StarTech.com Cisco SFP-H10GB-ACU10M Compatible 10m 10G SFP+ to SFP+ Direct Attach Cable Twinax - 10GbE SFP+ Copper DAC 10 Gbps Low Power Active Mini GBIC/Transceiver Module DAC Firepower ASR9000 ASR1000

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

If you’ve got a Cisco stack or ASR chassis that takes SFP+ and you need a short, reliable copper hop, this kind of 10m active DAC can be good value. At ~£104 ex-VAT for a 10m lead, it’s not “cheap-cheap,” but DACs usually make sense where you want lower latency and less complexity than moving optics and patch leads. Active twinax also tends to work better than plain passive cable at the longer end of the range, so you’re less likely to be fighting marginal link performance.

That said, I wouldn’t buy it blindly. The “compatible” angle matters: some Cisco gear is picky about vendor/SKU identification and compatibility, especially on newer software trains or more locked-down configs. If you can confirm it’s been used successfully on your exact model/port type, then it’s a sensible purchase for lab-to-rack, rack-to-rack, or any site where you’re spanning closer distances without paying optics/GBIC tax. If you’re not 100% sure, or you need guaranteed “drop-in and forget” support, spending a bit more on Cisco-branded or clearly certified optics/cables (or buying from a distributor with strong compatibility guarantees) is often cheaper in the long run when you factor troubleshooting time.

In short: buy it if you know your Cisco platform accepts third-party active DACs and you’re trying to keep deployment simple and cost-effective. Skip it if compatibility verification isn’t available or if this is mission-critical infrastructure where you can’t afford to test/return cables.