Critical Performance Advantages
- Optimized for 400G NDR Networks: Engineered to deliver full bandwidth for next-generation 400GbE and NDR InfiniBand infrastructures, ensuring your network card and switch interfaces operate at peak efficiency.
- Premium Signal Integrity: Utilizes MPO-12/APC connectors with an 8-degree angled polish to achieve a high return loss (≥35 dB), drastically reducing optical back-reflection and signal distortion.
- Plug-and-Play Crossover Design: Factory-terminated as a Type B (crossed) cable, it correctly maps transmit lanes to receive lanes, enabling direct connection between transceivers without external adapters.
- Durable & Safe Construction: Features a flexible, aqua-colored LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) jacket that is riser-rated (OFNR) for enhanced safety in data center plenums.
- Certified Ecosystem Compatibility: Fully tested and validated for seamless operation within the NVIDIA Mellanox ecosystem, including switches and ConnectX-7 nic card solutions, and is often specified under the alias mq9700 in integration guides.
1. Product Overview
The NVIDIA MFP7E20-N010 is a 10-meter passive multimode fiber optic cable, forming a critical physical layer component for high-speed data center interconnects. It terminates in MPO-12/APC connectors on both ends and is configured as a Type B crossover cable. This design is purpose-built to link 400G NDR and Ethernet transceivers found in modern switches, network card adapters, and DPUs. It provides a reliable, low-latency pathway essential for AI/ML clusters, HPC, and storage networks, and is frequently referenced in system designs by the alias mq9700.
2. Core Product Characteristics
- Interface: Dual MPO-12/APC (Female), angle-polished connectors.
- Cable Length: 10 meters.
- Fiber Specification: 50/125 µm Multimode OM4 (Aqua jacket).
- Active Channels: 8 fibers (4 for transmit, 4 for receive) out of 12.
- Wiring Scheme: Type B (Crossover), essential for direct transceiver linking.
- Optical Performance: Insertion Loss ≤ 0.354 dB; Return Loss ≥ 35 dB.
- Physical Build: 3.0 mm diameter, minimum bend radius of 30 mm.
- Compliance: Adheres to Telcordia GR-1435 and IEC 61754-7 standards.
3. Technical Foundation & Standards
This cable implements advanced optical engineering standards to guarantee performance in demanding environments. The cornerstone is the MPO-12/APC connector interface, which is critical for maintaining signal integrity at 400G speeds by minimizing reflectance. Compliance with rigorous industry certifications ensures interoperability, safety, and electromagnetic compatibility within professional data center deployments, making it a trustworthy choice for connecting critical infrastructure like a high-speed network card.
- Connector Standard: IEC 61754-7 (MPO family).
- Performance & Reliability: Telcordia GR-1435.
- Laser Safety: Class I per IEC 60825-1 and FDA 21 CFR 1040.
- Safety Approvals: CB Scheme, cTUVus, CE Mark.
- EMC Compliance: CE, FCC Class A, ICES-003, VCCI.
4. Operational Principle
The cable functions as an optical "crossover" highway. Within each MPO connector, 12 fiber positions exist. For 400G communication, 8 are utilized: positions 1-4 at one end are optically connected to positions 12-9 at the opposite end, respectively (and vice-versa). This Type B topology ensures that the transmit (Tx) lasers from a transceiver's first set of lanes are perfectly aligned with the receive (Rx) photodetectors on the corresponding lanes of the connected device. The APC polish angle is fundamental; it scatters any reflected light away from the source, preventing it from re-entering the sensitive laser cavity in the transceiver or nic card, thereby preserving signal clarity.
5. Primary Deployment Scenarios
The MFP7E20-N010 is deployed in scenarios requiring high-bandwidth, low-latency interconnections over short distances.
- Intra-Rack Connectivity: Interconnecting top-of-rack (ToR) switches or linking a ToR switch to multiple high-performance servers equipped with ConnectX-7 network cards.
- High-Density Compute Clusters: Forming the fabric between GPU servers and NVLink switches in AI training and HPC environments.
- Storage Area Networks (SAN): Connecting storage arrays to switching fabric in flash-based storage solutions demanding high throughput.
- Network Edge Aggregation: Used within consolidated racks at the network edge where space is limited but 400G performance is required.
6. Detailed Specifications & Model Selection
| Parameter |
Specification for MFP7E20-N010 |
| Product Model |
MFP7E20-N010 |
| Description |
MPO12/APC to MPO12/APC, Multimode Fiber Cable |
| Length |
10 meters |
| Fiber Type / Jacket Color |
OM4 Multimode / Aqua |
| Connector Type |
MPO-12, Angled Polish (APC), Female |
| Wiring Scheme |
Type B (Crossover) |
| Maximum Data Rate Support |
400 Gb/s per port (NDR/400GbE) |
| Insertion Loss (Max) |
≤ 0.354 dB |
| Return Loss (Min) |
≥ 35 dB |
| Cable Diameter |
3.0 ± 0.2 mm |
| Operating Temperature |
0°C to +70°C |
| Related Component Alias |
mq9700 |
Available Length Variants
| Ordering Part Number |
Length |
Best For |
| MFP7E20-N003 |
3m |
Ultra-short reach, within the same chassis. |
| MFP7E20-N010 |
10m |
Intra-rack and adjacent rack connections. |
| MFP7E20-N020 |
20m |
Extended intra-row reach. |
| MFP7E20-N030 |
30m |
Maximum OM4 reach for 400G NDR. |
7. Competitive Advantages
- Optimized for NDR Ecosystem: Unlike generic MPO cables, it is specifically tuned and tested for NVIDIA's NDR platform, ensuring guaranteed performance with Mellanox switches and nic card adapters, reducing integration risks.
- Superior Optical Quality: The APC polish provides a distinct advantage over UPC connectors in high-speed environments by offering superior return loss, which is critical for maintaining bit error rate (BER) targets.
- Ready-to-Deploy Reliability: Each cable undergoes rigorous factory testing, providing an "out-of-the-box" installation experience with verified performance metrics, saving valuable deployment time.
- Future-Proof Design: Supports not only current 400G standards but is also designed for signal integrity that accommodates future speed advancements within the same form factor.
- Enhanced Data Center Safety: The LSZH jacket material offers a critical safety benefit by limiting toxic smoke emission in the event of a fire, a key consideration for modern data center compliance.
8. Service & Support Commitment
Our partnership extends beyond the point of sale, offering a comprehensive support structure to ensure the success of your deployment.
- Warranty: Covered by NVIDIA's standard product warranty. Detailed terms are available upon request.
- Availability & Delivery: Backed by our extensive multi-million dollar inventory, this product and related mq9700 series components are typically available for prompt shipment to meet project timelines.
- Technical Expertise: Access to our dedicated technical support team for pre- and post-sales consultation, including compatibility checks and deployment best practices for your network card and switch infrastructure.
- Global Logistics: We ensure accurate and traceable delivery of goods worldwide, supported by a professional supply chain network.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this cable to connect a 400G OSFP switch port to two separate 200G QSFP56 server ports?
No, the MFP7E20-N010 is a point-to-point cable connecting two MPO ports. To break out one 400G port into two 200G ports, a dedicated MPO-to-2xQSFP56 breakout cable or external splitter module is required.
Is cleaning the connectors really necessary before installation?
Absolutely. Contamination is the leading cause of optical link failures. Always use approved optical connector cleaners on both the cable's MPO ferrule and the transceiver's receptacle before mating. This is crucial for maintaining the low loss and high return loss specifications, especially when connecting to a sensitive network card.
What is the difference between the 'N010' and a 'N050' model?
The suffix indicates length. The N010 is 10 meters, ideal for intra-rack links. The N050 is 50 meters, designed for longer reaches, typically using OM4 fiber to maintain signal integrity over the extended distance. Both share the same connector and performance specs per meter.
10. Installation & Handling Guidelines
Note: Adhering to these precautions ensures optimal performance and longevity.
- Compatibility Verification: Confirm transceivers use MPO-12/APC interfaces. Do not force-mate with MPO-12/UPC ports, as the different polishes are incompatible and will cause physical damage and high loss.
- Environmental Limits: Operate strictly within the 0°C to 70°C temperature range. For storage, the range is -40°C to 85°C.
- Bend Radius Management: Never bend the cable tighter than a 30 mm radius during installation or operation to prevent micro-bending-induced signal attenuation.
- ESD Awareness: While the cable is not ESD-sensitive, the transceivers it plugs into are. Always use an ESD wrist strap when handling installed transceivers or nic card adapters.
- Regulatory Use: This is a Class A digital device. It may cause radio interference in residential environments; installation is intended for commercial settings.
11. About Our Company
We are a established global supplier in the networking hardware sector with a proven track record spanning more than ten years. Our capabilities are built to serve the demanding needs of enterprise and data center clients.
- Deep Industry Experience: Over a decade of specialization in network infrastructure solutions, supported by our own large-scale operational facilities and a skilled technical engineering team.
- Authorized Product Portfolio: We are a trusted distributor for premier brands including NVIDIA Mellanox, Ruckus, Aruba, and Extreme Networks. Our core offerings encompass original switches, network cards (NICs), wireless systems, and a full range of connectivity solutions like the MFP7E20 series.
- Significant Inventory Investment: We maintain a standing inventory exceeding $10 million USD, enabling us to fulfill large-volume orders reliably and offer a wide selection of products, including specialized items like the mq9700 associated components.
- End-to-End Customer Support: Our commitment includes guaranteed accurate order fulfillment, 24/7 customer service for consultations, and dedicated technical support. Our team of professional sales and engineers works to build solutions that earn trust in the global marketplace.
Partner with us for genuine products, competitive value, and the support needed to deploy and maintain high-performance network infrastructure.