Manual Chapter :
Networking Cables
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Networking Cables
Direct attach cables
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

All photos shown are
examples. The appearance of your components or accessories might vary
slightly.
These direct attach cables are supported for use with F5
hardware platforms.
SKU: F5-UPG-SFPC+-3M-8 (CBL-0138-xx)
These are specifications for the 10GbE direct
attach copper cable.
- Cable
- Copper SFP+ 10GbE Active Direct Attach (8 pack)
- Length
- 3 meters
- Connector type
- SFP+ to SFP+
- 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, VIPRION (B2100, B2150, B4100, B4150, B4200, and B4300 blades)
Specifications
are subject to change without notification.
The i2000
and i4000 Series platforms are supported only in BIG-IP version 12.1.2 HF1
or 13.0.0 HF1 or later.
QSFP+ breakout cables
For platforms that support 40GbE ports, F5
provides QSFP+ breakout cable options to convert a single 40GbE port to four 10GbE
ports.
The QSFP+ breakout cable has a female MPO/MTP connector on
one end for connecting to a QSFP+ transceiver module on your F5 platform and
four LC duplex connectors on the other end for connecting to the SFP+
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+ modules (OPT-0025/OPT-0036). It 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

All photos shown are
examples. The appearance of your components or accessories might vary
slightly.
These QSFP+ breakout cables are supported for use with F5
40GbE products.
SKU: F5-UPG-QSFP+-1M-2/F5-UPG-VELSR4XSR1M
(CBL-0159-xx)
These are specifications for the 1 meter QSFP+
breakout cable.
- Cable
- Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable Plus (QSFP+) Optical Breakout Cable Assembly
- Length
- 1 meters
- Connector type
- MTP to four duplex LC
- Fiber type
- OM3 MMF
- Supported platforms
- 10000, 12000, i5000, i7000, i10000, i11000, i15000, VIPRION (B2250, B4300, and B4400 Series blades), VELOS (BX110 blade)
Specifications
are subject to change without notification.
SKU: F5-UPG-QSFP+-3M-2+ (CBL-0160-xx)
These are specifications for the 3 meter QSFP+
breakout cable.
- Cable
- Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable Plus (QSFP+) Optical Breakout Cable Assembly
- Length
- 3 meters
- Connector type
- MTP to four duplex LC
- Fiber type
- OM3 MMF
- Supported platforms
- 10000, 12000, i5000, i7000, i10000, i11000, i15000, VIPRION (B2250, B4300, and B4400 Series blades)
Specifications
are subject to change without notification.
SKU: F5-UPG-QSFP+-10M-2 (CBL-0170-xx)
These are specifications for the 10 meter QSFP+
breakout cable.
- Cable
- Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable Plus (QSFP+) Optical Breakout Cable Assembly
- Length
- 10 meters
- Connector type
- MTP to four duplex LC
- Fiber type
- OM3 MMF
- Supported platforms
- 10000, 12000, i5000, i7000, i10000, i11000, i15000, VIPRION (B2250, B4300, and B4400 Series blades)
Specifications
are subject to change without notification.
SKU: F5-UPG-VELSR4XSR3M (CBL-0224-03)
These are specifications for the 3 meter passive
QSFP to SFP+ breakout cable for optical transceivers.
- Cable
- Passive QSFP+ to SFP Optical Breakout Cable Assembly
- Length
- 3 meters
- Connector type
- MTP to four duplex LC
- Fiber type
- OM4
- Supported platforms
- VELOS (BX110 blade)
Specifications
are subject to change without notification.
SKU: F5-UPG-VELSR4XSR10M (CBL-0224-10)
These are specifications for the 10 meter passive
QSFP to SFP+ breakout cable for optical transceivers.
- Cable
- Passive QSFP+ to SFP Optical Breakout Cable Assembly
- Length
- 10 meters
- Connector type
- MTP to four duplex LC
- Fiber type
- OM4
- Supported platforms
- VELOS (BX110 blade)
Specifications
are subject to change without notification.
QSFP+ PSM4 only breakout cables
For platforms that support 40GbE ports, F5
provides QSFP+ PSM4 only breakout cable options to convert a single 40GbE port to
four 10GbE ports.
The QSFP+ breakout cable has a female MPO/MTP connector on
one end for connecting to a QSFP+ PSM4 transceiver module on your F5 platform
and four LC duplex connectors on the other end for connecting to the SFP+
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).
These QSFP+ PSM4 only breakout cables are supported for use
only with F5 40GbE PSM4 products.
SKU: F5-UPG-QSFP4x10LR-3M/F5-UPG-VELPSM4XLR3M
(CBL-0206-03)
These are specifications for the 3 meter QSFP+
breakout cable for PSM4 optical transceivers.
- Cable
- Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable Plus (QSFP+) Optical Breakout Cable Assembly for PSM4 Optical Transceivers
- Length
- 3 meters
- Connector type
- MTP to four duplex LC
- Fiber type
- OS2 SMF
- Supported platforms
- 10000, 12000, i5000, i7000, i10000, i11000, i15000, VIPRION (B2250 and B4400 Series blades), VELOS (BX110 blade)
Specifications
are subject to change without notification.
SKU: F5-UPG-QSFP4x10LR10M/F5-UPG-VELPSM4XLR10M
(CBL-0206-10)
These are specifications for the 10 meter QSFP+
breakout cable for PSM4 optical transceivers.
- Cable
- Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable Plus (QSFP+) Optical Breakout Cable Assembly for PSM4 Optical Transceivers
- Length
- 10 meters
- Connector type
- MTP to four duplex LC
- Fiber type
- OS2 SMF
- Supported platforms
- 10000, 12000, i5000, i7000, i10000, i11000, i15000, VIPRION (B2250 and B4400 Series blades), VELOS (BX110 blade)
Specifications
are subject to change without notification.
Active optical cables (AOCs) (no longer
available)
For platforms that support 40GbE ports, F5
supports the use of active optical cable (AOC) options for connecting to QSFP+
ports on your F5 platform.
F5 no longer provides AOC cables for
purchase.
AOCs already have the optical electronics connected,
eliminating the connectors between the cable and the transceiver module. AOCs
plug into standard optical module sockets and are less expensive than other
optical solutions, because the manufacturer matches the electronics to the
required length and type of cable. Furthermore, standards do not need to be
met at every stage of the connection, so AOCs are more efficient.
Example of an active optical cable (AOC)

All photos shown are
examples. The appearance of your components or accessories might vary
slightly.
These active optical cables (AOCs) are supported for use
with F5 40GbE products.
SKU: F5-UPG-QSFP+AOC1M50 (OPT-0029-01) (no longer
available)
These are specifications for the 1.5 meter 40GbE
QSFP+ to 4 LC duplex active optical cable (AOC).
You must ensure
suitability of both the optical fiber and the laser transceiver on the other
end.
- Cable
- QSFP+ active optical cable (AOC) assembly
- Length
- 1.5 meters
- Connector type
- QSFP+ to four duplex LC breakout
- Fiber type
- OM3 MMF
- Standards compliance
- IEEE 802.3ba (10GBASE-SR)
- DDM
- No
- Supported platforms
- 10000, 12000, i5000, i7000, i10000, i11000, i15000, VIPRION (B2250, B4300, and B4400 Series blades)
Specifications
are subject to change without notification.
SKU: F5-UPG-QSFP+AOC3M (OPT-0029-03) (no longer
available)
These are specifications for the 3 meter 40GbE
QSFP+ to 4 LC duplex active optical cable.
You must ensure
suitability of both the optical fiber and the laser transceiver on the other
end.
- Cable
- QSFP+ active optical cable (AOC) assembly
- Length
- 3 meters
- Connector type
- QSFP+ to four duplex LC breakout
- Fiber type
- OM3 MMF
- Standards compliance
- IEEE 802.3ba (10GBASE-SR)
- DDM
- No
- Supported platforms
- 10000, 12000, i5000, i7000, i10000, i11000, i15000, VIPRION (B2250, B4300, and B4400 Series blades)
Specifications
are subject to change without notification.
SKU: F5-UPG-QSFP+AOC10M (OPT-0029-10) (no longer
available)
These are specifications for the 10 meter 40GbE
QSFP+ to 4 LC duplex active optical cable.
You must ensure
suitability of both the optical fiber and the laser transceiver on the other
end.
- Cable
- QSFP+ active optical cable (AOC) assembly
- Length
- 10 meters
- Connector type
- QSFP+ to four duplex LC breakout
- Fiber type
- OM3 MMF
- Standards compliance
- IEEE 802.3ba (10GBASE-SR)
- DDM
- No
- Supported platforms
- 10000, 12000, i5000, i7000, i10000, i11000, i15000, VIPRION (B2250, B4300, and B4400 Series blades)
Specifications
are subject to change without notification.