OPTIC.ca NGQ4X25-AO7M-OC — 100G QSFP28 to 4x25G SFP28 Active Optical Breakout Cable, 7m
The OPTIC.ca NGQ4X25-AO7M-OC is a 7-meter QSFP28-to-4xSFP28 Active Optical Cable (AOC) designed for high-density 25G/100G data centre and enterprise networking environments. It enables a single 100G QSFP28 switch port to connect to four independent 25G SFP28 ports, making it ideal for top-of-rack server aggregation and spine-to-leaf breakout deployments. Carrying the 100% NETGEAR Certified designation, this cable is coded in-house by Technologie Optic.ca Inc. and has been rigorously validated on NETGEAR M4350 and M4500 series switches. The result is OEM-level plug-and-play reliability at a lower total cost, backed by Optic.ca's lifetime warranty on the transceiver side.
4x25G Breakout: Multiply Port Density
The NGQ4X25-AO7M-OC splits a single QSFP28 100G uplink port into four separate 25G SFP28 connections. In a typical top-of-rack deployment, this allows a single high-speed switch port to serve four independent 25G servers simultaneously, dramatically increasing server-to-switch density without adding hardware. For network architects managing growing rack populations, this is the most cost-effective way to scale without over-provisioning uplink ports. The 7-meter reach gives enough headroom for standard in-rack and cross-rack cabling without signal degradation.
100% NETGEAR Certified — Zero Compatibility Risk
Every NGQ4X25-AO7M-OC unit is coded in-house by Optic.ca specifically for NETGEAR switch platforms, and carries the official 100% NETGEAR Certified designation. This is not a generic third-party cable that may or may not work — it has been validated on NETGEAR M4350 and M4500 series switches. The practical consequence for installers and end users is that the cable will be recognised by the switch firmware without any manual override, error suppression, or vendor-lock warnings. This removes a common support headache associated with uncertified optics and means the installation proceeds without compatibility troubleshooting.
Active Optical Design: 7m Without Signal Compromise
As an Active Optical Cable (AOC), the NGQ4X25-AO7M-OC uses optical transmission along its full 7-metre length, unlike passive copper DAC cables that struggle beyond 5 metres and show measurable signal degradation before that. The active transceiver modules at each end convert the electrical signal to optical and back, ensuring full signal integrity at 25G per lane. For data centre cabling where patch panels, cable trays, and cross-aisle routing regularly push runs beyond passive copper's practical range, an AOC is the reliable choice — and at 7m it sits exactly where copper alternatives are no longer recommended.
Lifetime Warranty & Tier 1 MTBF Quality
Optic.ca backs the transceiver modules with a lifetime warranty, and the cable assembly with a manufacturing-defect warranty. Components are manufactured to meet or exceed Tier 1 MTBF standards and are pre-tested before shipment. For network infrastructure that must remain online continuously, this level of quality assurance means lower risk of unplanned downtime caused by cable failure. It also simplifies the procurement decision: the total cost of ownership includes warranty replacement coverage without time-limited support windows typical of budget alternatives.
