836251-001 HPE Infiniband EDR QSFP 3 Meter Copper Cable

Product overview: 836251-001 HPE InfiniBand EDR QSFP 3 Meter Copper Cable

The 836251-001 HPE InfiniBand EDR QSFP 3 meter copper cable is a purpose-built, high-performance direct-attach copper (DAC) assembly designed for short-reach, ultra-low latency interconnects in data centers, HPC clusters, and storage fabrics. Engineered to meet InfiniBand EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) specifications, this QSFP-to-QSFP copper cable delivers reliable 100 Gbps-class connectivity over a 3 meter passive copper link, combining cost-efficiency, simplicity, and industry-grade interoperability for HPE and compatible systems.

Key features and highlights

• Form factor: QSFP (Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable) one-piece copper direct attach cable.
• Length: 3 meters — optimized for rack-to-rack or within-rack connections where short, high-bandwidth links are required.
• Performance: InfiniBand EDR-compliant bandwidth and signaling for up to 100 Gbps aggregated throughput (per link as defined by EDR specification).
• Latency: Extremely low latency characteristic of copper DACs — ideal for latency-sensitive HPC, AI training, and financial services workloads.
• Compatibility: Qualified for HPE switches, adapters and fabrics; interoperable with other vendor equipment supporting InfiniBand EDR QSFP DAC.
• Reliability: Factory-terminated, rugged connectors with strain relief and ID labels for easy cable management and identification.
• Energy-efficient: Passive copper design consumes less power than optical transceivers with separate optics and cables for very short reach deployments.

Performance characteristics

• Data rate: Supports InfiniBand EDR signaling rates (100 Gbps class aggregated bandwidth per link per specification).
• Channels: Four electrical lanes aggregated in QSFP form factor; lane rates consistent with EDR specs.
• Bit error rate (BER): Designed to meet the stringent BER requirements of InfiniBand fabrics.
• Skew and crosstalk: Controlled design minimizes skew across differential pairs and reduces crosstalk for stable link training.

Compatibility and interoperability

Designed for HPE environments

The 836251-001 cable is factory-qualified for HPE InfiniBand fabrics and many HPE servers, switches, and host channel adapters (HCAs). Using manufacturer-approved cabling simplifies procurement, warranty support, and interoperability validation in HPE-centric deployments.

Cross-vendor compatibility

Although branded HPE, this QSFP DAC follows standard InfiniBand EDR pinouts and electrical characteristics and therefore interoperates with third-party switches and adapters that comply with InfiniBand EDR/QSFP DAC specifications. When mixing vendors in production fabrics, always verify firmware compatibility and link training behavior in lab tests prior to wide deployment.

Common supported equipment

• HPE InfiniBand EDR switches and directors
• HPE and third-party InfiniBand HCAs and network adapters
• Rack servers with QSFP ports (for SR/within-rack cabling)
• Storage appliances that use InfiniBand EDR fabrics

Use cases and application scenarios

High Performance Computing (HPC)

InfiniBand EDR is widely used in HPC clusters where compute nodes require high throughput and deterministic low latency. The 3m QSFP copper DAC is ideal for connecting compute nodes within the same rack or adjacent racks in a cluster topology to minimize latency and maximize bandwidth for MPI-based workloads, scientific simulations, and distributed training.

Storage fabrics and parallel file systems

Parallel storage systems (e.g., Lustre, BeeGFS) and high-performance shared storage arrays benefit from InfiniBand EDR’s throughput and low latency. The 836251-001 offers a cost-efficient way to interconnect storage servers and metadata/IO nodes within short physical distance requirements.

AI/ML training clusters

Distributed training frameworks require fast inter-node communication; short, high-bandwidth links reduce communication overhead and enable faster model convergence. Use the 3m DAC in GPU-dense racks where QSFP ports on NICs or switches are co-located within small rack footprints.

Financial trading and low-latency environments

For ultra-low-latency trading infrastructure and compute fabrics where microseconds matter, passive copper DACs often provide more predictable latency than optical alternatives when the run length is short. The 836251-001 is built for such predictable, short-range installations.

Comparison: Copper DAC vs Active Optical Cable (AOC) vs Transceivers + Fiber

Cost and total cost of ownership (TCO)

• Copper DAC (like 836251-001): Lower upfront cost for short runs; minimal power consumption and no separate transceiver required.
• AOC: Higher cost than passive DACs but offers longer reach with lower power than transceiver + fiber; useful when distances exceed passive copper limits.
• Transceiver + Fiber: Highest flexibility and longest reach (tens of meters to kilometers) but greater per-port cost, power, and operational complexity.

Latency and determinism

• Passive copper DACs typically provide the most predictable and lowest latency for short-distance connections.
• AOCs add minimal latency but introduce active electronics and potential thermal considerations.
• Transceiver + fiber solutions can add latency depending on the optics and media converter architectures; however, fiber is required for longer distances and electromagnetic noise immunity.

Documentation to review before purchase

• Manufacturer product datasheet and part number cross-reference.
• HPE interoperability and qualification matrix for InfiniBand fabrics.
• Warranty, return policy, and MTBF (where supplied).

Cleaning and care

Connector cleaning

Although copper QSFP connectors are more tolerant than delicate optical ferrules, keep connectors free of dust, oils, and debris. Use lint-free wipes and vendor-approved cleaning procedures. Avoid contact between connector pins and conductive contaminants.

Related products and accessories

• Shorter and longer QSFP DAC lengths (e.g., 1m, 5m) where required
• Active optical cables (AOC) for medium-length runs
• QSFP optical transceivers + multimode fiber for flexible reach and future-proofing
• Spare QSFP cages and dust covers to protect unused ports
• Labeling kits and cable management accessories for neat rack installation

Technical buyers and procurement

When evaluating the 836251-001 HPE InfiniBand EDR QSFP 3 meter copper cable for your environment, align cable choice with your physical topology, latency requirements, and TCO considerations. For within-rack or adjacent-rack interconnects where 3 meters is sufficient, a passive QSFP DAC provides the best balance of cost, power efficiency, and latency. Validate compatibility with your switch/adapter firmware, maintain good cable hygiene and labeling, and include spares in inventory to maximize fabric uptime. For longer runs or electrically noisy environments, evaluate AOC or fiber-based solutions as appropriate.