• Do not spill food or liquids on your system components and never operate the product in a wet
environment.
• Do not push any objects into the openings of your system components. Doing so can cause fire or electric
shock by shorting out interior components.
• Position system cables and power supply cable carefully. Route system cables and power supply cable
and plug such that they cannot be stepped on or tripped over. Be sure that nothing else rests on your
system component cables or power cable.
• Do not modify power cables or plugs. Consult a licensed electrician or your power company for site
modifications. Always follow your local and national wiring rules.
• If you turn off your system, wait at least 30 seconds before turning it on again to avoid system component
damage.
Site Cabling Guidelines
This section contains guidelines for wiring and cabling at your site. When preparing your site for network
connections to the Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms, consider the type of cable required for each
component, and the cable limitations. Consider the distance limitations for signaling, EMI, and connector
compatibility. Possible cable types are fiber, thick or thin coaxial, foil twisted-pair cabling, or unshielded
twisted-pair cabling.
Also consider any additional interface equipment you need, such as transceivers, hubs, switches, modems,
channel service units (CSUs), or data service units (DSUs).
Before you install the Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms, have all the additional external equipment
and cables at hand. For ordering information, contact a Cisco customer service representative.
The extent of your network and the distances between network interface connections depend in part on the
following factors:
• Signal type
• Signal speed
• Transmission medium
The distance and rate limits referenced in the following sections are the IEEE-recommended maximum speeds
and distances for signaling purposes. Use this information as guidelines when planning your network
connections prior to installing the Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms.
If wires exceed recommended distances, or if wires pass between buildings, give special consideration to the
effect of a lightning strike in your vicinity. The electromagnetic pulse caused by lightning or other high-energy
phenomena can easily couple enough energy into unshielded conductors to destroy electronic devices. If you
have had problems of this sort in the past, you may want to consult experts in electrical surge suppression and
shielding.
Console Port Connections
The Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms provides console and auxiliary ports to connect a terminal or
computer for local console access.
Both ports have RJ-45 connectors, support RS-232 asynchronous data, and have distance recommendations
specified in the IEEE RS-232 standard.
Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms Hardware Installation Guide
16
Preparing Your Site for Installation
Site Cabling Guidelines
