Hi
I'm interested, how swinog members mount their (switch/router/firewall) equipment in a hot/cold isle environment.
In theory, one should mount the switches/routers in front (toward cold isle) of the rack to have an optimal airflow, but then cabling get a little bit messy.
If this type of equipment is mounted in the back (toward hot isle), the cabling can be done much cleaner, but the airflow isn't optimal and in worst case, switches and routes take in hot air from other devices.
How to you solve this issue?
Thanks for you valuable input.
Kind regards
Patrick Studer
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Hello Patrick,
In theory, one should mount the switches/routers in front (toward cold isle) of the rack to have an optimal airflow, but then cabling get a little bit messy.
If this type of equipment is mounted in the back (toward hot isle), the cabling can be done much cleaner, but the airflow isn't optimal and in worst case, switches and routes take in hot air from other devices.
the most elegant solution is to buy devices in a reverse airflow configuration. That is however not always possible. The worst type are switches with sideways airflow, since those will always suck up warm air. Those with regular airflow you can at least mount inverted into the racks (and get a cable mess, as you predicted).
we just got a bunch of cheap 10GE switches for a test platform, and these only came with a regular airflow configuration. The workaround here was to order them with fiber SFP+ instead of copper DAC cables, since fiber cables are much easier (because they're thinner) to route through half the rack.
whatever you do: set up polling of the inlet temperature with SNMP if your devices support such a MIB. ColoZH can get _very_ hot and it's vital you know whether you're slowly cooking your devices, or whether they're within specs.
Cheers, Markus
How to you solve this issue?
The easiest solution, if there is no fancy (i.e. software controlled) way to reverse fan flow:
Just open the switch, unscrew the fans, turn them around and remount them.
Our network engineer did that countless times, and it always works.
No need to spend heaps of $$$ on hardware with the "correct" flow direction.
Hi
Thanks for all the input.
Unfortunately, my questions seems not to be clear enough.
I know, how to solve the issue.
I just wanted to know, if anybody is strictly following the best practice for the airflow or if some ignore the best practice in place for a proper cabling (and perhaps just leaves an additional U free for airflow)?
Or in other words, which option count more (better airflow vs. nice/easy cabling).
Kind regards
Patrick Studer
**************************************************************************** ** X-NetConsulting GmbH Internet http://www.x-netconsulting.ch Nauenstrasse 49 E-Mail p.studer@x-netconsulting.ch CH-4052 Basel Telefon +41 61 315 85 55 Schweiz Fax +41 61 315 85 59 **************************************************************************** **
-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- Von: swinog-bounces@lists.swinog.ch [mailto:swinog-bounces@lists.swinog.ch] Im Auftrag von Gregor Riepl Gesendet: Donnerstag, 4. August 2016 23:16 An: swinog@lists.swinog.ch Betreff: Re: [swinog] Rack mounting Switch/Routers in Cold and Hot Isle DC
How to you solve this issue?
The easiest solution, if there is no fancy (i.e. software controlled) way to reverse fan flow:
Just open the switch, unscrew the fans, turn them around and remount them.
Our network engineer did that countless times, and it always works.
No need to spend heaps of $$$ on hardware with the "correct" flow direction.
_______________________________________________ swinog mailing list swinog@lists.swinog.ch http://lists.swinog.ch/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/swinog
Hi Patrick, :-)
You have to take care about the airflow, especially in very close future we would have as usual at least 27 °C in cold aisle, … (ASHRAE for DC) An empty 1u below the rack(s) switch will permit to insert air deflector, fan,… etc If you will try to free one U at later stage, you beautiful cabling will be discarded and the uptime of the service will decrease drastically
My two cents on this post
Patrick
Le 5 août 2016 à 19:31, Patrick Studer p.studer@x-netconsulting.ch a écrit :
Hi
Thanks for all the input.
Unfortunately, my questions seems not to be clear enough.
I know, how to solve the issue.
I just wanted to know, if anybody is strictly following the best practice for the airflow or if some ignore the best practice in place for a proper cabling (and perhaps just leaves an additional U free for airflow)?
Or in other words, which option count more (better airflow vs. nice/easy cabling).
Kind regards
Patrick Studer
**************************************************************************** ** X-NetConsulting GmbH Internet http://www.x-netconsulting.ch Nauenstrasse 49 E-Mail p.studer@x-netconsulting.ch CH-4052 Basel Telefon +41 61 315 85 55 Schweiz Fax +41 61 315 85 59 **************************************************************************** **
-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- Von: swinog-bounces@lists.swinog.ch [mailto:swinog-bounces@lists.swinog.ch] Im Auftrag von Gregor Riepl Gesendet: Donnerstag, 4. August 2016 23:16 An: swinog@lists.swinog.ch Betreff: Re: [swinog] Rack mounting Switch/Routers in Cold and Hot Isle DC
How to you solve this issue?
The easiest solution, if there is no fancy (i.e. software controlled) way to reverse fan flow:
Just open the switch, unscrew the fans, turn them around and remount them.
Our network engineer did that countless times, and it always works.
No need to spend heaps of $$$ on hardware with the "correct" flow direction.
_______________________________________________ swinog mailing list swinog@lists.swinog.ch http://lists.swinog.ch/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/swinog
_______________________________________________ swinog mailing list swinog@lists.swinog.ch http://lists.swinog.ch/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/swinog
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Gregor Riepl -
Markus Wild -
Patrick Muller -
Patrick Studer