2-4
Cisco 2600 Series Routers Hardware Installation Guide
OL-2171-02
Chapter 2 Preparing to Install the Router
General Site Requirements
Site Environment
The router can be placed on a desktop or mounted in a rack. Single rack-unit (1RU) routers can also be
mounted on a wall. The location of the chassis and the layout of your equipment rack or wiring room are
extremely important for proper system operation. Placing equipment too close together, inadequate
ventilation, and inaccessible panels can make system maintenance difficult or cause system
malfunctions and shutdowns.
When planning your site layout and equipment locations, remember the precautions described in the next
section, “
Preventive Site Configuration
.” If you are experiencing shutdowns or unusually high errors
with your existing equipment, these precautions might help you isolate the cause of failures and prevent
future problems.
Preventive Site Configuration
The following precautions will help you plan an acceptable operating environment for your router and
help you avoid environmentally-caused equipment failures:
•
Ensure that the room in which you operate your system has adequate air circulation. Electrical
equipment generates heat. Ambient air temperature might not be able to cool equipment to
acceptable operating temperatures without adequate circulation.
•
Always follow the ESD-prevention procedures described in the
“Preventing Electrostatic Discharge
Damage” section on page 23
to avoid damage to equipment. Damage from static discharge can cause
immediate or intermittent equipment failure.
•
Ensure that the chassis cover is secure. The chassis is designed to allow cooling air to flow
effectively inside it. An open chassis allows air leaks, which might interrupt and redirect the flow
of cooling air from internal components.
Configuring Equipment Racks
The following information will help you plan an acceptable equipment rack configuration:
•
Enclosed racks must have adequate ventilation. Ensure that the rack is not overly congested because
each unit generates heat. An enclosed rack should have louvered sides and a fan to provide cooling
air.
•
When mounting a chassis in an open rack, ensure that the rack frame does not block the intake or
the exhaust ports. If the chassis is installed on slides, check the position of the chassis when it is
seated all the way into the rack.
•
In an enclosed rack with a ventilation fan in the top, excessive heat generated by equipment near the
bottom of the rack can be drawn upward and into the intake ports of the equipment above it in the
rack. Ensure that you provide adequate ventilation for equipment at the bottom of the rack.
•
Baffles can help to isolate exhaust air from intake air, which also helps to draw cooling air through
the chassis. The best placement of the baffles depends on the airflow patterns in the rack, which can
be found by experimenting with different arrangements.
Power Supply Considerations
Check the power at your site to ensure that you are receiving “clean” power (free of spikes and noise).
Install a power conditioner if necessary.
