Lenovo 3M 100G QSFP28 to 4x25G SFP28 Breakout DAC Cable

Overview

The Lenovo 7Z57A03565 is a 3 meter passive direct attach copper (DAC) breakout cable designed to convert a single 100 G QSFP28 port into four independent 25 G SFP28 links. This cable enables network administrators to efficiently utilize one high-speed 100 G port to connect multiple 25 G devices without the need for additional transceivers or optical modules. Its copper construction supports high bandwidth transfers over short distances, making it well suited for in-rack or adjacent rack connections in data centers and enterprise environments.

With negligible power consumption due to its passive design, this cable helps reduce heat generation in dense networking setups. It is compatible with Lenovo ThinkSystem switches and servers, providing a straightforward plug-and-play solution for expanding network capacity while maintaining low latency and high throughput.

Key features

• Breaks out one 100 G QSFP28 port into four separate 25 G SFP28 connections, maximizing port utilization.
• Passive direct attach copper design eliminates the need for external power or optical transceivers, reducing operational costs.
• 3 meter length is ideal for short-distance connections within racks or between adjacent racks, supporting flexible data center layouts.
• Male-to-male connectors ensure easy installation by plugging directly into compatible Lenovo hardware without adapters.
• Supports high bandwidth and low latency transfers, suitable for cloud clusters, virtualization hosts, and high-performance computing nodes.

Key specs

• Cable length: 3 meters (9.84 feet)
• Connector type: QSFP28 (100 G) to 4x SFP28 (25 G)
• Data rate: 100 G aggregate throughput
• Cable type: Passive direct attach copper
• Compatibility: Lenovo ThinkSystem NE10032, NE2572 switches, and SR250 servers

Connectivity and compatibility

This breakout cable is designed specifically for Lenovo ThinkSystem networking and server equipment, including the NE10032 and NE2572 switches and SR250 servers. It plugs directly into QSFP28 ports on these devices and splits the signal into four 25 G SFP28 ports, allowing seamless integration with 25 G devices without additional hardware.

• QSFP28 connector supports 100 G ports on Lenovo switches and adapters.
• Four SFP28 connectors provide independent 25 G links for multiple devices.
• Passive copper design ensures compatibility with standard QSFP28 and SFP28 cages on Lenovo hardware.

Ideal uses and environments

This cable is a strong choice for data centers and enterprise networks that require efficient port utilization and high-speed connectivity over short distances. It fits well in top-of-rack configurations, cloud infrastructure, and virtualization environments where minimizing power consumption and heat is critical. The breakout capability allows network architects to connect multiple 25 G devices to a single 100 G port, optimizing hardware investments and simplifying cabling.

Organizations running Lenovo ThinkSystem equipment will find this cable particularly useful for expanding network capacity without adding transceivers or optical modules, reducing both upfront and ongoing costs.