Equipment Rack Guidelines - Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Hardware Installation Manual

Equipment Rack Guidelines

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Equipment Rack Guidelines
The placement of racks can affect personnel safety, system maintenance, and the system's ability to operate
within the environmental characteristics described in Cisco Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms. Choose
a proper location for the Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms by following the guidelines below.
Locating for Safety
If the Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms is the heaviest or the only piece of equipment in the rack,
consider installing it at or near the bottom to ensure that the rack's center of gravity is as low as possible.
For additional information about the proper placement of electronic equipment, see the document GR-63-CORE,
Network Equipment Building System (NEBS) Requirements: Physical Protection.
Locating for Easy Maintenance
Keep at least 3 feet of clear space in front of and behind the rack. This space ensures that you can remove the
Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms components and perform routine maintenance and upgrades easily.
Avoid installing the Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms in a congested rack and consider how the
routing of cables from other pieces of equipment in the same rack might affect access to the routers cards.
The front and top of the chassis must remain unobstructed to ensure adequate airflow and prevent overheating
inside the chassis.
Allow the following clearances for normal system maintenance:
• At the top of the chassis—At least 3 in. (7.6 cm)
• In front of the chassis—3 to 4 ft (91.44 cm to 121.92 cm)
To avoid problems during installation and ongoing operation, follow these general precautions when you plan
the equipment locations and connections:
• Use the show environment all and the show facility-alarm status commands regularly to check the
• Keep the Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms off the floor and out of the areas that collect dust.
• Follow ESD-prevention procedures to avoid damage to equipment. Damage from static discharge can
Locating for Proper Airflow
Ensure that the location of the Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms have enough airflow to keep the
system operating within the environmental characteristics, and the air temperature is sufficient to compensate
for the heat dissipated by the system.
Avoid locating the Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms in a location in which the chassis air intake
vents could draw in the exhaust air from adjacent equipment. Consider how the air flows through the router.
The airflow direction is front to back with ambient air drawn in from the venting located on the chassis' front
sides.
Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms Hardware Installation Guide
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internal system status. The environmental monitor continually checks the interior chassis environment;
it provides warnings for high temperature and creates reports on any occurrences. If warning messages
are displayed, take immediate action to identify the cause and correct the problem.
cause immediate or intermittent equipment failure.
Preparing Your Site for Installation