Air Flow; Catalyst 6880-X Switch Hardware Installation Guide - Cisco Catalyst 6880-X Hardware Installation Manual

Preparing for Installation

Air Flow

The Catalyst 6880-X switch is designed to be installed in an environment where there is a sufficient volume
of air available to cool the baseboard and other boards in the chassis, any installed modules, and power supplies.
Any constraints placed on the free flow of air through the chassis or an elevated ambient air temperature can
cause the switch to overheat and shut down.
To maintain proper air circulation through the Catalyst 6880-X switch chassis, maintain a minimum 6-inch
(15 cm) separation between a wall and the chassis air intake or a wall and the chassis hot air exhaust. In
situations where the switch chassis are installed in adjacent racks, you should allow a minimum of 12 inches
(30.5 cm) between the air intake of one chassis and the hot air exhaust of another chassis. Failure to maintain
adequate spacing between chassis can cause the switch chassis that is drawing in the hot exhaust air to overheat
and fail.
If you are installing your Catalyst 6880-X switch in an enclosed or partially enclosed rack, we strongly
recommend that you verify that your site meets the following guidelines:
• Verify that there is a minimum of 6 inches (15 cm) of clearance between the sides of the rack and both
• Verify that the ambient air temperature within the enclosed or partially enclosed rack is within the chassis
• If the ambient intake air temperature is less than 104°F (40°C), the rack meets the intake air temperature
• Verify that the enclosed or partially enclosed rack allows an adequate flow of air through the switch
• Plan ahead. Your Catalyst 6880-X switch that is installed in an enclosed or partially enclosed rack might
OL-30827-02
the chassis air intake grill and the chassis air exhaust grill.
operating temperature limits. After installing the chassis in the rack, power up the chassis and allow the
chassis temperature to stabilize (approximately 2 hours). Measure the ambient air temperature at the
chassis air intake grill and at the chassis air exhaust grill by positioning an external temperature probe
approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) away from the grills.
criterion.
◦ If the ambient intake air temperature exceeds 104°F (40°C), the system might experience minor
temperature alarms and is in danger of overheating.
◦ If the ambient intake air temperature equals or is greater than 131°F (55°C), the system will
experience a major temperature alarm and shut down.
chassis as follows:
◦ If the difference between the measured intake air temperature and the exhaust air temperature does
not exceed 10°C, there is sufficient airflow in the rack.
◦ If the difference in air temperature exceeds 10°C, there is insufficient airflow to cool the chassis.
The 10°C temperature differential between the intake and the exhaust must be determined
Note
by taking measurements using external digital temperature probes. Do not use the chassis
internal temperature sensors to measure the temperature differential.
currently meet ambient air temperature and air flow requirements. However, if you add more chassis to
the rack or you add more modules to a chassis in the rack, the additional heat generated might cause the
ambient air temperature within the rack to exceed 104°F (40°C) and can cause minor alarms.

Catalyst 6880-X Switch Hardware Installation Guide

Air Flow
19