Choosing the right interconnect for data center racks is a strategic decision with significant impacts on cost, power, and operational efficiency. This field guide provides a definitive framework for selecting between Direct Attach Copper (DAC), Active Optical Cables (AOC), and traditional optical transceivers with fiber patch cords. It moves beyond datasheets to offer practical, real-world insights forged from a consensus among global data center engineers: "DAC in the Rack, Fiber Everywhere Else." The article presents an expert overview of each technology, followed by an in-depth 8-point comparison covering Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), power consumption, latency, reach, cable management, reliability, vendor compatibility, and future-proofing. Finally, it delivers a clear, scenario-based decision matrix for intra-rack, inter-rack, and structured cabling applications, empowering IT managers and network architects to make economically intelligent and operationally sound choices for their 10G, 40G, and 100G interconnect strategies.

Stop wasting money on incompatible 100G modules. This 2026 guide reveals the hidden traps of LR4 vs LR1, the truth about MPO costs, and how to fix the "Ghost Link" issue once and for all.

Don't let your 100G network upgrade become the next "Resume-Generating Event" (RGE). This definitive guide provides a comprehensive, pre-procurement checklist for engineers and IT managers tasked with migrating from 10G to 100G. Distilled from the real-world "horror stories" and collective wisdom of thousands of professionals, this article walks you through a proven three-phase methodology. It covers critical decision points from cabling infrastructure assessment and link budget calculation to the fatal risks of MPO polarity and post-deployment validation. This is a practical, step-by-step playbook designed to help you evade the 90% most common, costly errors and ensure your transition to 100G is a strategic success, not a catastrophic failure.