StarTech.com Cisco SFP-H10GB-CU3M Compatible 3m 10G SFP+ to SFP+ Direct Attach Cable Twinax - 10GbE SFP+ Copper DAC 10 Gbps Low Power Passive Mini GBIC/Transceiver Module DAC Firepower ASR920 ASR9000

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

At £31.97 ex-VAT for a 3m 10GbE copper DAC, this StarTech twinax lead is exactly the sort of “just make it work” item a lot of UK resellers’ customers end up needing. For short runs between switches/routers and servers—where you’re trying to avoid the hassle and ongoing cost of optics—it’s usually good value. It’s passive, so you don’t get active electronics surprises, and for racks that aren’t far apart, 3m is often the sweet spot for clean, reliable 10GbE links without paying for fibre.

That said, I wouldn’t buy it if you’re expecting universal plug-and-play across every “compatible” Cisco context. DACs can be picky around platform/firmware and how the gear validates optics. If you’re specifically trying to use it with an ASR9xxx, double-check the compatibility with your exact module/cage behaviour—especially if the system is strict about transceiver type checking. If you just need two boxes talking at 10GbE over a short distance and you’ve verified the port’s accepted SFP+ DACs, it’s a sensible, budget-friendly choice. If you can’t confirm compatibility and you’re going to rely on it for critical production links, I’d rather spend a bit more (or go fibre) so you don’t end up troubleshooting “won’t link” gremlins.