MikroTik XQ+DA0003 Direct Attach Cable for 40/100 Gigabit

The MikroTik XQ+DA0003 is a 3-meter DAC (Direct Attach Copper) cable with QSFP28 connectors, designed for direct interconnection of network equipment in data centers and high-performance infrastructures where minimum latency and lower cost compared to optical transceiver solutions are the primary project requirements. It is commonly used for top-of-rack connections between switches and servers, or between aggregation switches within the same rack or adjacent racks.

The cable supports 40 Gbps (QSFP+) and 100 Gbps (QSFP28) speeds on the same physical interface, ensuring compatibility with equipment from both generations without replacing cabling infrastructure during upgrades. The 3-meter length covers standard intra-rack and adjacent inter-rack distances, while the twinax copper DAC construction eliminates the power consumption of active optical transceivers and the cost of separate SFP/QSFP modules. Integrated QSFP28 connectors provide direct plug-and-play connection without additional configuration in equipment with compatible QSFP+ and QSFP28 slots.

The XQ+DA0003 is natively compatible with MikroTik switches in the CCR2004, CRS5xx, and other QSFP28-equipped platforms, as well as equipment from other vendors conforming to standard QSFP28 specifications. The absence of active components in the DAC cable reduces potential failure points compared to optical transceiver and fiber solutions, contributing to high availability of critical infrastructure links. Cable management is simplified compared to optical patch cord and transceiver solutions, relevant in high-density rack environments.

Recommended for datacenter administrators and network engineers interconnecting MikroTik switches and servers within the same rack zone, where a 3-meter 40/100 Gbps DAC cable delivers minimum latency, reduced power consumption, and lower total cost compared to equivalent QSFP28 transceiver and fiber optic solutions.