DAC Cables & Direct Attach Copper in Kenya
When both switches sit in the same rack, a DAC cable is the cheapest and most reliable way to close the link.
Why use DAC instead of optics
A direct attach copper cable has the transceivers moulded onto both ends, so one part replaces two optics and a patch lead. It draws less power, adds less latency, and there is no fibre end-face to get dirty. For top-of-rack and rack-adjacent links up to about 7 m it is the obvious choice.
The trade-off is reach and flexibility: DAC is heavy, does not bend tightly, and stops at a few metres. Beyond that, go back to optics and fibre.
Coding still applies
Both ends of a DAC carry an EEPROM, and switches check it the same way they check an optic. A DAC coded for one vendor will not always come up on another, so tell us both switch models and we will supply the right assembly.
Related: all transceivers · SFP buying guide · compatibility checker · delivery across Africa