These are high-speed fiber optic cables with transceivers built into the ends. In a VAST cluster setup, AOCs are used to connect high-performance components like NVMe-over-Fabrics switches, storage enclosures, and compute nodes, typically at **100G or 200G speeds**. ### Why it matters: - **High Bandwidth**: Supports fast data transfer (e.g. 100Gbps or 200Gbps) - **Low Latency**: Essential for NVMeoF (NVMe over Fabrics) setups - **Pre-terminated**: Simplifies deployment — no need to manage separate optics and cables - **Cost-effective**: Cheaper and easier to manage than transceiver + fiber pairs in small setups