200G AOC Cable for Server-Switch Connectivity

As artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and big data applications continue to expand, the volume of data exchanged within data centers is growing exponentially. For short-reach, high-speed interconnects between racks, servers, and switches, a reliable and cost-effective solution is essential. C-LIGHT's 200G AOC (Active Optical Cable) series is designed specifically to address these short-distance, high-bandwidth connectivity needs with outstanding performance and proven reliability.

Product Overview: High Speed, Stability, and Flexibility

The C-LIGHT 200G AOC Cable utilizes an 850nm VCSEL laser array and a PIN photodetector array. Leveraging four-channel PAM4 modulation technology, each lane operates at 50Gb/s, delivering an aggregated data rate of up to 200Gb/s. The product supports various configurations, including 200G QSFP56 to QSFP56, 200G to 2x 100G QSFP28, and 200G to 4x 50G SFP56. Transmission reach extends up to 70 meters over OM3 multimode fiber and up to 100 meters over OM4/OM5 multimode fiber, making it an ideal fit for inter-rack connections and linking server clusters to switching equipment within the data center. The cable complies with the IEEE 802.3cd 200GBASE-SR4 Ethernet standard, QSFP56 MSA specifications, and SFF-8636/SFF-8665 industry standards. It is also compatible with InfiniBand HDR, ensuring broad applicability across Ethernet and high-performance computing (HPC) environments.

Core Product Features: Engineered for Efficient Interconnectivity

C-LIGHT 200G AOC Cables are optimized to meet the rigorous demands of modern data centers and AI computing clusters, featuring the following key characteristics:

• Superior Transmission Performance and Low Power Consumption: Based on 850nm VCSEL array technology, the cable ensures stable 100-meter transmission over OM4/OM5 fiber. Compared to traditional DAC copper cables, the 200G AOC is lighter, offers a tighter bend radius, and consumes less power, contributing to reduced operational cooling costs in the data center.

• Plug-and-Play Simplicity with Broad Compatibility: The cables undergo rigorous compatibility validation before shipment, covering over 200 mainstream brand systems including Cisco, Huawei, NVIDIA, Mellanox, and Intel. Users can achieve true plug-and-play functionality without complex driver configurations, significantly simplifying deployment and maintenance.

• Excellent Signal Integrity and EMI Immunity: Utilizing optical fiber as the transmission medium eliminates electromagnetic interference (EMI) and crosstalk issues inherent in copper cables. An integrated CDR (Clock Data Recovery) chip effectively reshapes the signal waveform, ensuring low bit error rates and signal integrity for 200G PAM4 signals over distance.

• Flexible Connectivity and High-Density Deployment: Options include direct-attach QSFP56 and breakout configurations to QSFP28 or SFP56, allowing customers to seamlessly upgrade existing 100G network infrastructure to 200G while protecting prior investments. The slim cable diameter facilitates high-density cabling and improved airflow management within racks.

• Industrial-Grade Durability and Reliability: The cable features a reinforced flexible jacket, and the connector latches are validated for thousands of insertion cycles. Every unit undergoes 100% full-temperature (Commercial Grade: 0°C to 70°C) eye diagram testing before shipment to guarantee long-term stability under variable thermal conditions within the data center.

  
  

Core Technical Strengths: Innovation-Driven Quality

The exceptional performance of C-LIGHT 200G AOC Cables is underpinned by robust R&D capabilities and a comprehensive manufacturing infrastructure. C-LIGHT operates a fully equipped R&D laboratory in Shenzhen, featuring specialized equipment for product design, validation, and reliability testing. The company has independently developed a diverse array of software and hardware testing platforms to ensure quality and efficiency from the earliest stages of development. The core R&D team consists of senior engineers with experience at leading global communications firms. With over 50 dedicated R&D engineers, the team has successfully developed more than 1,000 optical transceiver solutions. In the development of products like the 200G AOC, C-LIGHT maintains full-chain control—from chip selection and circuit design to firmware development—enabling deep customization based on specific customer requirements, backed by complimentary technical consultation and test report support.

Smart Manufacturing and Quality Assurance: A Solid Foundation for Reliability

C-LIGHT has established a rigorous quality management system throughout the manufacturing process. The production facilities are certified to ISO 9001 quality management and ISO 14001 environmental management standards. Products comply with FDA safety regulations and hold multiple international certifications including FCC, CE, TUV, RoHS, and REACH, ensuring compliance with market access requirements worldwide. Additionally, C-LIGHT is ISO 27001 certified for information security management, safeguarding customer data integrity.

Regarding production environment, C-LIGHT operates a Class 100,000 cleanroom facility and utilizes a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) for comprehensive process management. Key debugging and testing procedures are automated and data-driven. The company leverages a supply chain shared with top-tier international brands, sourcing core components from industry-leading vendors to guarantee consistency and stability from the start. Before shipment, products undergo over 50 reliability verification tests, including high/low-temperature cycling, ESD protection testing, mechanical shock and vibration testing, and 2,000-hour lifetest evaluations. In terms of compatibility, the products have been validated for both software and hardware interoperability across more than 200 mainstream brand systems and fully meet MSA and CMIS compliance standards. Thanks to this disciplined quality framework, C-LIGHT achieves a 90% availability rate for shipment within 2-3 days, with a daily production capacity exceeding 8,000 units, effectively meeting urgent customer deployment timelines.

Diverse Application Scenarios: Addressing Core Needs in AI and Data Centers

The application landscape for C-LIGHT 200G AOC Cables spans artificial intelligence computing, data center networking, telecom FTTx broadband access, DWDM wavelength-division networks, industrial-grade fiber applications, 5G/6G mobile communications, and enterprise networks. Within the data center, this product is widely used for server cluster interconnects and high-speed links between switches and storage systems, ensuring efficient data flow at critical network junctures. In AI computing clusters, the 200G AOC provides the low-latency, high-bandwidth physical links necessary for data exchange between GPU servers, accelerating both model training and inference tasks. In telecommunications infrastructure, the cable offers stable and reliable optical connectivity for 5G base stations, metro networks, and backbone aggregation.

Serving the Globe

As a professional manufacturer with 15 years of deep expertise in the optical communications industry, C-LIGHT was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Nanshan, Shenzhen. The company is dedicated to the R&D and production of high-speed optical transceivers, active optical cables, passive optical components, and data switching equipment. Leveraging extensive industry experience, C-LIGHT has built a customer network spanning over 100 countries across five continents. The company remains committed to tracking leading-edge industry technologies, continuously advancing the development of 800G, 2x400G, and 400G high-speed products. Through specialized customization services, exceptional compatibility, and a comprehensive after-sales support system, C-LIGHT serves as a vital partner in the global optical communications ecosystem.