IBM DS3950, Installation, User'S, And Maintenance Manual, Page: 53 / 252

must position the racks in alternate rows, back-to-back and front-to-front. This
arrangement is known as “cold aisle/hot aisle” and is shown in Figure 10.
v
Where racks are in rows, each rack must touch the rack that is next to it to
reduce the amount of hot air that can flow around from the back of the rack into
the intakes of the storage expansion enclosures that are in that rack. Use Suite
Attach Kits to completely seal any gaps that remain between the racks. For
details about Suite Attach Kits, contact your marketing representative.
v Where racks are in rows front-to-front or back-to-back, a gap of at least 1220 mm
(48 in.) must separate the rows across the cold aisle.
v
For proper airflow in each rack, the rack filler plates must be installed in unused
positions. Also, all the gaps in the front of the racks must be sealed, including
the gaps between the storage subsystems.
1220 mm cold
aisle width
2440 mm between
center lines of hot
and cold aisle
Perforated tiles
or gratings
back
back
T42 racks
T42 racks
T42 racks
Cold aisle
Hot aisle
Air
conditioner
back
front
front
front
Airflow
Figure 10. Example of cold aisle/hot aisle rack configuration
Chapter 1. Introduction
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