Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch 6850E Series Hardware User's Manual page 96

Mounting the Chassis
Blank Cover Panels
Blank cover panels are provided with your chassis and are used to cover empty slots. These cover panels
play an important role in chassis airflow and temperature management. If your chassis is not fully
populated and blank cover panels are not installed over empty slot locations, airflow is affected.
When blank cover panels are missing, air does not take the direct route from the power supply air intake
vents, through the power supply body, and out through the chassis exhaust vent as intended. Instead, a
portion of the airflow is allowed to escape through other openings in the chassis. As a result, normal
airflow is disrupted and an extra task is placed on the system to cool the chassis.
Note. Because they regulate airflow and help protect internal chassis components, blank cover panels
should be installed over empty power supply bays at all times.
page 4-8
Blank Panels and Chassis Airflow
OmniSwitch Backup Power Shelf/System (BPS)
OmniSwitch Backup Power Shelf/System (BPS)
January 2013