Establishing System Ground
The system ground is referred to as the network equipment building system (NEBS) ground. You must use
the NEBS ground on AC-powered systems if you are installing this equipment in a U.S. or European Central
Office.
The NEBS ground provides additional grounding for EMI shielding requirements and grounding for the
low-voltage supplies (DC-DC converters) on the modules, and is intended to satisfy the Telcordia Technologies
NEBS requirements for supplemental bonding and grounding connections. You must observe the following
system grounding guidelines for your chassis:
• You must install the NEBS ground connection with any other rack or system power ground connections
that you make. The system ground connection is required if this equipment is installed in a U.S. or
European Central Office.
• You must connect both the NEBS ground connection and the power supply ground connection to an
earth ground. The NEBS ground connection is required if this equipment is installed in a U.S. or European
Central Office.
• You do not need to power down the fabric interconnect because this device is equipped with AC-input
power supplies.
Proper Grounding Practices
Grounding is one of the most important parts of equipment installation. When you properly ground systems
during installation, you reduce or prevent shock hazards, equipment damage due to transients, and data
corruption.
Table 7: Proper Grounding Guidelines
Grounding Recommendations
Electromagnetic Noise Severity
Level
Environment
All lightning protection devices
must be installed in strict
accordance with manufacturer
recommendations. Conductors
carrying lightning current should
be spaced away from power and
data lines in accordance with
applicable recommendations and
codes. Best grounding
recommendations must be closely
followed.
High
Commercial building is subjected
to direct lightning strikes.
For example, some places in the
United States, such as Florida, are
subject to more lightning strikes
than are other areas.
Best grounding recommendations
must be closely followed.
High
Commercial building is located in
an area where lightning storms
frequently occur but is not subject
to direct lightning strikes.
Cisco UCS 6454 Fabric Interconnect Hardware Installation Guide
24
Installing the Cisco UCS Fabric Interconnect
Establishing System Ground
