Active Electrical Cable (AEC): A Fresh Alternative Copper Cable Choice for Data Centers

In the realm of data centers, maintaining a competitive edge is essential to meet the ever-growing requirements of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and video workloads. Active Electrical Cable (AEC) has surfaced as a fresh alternative, offering an inventive choice for copper cabling. This article comprehensively examines the distinctive traits and capabilities of AEC, underscoring its advantages and significance in driving future triumphs for data centers.

What is an Active Electrical Cable (AEC)

Active Electrical Cable (AEC) is a specific active Direct Attach Copper (DAC) interconnect cables that deliver both cost-effective and flawless performance at speeds of 400G and 800G. Unlike passive DAC cables, AEC integrates clock and data recovery (CDR) signal conditioning, actively amplifying signal strength, minimizing latency, and guaranteeing exceptional signal integrity. This results in dependable and high-performance connectivity solutions tailored for data centers.

Types of Active Electrical Cable (AEC)

FS Active Electrical Cable (AEC) is divided into two categories: 800G AEC and 400G AEC. In the following section, we will provide a detailed introduction to the characteristics of these two product types.

800G AEC

The 800G AEC is designed to transport 800G Ethernet signals over copper cables, with a maximum range of 2m. It incorporates clock and data recovery (CDR) technology, which enhances performance and reduces cable thickness. These cables consume 20% less power compared to optical alternatives. AEC supports 8 lanes of 106.25G-PAM4 signal in each direction, enabling bi-directional 800G traffic per cable. They are especially well-suited for establishing direct connections between racks or ports in the data center switch and router environment, providing an ideal solution for such scenarios.

400G AEC

The 400G AEC Breakout is designed to transmit Ethernet signals up to a distance of 5m using thin copper cables. This is achieved through the implementation of inline mode-shifting, speed-shifting, and FEC termination. By utilizing this breakthrough technology, the 400G cable is capable of splitting the signal from a single 400G (8x53G-PAM4) QSFP-DD end into four 100G (4x25G-NRZ) QSFP28 ends. This enables seamless connectivity between new PAM4 ports and existing in-rack NRZ equipment. As a result, it becomes hassle-free and cost-effective to connect top-of-rack 400G ports to the most commonly used switches, servers, and storage devices. This innovative solution sets the 400G AEC Breakout apart from other cable types, making it the ideal choice for such applications.

What does AEC bring to the Data Center?

Data Loss Prevention and Clear Signals

To enhance the efficiency of data center upgrades in the face of evolving networking requirements and technological advancements, ensuring cable connections without signal loss becomes crucial. Direct Attach Copper (DAC) Cables are categorized into passive cables and active cables. Passive DAC cables may suffer from signal leakage or degradation, especially when connecting servers that are far apart, leading to compromised data quality, particularly at higher frequencies. To overcome this challenge, the industry introduced active cables, such as Active Electrical Cables (AEC) and Active Copper Cables (ACC).

AEC resolved the issue of data loss by incorporating re-timers, placed at both ends of the cable. These re-timers recondition the data signal during transmission, improving data quality by reducing noise and amplifying the signal. As a result, AEC ensures cleaner and more precise data delivery. On the other hand, ACC is another type of cable that includes active electronic components. Unlike re-timers, ACC utilizes linear amplifiers instead. While linear amplifiers amplify the signal, they do not recondition it, and as a consequence, they amplify the noise as well. This means that while ACC offers a more cost-effective option, re-timers in AEC deliver a significantly cleaner signal. In summary, AEC with re-timers provides a superior solution for maintaining data integrity by improving signal quality and reducing noise, compared to ACC which uses linear amplifiers.

Easy Cable Routing and Management

The management of cables in data centers can be a complex task, especially when dealing with various interconnected devices. This challenge becomes more pronounced when thicker cables are predominantly used, as it diminishes the available space and complicates cable management efforts. However, AEC provides a solution by employing smaller twin shafts, typically 30 or 32 AWG, which greatly simplifies cable management, particularly during installation. By adopting AEC, data centers can streamline the process of installing and managing cable bundles, resulting in increased efficiency and faster operations. Furthermore, AEC has a smaller volume compared to DAC solutions, which not only reduces air resistance within the data center but also facilitates smoother airflow from the front to the rear of the servers. This enhanced airflow improves cooling efficiency and helps mitigate thermal heat.

Cost-Effectiveness

In data centers, cost-effectiveness is a critical factor to consider. AEC cables offer a cost-efficient alternative to active optical cables (AOC) by utilizing copper as the transmission medium. Additionally, when data centers incorporate equipment from different vendors, the use of re-timers increases the likelihood of seamless "plug and play" integration of new servers into existing infrastructure, ensuring a reliable channel. AEC achieves a balance between performance and affordability, enabling data centers to optimize their connectivity while maintaining cost control.

Conclusion

Active Electrical Cable (AEC) offers a fresh and innovative alternative for data centers, providing enhanced connectivity and addressing various challenges. With its active components, AEC ensures superior signal integrity, reduced latency, and improved performance. The different speeds of AEC, such as 400G and 800G, offer flexibility and scalability to meet diverse data center requirements. By adopting AEC cables, data centers can optimize cable routing, reduce risks, and achieve cost-effective connectivity solutions. Embracing AEC empowers data centers to stay ahead in the dynamic and demanding digital landscape.