Manual Chapter :
Networking Cables
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Networking Cables
Revision history
The below section provides an overview of changes made to the Networking Cables over
time.
Revision number |
Description of change |
Date |
Author |
|---|---|---|---|
1.0 |
Original |
08/01/2025 |
David Gillyard |
Transceiver interface port types
The below sections shows the various interface port types and cable specifications.
Transceiver MPO & LC optical connector interface port types
Transceiver optical connector port fiber ferrule-polish/end face shapes
Shapes and polishes used by SMF ferrules to reduce back reflection:
- Flat Fiber Connector (FLAT)
- Physical Contact (PC)
- Ultra Polished Connector (UPC)
- Angle Polished Connector (APC)
Multimode Fiber (MMF) optic cable classifications
MMF Category |
Fast Ethernet |
1GbE |
10GbE |
40GbE |
100GbE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
OM1 |
2000m |
275m |
33m |
/ |
/ |
OM2 |
2000m |
550m |
82m |
/ |
/ |
OM3 |
2000m |
/ |
300m |
100m |
70m |
OM4 |
2000m |
/ |
550m |
150m |
150m |
OM5 |
/ |
/ |
550m |
150m |
150m |
MPO cable polarity
- Type A: It is a female to female “straight through” trunk cable, which is used for patch panel to patch panel connections or cassette to cassette connections. These cables are moderately common and cannot be used for port-to-port connections.
- Type B: It is a female to female “cross-over” trunk cable, which can be used directly for switch-to-switch connectivity with no fiber patch panels.. These cables are most common and can also be used for connections between patch panels.
- Type C: It is a female to female “cross pair” trunk cable is used for cassette-to-cassette connections. These cables are least common.
F5 recommends you to select the appropriate cables that best suit your requirements.
Optical lane assignments
The first 4 optical pins are used for TX and the last 4 are used for RX. The cable must connect the two transceivers TX-to-RX, TX pins 1-4 to RX pins 8-12, so a type B cable is necessary for direct connection.
- All photos shown are examples. The appearance of your components or accessories might vary slightly.
- The below network cable specifications are subject to change without notification.
- Ensure the suitability of both the optical fiber and the optical transceiver on the other end.
- UPC and APC connectors should not be mated together as they are not compatible. More importantly, UPC connectors should never be connected to APC ports and vice versa. This can damage the optical circuits in the electronics.
Direct Attach Cables (DAC)
For platforms that support 10 GbE ports, F5 provides a copper direct attach cable for connecting the SFP+ ports on your F5 platform to the SFP+ modules on an upstream switch.
Example of a direct attach cable
These direct attach cables are supported for use with F5 hardware platforms.
CBL-0138-01
Description: Cable Assembly, SFP+ Active, Copper, 10GBPS, 30 AWG, 3.0M, MMF, 3.3V, GEN 2
- SKU: F5-UPG-SFPC+-3M-8Description: Field Upgrade, Copper SFP+ 10G Direct Attach 8-Pack 3M (8900, 11000, B4200, B2100)
These are specifications for the 10GbE direct attach copper cable.
Specifications |
|
Supported Platforms |
2000, 4000, 5000, 7000, 8900, 8950, 10000, 11000, 11050, 12000, i2000 (see note), i4000 (see note), i5000, i7000, i10000, i11000, i15000, r2000, r4000, r5000, r10000, r12000-DS, VIPRION (B2100, B2150, B4100, B4150, B4200, and B4300 blades) |
The i2000 and i4000 Series platforms are supported only in BIG-IP version 12.1.2 HF1 or 13.0.0 HF1 or later.
Breakout cables
F5 provides breakout cable options to convert a single port into four lower speed ports.
The breakout cable is for use with either QSFP+ or QSFP28 optics and has a female MPO/MTP connector on one end for connecting to a QSFP+ or QSFP28 transceiver module on your F5 platform and four LC duplex connectors on the other end for connecting to the SFP+ or SFP28 transceiver modules on an upstream switch. These cables do not have any active components/transceivers on either end.
This breakout cable is not supported for use with the OPT-0030 or OPT-0043 modules, which do not support any breakout configurations.
Example of a QSFP+ breakout cable
The following breakout cable SKUs can be ordered and utilized for either 4 x 25Gb, or 4 x 10GB depending on the optic installed.
The breakout cable SKUs come in different lengths (1 meter, 3 meters, or 10 meters) and each of the SKUs is a 2 Pack.
CBL-0159-00
Description: Cable Assembly, Breakout, Passive QSFP+ to SFP+, HI BW, OM3, MMF, MPO-12 PC to 4X Duplex LC PC, 1M, AQUA
- SKU: F5-UPG-QSFP+-1M-2Description: Field Upgrade, QSFP+ - 4LC Breakout Cable (1 Meter 2 Pack)
- SKU: F5-UPG-SR4XSR-1MDescription: Field Upgrade, QSFP+ or QSFP28 Breakout Cable for SR4 only MPO to 4LC (1 Meter 2 Pack)
- SKU: F5-UPG-VELSR4XSR1MDescription: VELOS Field Upgrade, QSFP28-QSFP+ Breakout Cable for SR4 only MPO to 4X LC
These are specifications for the 1 meter QSFP+ breakout cable.
Specifications |
|
Supported Platforms |
10000, 12000, i5000, i7000, i10000, i11000, i15000, VIPRION (B2250, B4300, and B4400 Series blades), VELOS (BX110 blade) |
CBL-0224-03
Description: Cable Assembly, Breakout, Passive QSFP to SFP+, HI BW, OM4, MMF, MPO-12 PC to 4X Duplex LC PC, 3M, AQUA
- SKU: F5-UPG-QSFP+-3M-2+Description: Field Upgrade, QSFP+ - 4LC Breakout Cable (3 Meter 2 Pack)
- SKU: F5-UPG-SR4XSR-3MDescription: Field Upgrade, QSFP+ or QSFP28 Breakout Cable for SR4 only MPO to 4LC (3 Meter 2 Pack)
- SKU: F5-UPG-VELSR4XSR3MDescription: VELOS Field Upgrade, QSFP28-QSFP+ Breakout Cable for SR4 only MPO to 4LC (3 Meter 2 Pack)
These are specifications for the 3 meter passive QSFP to SFP+ or QSFP28 to SFP28 breakout cable for optical transceivers.
Specifications |
|
Supported Platforms |
VELOS (BX110 blade) |
CBL-0224-10
Description: Cable Assembly, Breakout, Passive QSFP to SFP+, HI BW, OM4, MMF, MPO-12 PC to 4X Duplex LC PC, Single Jacket, 10M, AQUA
- SKU: F5-UPG-VELSR4XSR10MDescription: VELOS Field Upgrade, QSFP28-QSFP+ Breakout Cable for SR4 only MPO to 4LC (10 Meter 2 Pack)
These are specifications for the 10 meter passive QSFP to SFP+ or QSFP28 to SFP28 breakout cable for optical transceivers.
Specifications |
|
Supported Platforms |
VELOS (BX110 blade) |
PSM4 only breakout cables
For platforms that support 40GbE and/or 100GbE ports, F5 provides QSFP+ PSM4 only breakout cable options to convert a single 40GbE port to four 10GbE ports or a single 100GbE port to four 25GbE ports.
The breakout cable has an MPO/MTP socket connector on one end for connecting to a QSFP+ PSM4 or QSFP28 PSM4 transceiver module on your F5 platform, and four LC duplex connectors on the other end for connecting to the SFP+ or SFP28 transceiver modules on an upstream switch. These cables do not have any active components/transceivers on either end.
This breakout cable is intended to be used only with 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP+ PSM4 modules (OPT-0045) or with 100G QSFP29 PSM4 modules (OPT-0055).
These QSFP+ PSM4 only breakout cables are supported for use only with F5 40GbE and 100GbE PSM4 products.
CBL-0206-03
Description: Cable, Fiber Optic, MPO-12 APC to 4X Duplex LC UPC, SMF, 3M
- SKU: F5-UPG-QSFP4X10LR-3MDescription: Field Upgrade, QSFP+ Breakout Cable for PSM4 Transseiver only. MPO to 4LC (3 Meter)
- SKU: F5-UPG-PSM4XLR-3MDescription: Field Upgrade, QSFP+ or QSFP28 Breakout Cable for PSM4 only. MPO to 4LC (3 Meter)
- SKU: F5-UPG-VEL-QDD-4X-3MDescription: VELOS Field Upgrade, QSFP-DD Breakout Cable 400G to 4X100G. MPO-12 to 4LC (3 Meter)
- SKU: F5-UPG-VELPSM4XLR3MDescription: VELOS Field Upgrade, QSFP28-QSFP+ Breakout Cable for PSM4 only. MPO/APC to 4LC (3 Meter)
These are specifications for the 3 meter breakout cable for PSM4 optical transceivers.
Specifications |
|
Supported Platforms |
10000, 12000, i5000, i7000, i10000, i11000, i15000, VIPRION (B2250 and B4400 Series blades), VELOS (BX110 blade) |
CBL-0206-10
Description: Cable, Fiber Optic, MPO-12 APC to 4X Duplex LC UPC, SMF, 10M
- SKU: F5-UPG-QSFP4X10LR10MDescription: Field Upgrade, QSFP+ Breakout Cable for PSM4 Transseiver only. MPO to 4LC (10 Meter)
- SKU: F5-UPG-PSM4XLR-10MDescription: Field Upgrade, QSFP+ or QSFP28 Breakout Cable for PSM4 Transseiver only. MPO to 4LC (10 Meter)
- SKU: F5-UPG-VEL-QDD-4X10MDescription: VELOS Field Upgrade, QSFP-DD Breakout Cable 400G to 4X100G. MPO-12 to 4LC (10 Meter)
- SKU: F5-UPG-VELPSM4XLR10MDescription: VELOS Field Upgrade, QSFP28-QSFP+ Breakout Cable for PSM4 only. MPO/APC to 4LC (10 Meter)
These are specifications for the 10 meter breakout cable for PSM4 optical transceivers.
Specifications |
|
Supported Platforms |
10000, 12000, i5000, i7000, i10000, i11000, i15000, VIPRION (B2250 and B4400 Series blades), VELOS (BX110 blade) |
Glossary
- AOC- Active Optical Cable
- APC– Angled Polished Fiber Connector Interface
- CBL- Cable
- DAC– Direct Attached Cable
- Flat– Flat Connector Fiber Interface
- LC– Lucent Fiber Connector Interface
- MMF– Multimode Fiber
- MPO– Multifiber Push-On Connector Interface
- MPO is a fiber connector type while MTP is a registered trademark of an MPO connector.
- Optical transceiver connector interfaces are always male connectors.
- PC– Polished Connector Fiber Interface
- QSFP28- 100GbE Quad Small Form Factor Pluggable
- SMF- Single Mode Fiber
- UPC– Ultra Polished Fiber Connector Interface
