Airflow Concerns For Open Racks; Open Rack Ideal Configuration - Enterasys S Series Hardware Installation Manual

Airflow Concerns for Open Racks

Note: The SSA switch directs air flow from front to back, not side to side.
Equipment with different air flow cooling patterns, such as front to back or side to side, can
present special concerns. Recirculation of heated air through equipment is unwanted because it
increases the inlet temperature which causes the equipment components to operate at elevated
temperatures. Likewise, equipment in neighboring racks must be planned to prevent hot air
exhaust from one system being pulled into the inlet of an adjacent system.
Figure E-2 illustrates the ideal configuration for an open rack. All sub-systems flow in the same
direction, as shown by the white arrows.
Figure E-2
Figure E-3 on page E-4 below shows a non-ideal configuration for an open rack, where sub-
systems with mixed flow directions (white arrows) are combined in one rack. Circular red arrows
show potential for hot air recirculation.

Open Rack Ideal Configuration

Enterasys S-Series Stand Alone (SSA) Hardware Installation Guide E-3
Temperature and Humidity Guidelines