
Preinstallation Guidelines
Airflow Considerations
The switch comes with fan modules and power-supply modules that have either port-side intake or port-side
exhaust airflow for cooling the switch. If you are positioning the port-end of the switch in a cold aisle, make
sure that the switch has a port-side intake fan and power supply modules with red colorings. If you are
positioning the fan and power supply modules in a cold aisle, make sure that the switch has port-side exhaust
fan and power supply modules with blue colorings. All fan modules and power-supply modules must have
the same direction of airflow.
Connection Guidelines for AC-Powered Systems
To connect to the Cisco MDS 9132T switch AC power supplies to the site power source, follow these guidelines:
• Each power supply should have its own dedicated branch circuit.
• Circuits should be sized according to local and national codes.
• The AC power receptacles that are used to plug in the chassis must be the grounding type. The grounding
conductors that connect to the receptacles should connect to protective earth ground in the service
equipment.
Installation Guidelines
Follow these guidelines when installing the Cisco MDS 9132T switch:
• Plan your site configuration and prepare the site before installing the switch. The recommended site
planning tasks are listed in the Site Planning and Maintenance Records section.
• Ensure that there is adequate space around the switch to allow for servicing the switch and for adequate
airflow. The airflow requirements are listed the Technical Specifications section.
• Ensure that you are positioning the switch in a rack so that it takes in cold air from the cold aisle and
sends out air to the hot aisle. For more informatiom, see the Airflow Considerations section.
• Ensure that the air-conditioning meets the heat-dissipation requirements listed in the Technical
Specifications section.
• Ensure that the cabinet or rack meets the requirements listed in the Cabinet and Rack Installation section.
• Ensure that the chassis is adequately grounded. If the switch is not mounted on a grounded rack, we
recommend that you connect both the system ground on the chassis and the site power ground to an earth
ground.
• Ensure that the site power meets the power requirements listed in the Technical Specifications section.
If available, you can use an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to protect against power failures.
Avoid UPS types that use ferro-resonant technology. These UPS types can become
unstable with systems such as the Cisco MDS 9000 Series, which can in turn
have substantial current draw fluctuations because of fluctuating data traffic
patterns.
Caution
Installing a Cisco MDS 9132T Switch
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Installing a Cisco MDS 9132T Switch
Preinstallation Guidelines