StarTech.com HPE JG326A Compatible 1m 40G QSFP+ to QSFP+ Direct Attach Cable Twinax - 40GbE QSFP+ Copper DAC 40 Gbps Low Power Active Transceiver Module DAC Firepower SN2410M 4200

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

If you’re building or repairing a 40GbE switching path and you want a quick, cheap, reliable copper hop, this kind of QSFP+ DAC (1m, active twinax) is exactly the right tool. At £71.04 ex‑VAT for a 1m link, you’re paying pretty sensibly versus fibre + optics, and in a typical UK data-room setup you’ll get solid “plug it in and it works” behaviour—assuming both ends support the same 40G optics/copper profile. Active DACs are especially useful when you don’t want to flirt with borderline signal quality, compared to passive cables on the same short distance.

That said, I wouldn’t buy this blindly if your environment is picky. Third-party “HPE compatible” DACs can be great, but you still risk compatibility quirks depending on the exact switch model/firmware, especially if the ports have strict transceiver checking or you’re trying to match an existing BOM that only likes specific parts. Also, it’s a 1m cable—so if there’s any chance you’ll need reach, flexibility, or future re-cabling, you’ll end up replacing it sooner than you’d like. Overall: good value for a straightforward 40GbE rack-to-rack replacement/short run, but verify the device compatibility and expected port behaviour first rather than treating “compatible” as guaranteed.