting global standards for safety, environmental responsibility, and electromagnetic performance.
Key Certifications
Emissions and immunity compliance for IT and multimedia equipment.
Verified as unintentional radiators with SDoC available.
Safety-certified and laser-classified (Class 1).
U.S. laser safety regulations.
Free from hazardous substances and environmentally responsible.
Available on selected models per regional or customer needs.
Compliance Standards
These certifications ensure our transceivers are safe, interoperable, and built to meet the highest global compliance standards across data center, telecom, and enterprise environments.
Conflict-Free Sourcing
We comply with the SEC Conflict Minerals Rule, supporting ethical sourcing practices for minerals like tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold.
Performance & Reliability
We ensure our optical transceivers deliver exceptional performance and long-term reliability through rigorous testing on industry-leading equipment.
Power & Wavelength Testing
We verify signal strength and wavelength stability to ensure seamless decoding and consistent transmission across the optical path.
Traffic Testing
All transceivers undergo bit error rate (BER) and packet loss testing to guarantee zero data loss and full compliance with Ethernet and Fiber Channel standards.
Optical Performance Validation
Our modules are evaluated for signal integrity, eye diagram clarity, and BER, ensuring stable, high-quality optical transmission in all operating conditions.
End Face Inspection
Each module's fiber interface is inspected and cleaned to eliminate contamination and physical defects - a critical step for optimal signal performance and long service life.
Warranty & Compatibility
DAC / AOC Cables: 5 Years
Zero Risk
Using our transceivers does not void the warranty of your network equipment. Global OEM policies and consumer protection laws (Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act) prevent manufacturers from denying support based solely on the use of third-party components.
Guaranteed Compatibility
Our modules are coded and tested for seamless operation across major platforms including Cisco, Arista, Juniper, HPE, Nvidia, Huawei, and more. This rigorous validation ensures plug-and-play reliability and full compliance with OEM specifications.
Technical Support & RMA
Have an issue? We provide full technical support and hassle-free RMA on all eligible transceivers. Our team is ready to help with any technical questions about compatibility or deployment. contact our technical support support@ecin.ca
Q&A
Commonly asked questions
No. Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and similar global consumer protection laws, OEMs cannot void your equipment warranty simply because you use a third-party transceiver. Your equipment warranty remains intact.
- AOC offers a plug-and-play optical solution (no separate optics + fiber needed)
- Combines ease of deployment + longer reach + better density
The S28-DAC series consists of passive SFP28-to-SFP28 Direct Attach Copper (DAC) cables designed for 25GbE networking. Available in multiple fixed lengths, these cables support a single-channel data rate of up to 25.78 Gb/s and are intended for short-reach, high-speed connections within and between racks.
No need for:
- Fiber patching
- Optics matching (SR4, DR4, etc.)
Factory-terminated and tested
S28-DAC cables are ideal for short-distance, high-bandwidth interconnects in data centers, enterprise networks, and high-performance computing (HPC) environments, including:
- Switch-to-server connections
- Switch-to-switch links
- Server-to-storage connections
- Top-of-rack (ToR) deployments
- Same-rack and short adjacent-rack connections
Their passive copper design provides low latency, low power consumption, and a cost-effective alternative to fiber optic links for short-reach applications. While DAC cables are heavier and less flexible than Active Optical Cables (AOCs), they offer an economical solution wherever fiber is not required.
Available for:
- QSFP28 / QSFP-DD / OSFP
- Multi-vendor environments (Cisco, Arista, Nvidia, SONiC)
Yes. We offer full 5Y support, RMA service, and warranty coverage on all modules.
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Resources
Downloads and documentation