Blank Processor Card - Nortel Passport 15000 Hardware Description

146 Chapter 4 Control and function processors

Blank processor card

241-1501-200 5.2S2
A blank processor card is an empty card used to fill an empty processor slot
in the shelf assembly. A blank card protects the circuitry within the card cage
and ensures proper air flow through the shelf assembly. If a card slot does not
have a function processor (FP) or a control processor (CP) in it for longer than
a few minutes, a blank must be used for the interim.
Having an empty slot while the switch is powered up, especially if it operating
at full service, reduces the air flow through both cages of the shelf assembly
and reduces the containment of EMI. Reducing the airflow means the ambient
temperature inside the shelf rises towards the temperature shut-down
thresholds of the fabrics.
A shelf assembly is typically shipped with blanks for empty slots. With a
Passport 15000 or a shelf-based Passport 20000, blanks are shipped in a
container. With a Passport 20000 in a NEBS 2000 frame, the blanks are
shipped in the slots in the transportation position in the same way as other
processor cards. Blanks have PEC NTHR64.
Note: A blank card can be used in a CP slot, but it is not recommended
to run your Passport without the second (backup) CP.
Blank processor cards were formerly referred to as filler cards, but the
faceplate has always been labeled with BLANK. See the figure "Faceplate of
a blank processor card with PEC NTHR64" (page 147).