Aries PCIe®/CXL® Smart Cable Modules

Multi-rack GPU clustering for AI
over copper cables

Unleash GPU-to-GPU Clustering Across Racks

  • Extends PCIe® 6.0, 5.0, PCIe 4.0, and CXL® signal reach across dense AI racks using Active Electrical Cables
  • Built on the proven track record of our widely deployed and field-tested Aries PCIe/CXL Smart DSP Retimers
  • Supports multiple form factors and configurations to accommodate diverse AI system topologies
  • COSMOS suite for performance optimization and seamless fleet management across dense AI platforms

Aries SCM Highlights

Enabling reliable PCIe/CXL for rack-to-rack connectivity

Robust Signal
Integrity

Over copper cables with flexible link bifurcation

Extended Cable
Reach By

Compared to passive DAC solutions

Enhanced Diagnostics
& Telemetry

Advanced capabilities through in-band and out-of-band management

Why Use Aries Smart Cable Modules?

Aries SCMs enable robust, easy-to-design PCIe and CXL cabling while also offering COSMOS suite of built-in advanced fleet management, security, and deep diagnostic capabilities critical to ensuring high reliability and up-time.

Robustness

  • Supported Data Rates

    64 GT/s, 32 GT/s, 16 GT/s, 8 GT/s, 5 GT/s, and 2.5 GT/s Data Rates with Automatic Link Equalization

  • Power Efficient

    Low power CMOS process and L1.0 Low-Power Mode minimizes rack power/thermal density

  • Low Latency

    Less than 10ns

  • Security

    Advanced security features help prevent malicious attacks of unauthorized firmware loading, module diagnostics access, and configurations

Ease-of-use

  • Thin Cable Gauge

    Offering thin cables in various lengths for flexible bend radius

  • Extended Reach

    Up to 7m for long reach inter-rack PCIe 5.0 connectivity and up to 6m for PCIe 6.x connectivity

  • Flexible Supply Chain

    Aries SCMs are compatible with multiple cable vendors for ease of second sourcing of active cable assemblies and accelerated time to market

  • Interop Testing

    Rigorous system testing with 50+ Endpoints and all major Root Complex

Fleet Management

  • Quick Debug

    Built-in protocol analyzer with Link state history and timestamps, full non-destructive eye scan for RX Lane margining, self-test features to minimize link downtime and accelerate fault isolation

  • Deep Diagnostics

    Firmware-driven link health monitoring to alert BMC of any possible link performance issues

Use Cases

Read more

Memory Disaggregation

Expand, pool and share memory between multiple servers to increase memory bandwidth and capacity while providing the option to reclaim stranded or under-utilized…

Resources

Ordering Information

Part NumberDocumentsPCIe Gen PCIe LanesOrderingProduction Status
PM30-6XXPortfolio BriefPCIe 6.xVariousContact Us Pre-Production
PM20-5XXPortfolio BriefPCIe 5.0VariousContact UsProduction

Enabling Multi-Rack AI Clusters with Aries Smart Cable Modules for PCIe 6

Extended reach, simplified management, and robust supply chains for rack-scale AI at 64 GT/s.Aries Smart Cable Modules for PCIe 6.0 Highlights:PCIe 6.0 for double bandwidth to accelerate AI training and inference workloadsUp to 7-meter reach for multi-rack architecturesThinner gauge cabling for easier cable management in high-density racksMulti-vendor supply chain with… Read more

The 400G-Per-Lane Inflection Point: Where Copper and Optical Meet in AI Infrastructure

If you’ve been following AI infrastructure development, you’ve likely heard some version of this prediction: “Copper is hitting its limits. The transition to optical is inevitable. It’s happening now.”There’s truth in that statement—but the reality playing out in data centers is more nuanced than a simple technology replacement cycle. Having spent my career in connectivity, working… Read more

Astera Labs 2025 Milestones – A Breakthrough Year of Expansion, Innovation & Ecosystem Leadership

Every year-end brings a season of reflection and introspection from the year gone by, and we have the opportunity to take the learnings that came from it, framing them into a canvas for the year to come. Against a global background that often created back-and-forth macroeconomic uncertainties, Astera Labs steadily and surely forged its path forward. If I could characterize the year with one… Read more

Astera Labs Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results

Record quarterly revenue of $270.6 million, up 17% QoQ, and record full-year revenue of $852.5 million, up 115% year-over-yearBroadening Scorpio X-Series smart fabric roadmap to address expanding scale-up market opportunities supporting multiple customers, starting production ramp for lead platformAppointed Desmond Lynch as Chief Financial Officer with Mike Tate transitioning to the… Read more

Astera Labs Expands Global Footprint with New Israel Design Center to Support Growing Demand for AI Connectivity Solutions

New design center to focus on cutting-edge AI fabrics and emerging AI inference technologiesIndustry veteran Guy Azrad to lead operations as general manager of Astera Labs IsraelSAN JOSE, Calif. and TEL AVIV, Israel—Feb. 9, 2026—Astera Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALAB), a leader in semiconductor-based connectivity solutions for rack-scale AI infrastructure, today announced a significant… Read more

Astera Labs Broadens Scorpio X-Series Smart Fabric Switch Roadmap to Address Expanding Scale-Up Market Opportunities

Scorpio X-Series Begins Initial Production with Merchant Scale-Up Switching Market Estimated to Reach $20 billion by 2030 [1]News Highlights:Developed in collaboration with hyperscalers, Scorpio X-series products are purpose-built to support scale-up networking, and are now shipping in initial production volumesExpanded features will include support for increased radix, platform-specific… Read more

Astera Labs Expands Connectivity Portfolio with Custom Solutions

NVLink Fusion-based custom solutions will be offered to support next-generation heterogenous AI infrastructureSAN JOSE, Calif.—Dec. 2, 2025—Astera Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALAB), a leader in semiconductor-based connectivity solutions for rack-scale AI infrastructure, today announced plans to deliver custom connectivity solutions, a new offering designed to address the increasing complexity… Read more

How We Test – Taurus Interop

Learn how we conduct rigorous interop testing of Taurus Ethernet Smart Cable Modules with a range of hosts, NICs, and switches to ensure seamless deployment and minimize risk. Read more

Aries 6 Smart Cable Module Demo

In this demo video, see how Aries PCIe 6 Smart Cable Modules (SCMs) enable reliable, rack-to-rack PCIe 6 connectivity for AI scale-up infrastructure. Powered by Astera Labs’ COSMOS software suite and Scorpio Fabric Switches, the test platform demonstrates real-time link testing, monitoring, and debugging across four x16 active electrical cables. Learn how Aries 6 SCMs extend reach up to… Read more

COSMOS Explorer: Link Management Tools Demo

Astera Labs’ COSMOS Explorer is a powerful tool for link monitoring, management, and diagnostics. It offers a rich set of system configuration options for you to optimize performance with critical signal quality telemetry such as bit error rate, eye metrics, and link event logs. COSMOS Explorer allows you to modify link settings and get customized diagnostics in one GUI for all of our products.In… Read more