HPE BladeSystem c-Class 40G QSFP+ Active Optical Cables QuickSpecs

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High‑performance Active Optical Cables designed to deliver reliable 40Gb connectivity within HPE BladeSystem c‑Class environments.

These cables provide flexible, high‑speed QSFP+ to QSFP+ or QSFP+ to 4x10G SFP+ connectivity options optimized for BladeSystem interconnects.

They support efficient signal transmission over longer distances, ensuring consistent bandwidth and simplified data center integration.

  • Overview

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  • Platform Information

Models

HPE BladeSystem c-Class 40G QSFP+ to QSFP+ 15m Active Optical Cable

720211-B21

HPE BladeSystem c-Class QSFP+ to 4x10G SFP+ 15m Active Optical Cable

721076-B21

  • Service and Support

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Defective Media Retention

An option available with HPE Complete Care Service and HPE Tech Care Service and applies only to Disk or eligible SSD/Flash Drives replaced by HPE due to malfunction.


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Parts and Materials

HPE will provide HPE-supported replacement parts and materials necessary to maintain the covered hardware product in operating condition, including parts and materials for available and recommended engineering improvements.


Parts and components that have reached their maximum supported lifetime and/or the maximum usage limitations as set forth in the manufacturer's operating manual, product quick-specs, or the technical product data sheet will not be provided, repaired, or replaced as part of these services.


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Services are sold by Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Hewlett Packard Enterprise Authorized Service Partners:

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For more information

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  • Technical Specifications

HPE BladeSystem c-Class 40G QSFP+ to QSFP+ 7m Active Optical Cable

(720205-B21)


Connectivity

Length

22.97 ft. (7 m)

Physical characteristics

Weight

0.33 lb. (0.15 kg), Fully loaded the cable with a QSFP+ transceiver at each end of the cable

Environment

Operating temperature

32°F to 158°F (0°C to 70°C)

Operating relative humidity

0% to 85%, noncondensing

Non-operating/Storage temperature

−40°F to 185°F (−40°C to 85°C)

Non-operating/Storage relative humidity

0% to 85%, noncondensing

Altitude

Up to 10,000 ft. (3 km)

Electrical characteristics

Notes

1.5 watts maximum per transceiver end

Notes

Electrical Properties

Cable Characteristic Impedance: Non-conductive

Crosstalk between pairs: 26 dB max

Time delay: 1.57 nsec/ft o BER: 10–15 max

Physical Properties

Cable Diameter: 3 mm

Minimum Cable Bend Radius: 25 mm

HPE BladeSystem c-Class 40G QSFP+ to QSFP+ 15m Active Optical Cable

(720211-B21)

Connectivity

Length

49.21 ft. (15 m)

Physical characteristics

Weight

0.57 lb., Fully loaded the cable with a QSFP+ transceiver at each end of the cable

Environment

Operating temperature

32°F to 158°F (0°C to 70°C)

Operating relative humidity

0% to 85%, noncondensing

Non-operating/Storage temperature

−40°F to 185°F (−40°C to 85°C)

Non-operating/Storage relative humidity

0% to 85%, noncondensing

Altitude

Up to 10,000 ft. (3 km)

Electrical characteristics

Notes

1.5 watts maximum per transceiver end

Notes

Electrical Properties

Cable Characteristic Impedance: Non-conductive

Crosstalk between pairs: 26 dB max

Time delay: 1.57 nsec/ft o BER: 10–15 max

Physical Properties

Cable Diameter: 3 mm

Minimum Cable Bend Radius: 25 mm

HPE BladeSystem c-Class QSFP+ to 4x10G SFP+ 7m Active Optical Cable

(721070-B21)

Connectivity

Length

22.97 ft. (7 m)

Physical characteristics


Weight

0.56 lb. (0.25 kg), Fully loaded the cable with a QSFP+ transceiver at one end and 4 SFP+ transceivers at the other end of the cable

Environment

Operating temperature

32°F to 158°F (0°C to 70°C)

Operating relative humidity

5% to 85%, noncondensing

Non-operating/Storage temperature

−40°F to 185°F (−40°C to 85°C)

Non-operating/Storage relative humidity

5% to 85%, noncondensing

Altitude

Up to 10,000 ft. (3 km)

Electrical characteristics

Notes

1.5 Watts maximum QSFP+ cable end

0.35 Watts maximum SFP+ Cable end (each)

Notes

Electrical Properties

Cable Characteristic Impedance: Non-conductive

Crosstalk between pairs: 26 dB max

Time delay: 1.475 nsec/ft

BER: 10E-15 max

Physical Properties

QSFP+ Cable Diameter: 3.4 mm

SFP+ Cable Diameter: 3 mm

QSFP+ Minimum Cable Bend Radius: 25 mm

SFP+ Minimum Cable Bend Radius: 30 mm

HPE BladeSystem c-Class QSFP+ to 4x10G SFP+ 15m Active Optical Cable

(721076-B21)

Connectivity

Length

49.21 ft. (15 m)

Physical characteristics

Weight

0.74 lb. (0.34 kg), Fully loaded the cable with a QSFP+ transceiver at one end and 4 SFP+ transceivers at the other end of the cable

Environment

Operating temperature

32°F to 158°F (0°C to 70°C)

Operating relative humidity

5% to 85%, noncondensing

Non-operating/Storage temperature

−40°F to 185°F (−40°C to 85°C)

Non-operating/Storage relative humidity

5% to 85%, noncondensing

Altitude

Up to 10,000 ft. (3 km)

Electrical characteristics

Notes

1.5 Watts maximum QSFP+ cable end

0.35 Watts maximum SFP+ Cable end (each)

Notes

Electrical Properties

Cable Characteristic Impedance: Non-conductive

Crosstalk between pairs: 26dB max

Time delay: 1.475 nsec/ft

BER: 10E-15 max

Physical Properties

QSFP+ Cable Diameter: 3.4 mm

SFP+ Cable Diameter: 3 mm

QSFP+ Minimum Cable Bend Radius: 25 mm

SFP+ Minimum Cable Bend Radius: 30 mm

Operating System and Virtualization Support

The Operating Systems supported by this adapter are based on the server OS support. Please refer to the OS Support Matrix at https://www.hpe.com/us/en/servers/server-operating-systems.html.

Environment-friendly Products and Approach - End-of-life Management and Recycling

Hewlett Packard Enterprise offers end-of-life product return, trade-in, and recycling programs, in many geographic areas, for our products. Products returned to Hewlett Packard Enterprise will be recycled, recovered or disposed of in a responsible manner.

The EU WEEE Directive (2012/19/EU) requires manufacturers to provide treatment information for each product type for use by treatment facilities. This information (product disassembly instructions) is posted on the Hewlett Packard Enterprise web site. These instructions may be used by recyclers and other WEEE treatment facilities as well as Hewlett Packard Enterprise OEM customers who integrate and re-sell Hewlett Packard Enterprise equipment.

  • Summary of Changes

Date

Version History

Action

Description of Change

16-Feb-2026

Changed

New branding applied to document.

04-Dec-2023

Changed

Service and Support section was updated.

15-Nov-2021

Changed

Service and Support section was updated.

26-Nov-2018

Changed

Technical Specifications were updated

05-Feb-2018

Changed

Models section was updated.

26-Oct-2016

Changed

Rebranding edition.

09-Feb-2015

Added

SKUs added on models section: 721070-B21, 721073-B21, 721076-B21

Changed

QuickSpecs name changed from "HPE BladeSystem c-Class 40G QSFP+ to QSFP+ Active Optical Cable" to "HPE BladeSystem c-Class 40G QSFP+ Active Optical Cables" Overview, Technical Specification sections were updated

10-Jun-2014

New

Initial version

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