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MX150 Site Guidelines and Requirements

 

General Site Guidelines

Efficient device operation requires proper site planning and maintenance and proper layout of the equipment, rack or cabinet (if used), and wiring closet.

To plan and create an acceptable operating environment for your device and prevent environmentally caused equipment failures:

  • Keep the area around the chassis free from dust and conductive material, such as metal flakes.

  • Follow prescribed airflow guidelines to ensure that the cooling system functions properly and that exhaust from other equipment does not blow into the intake vents of the device.

  • Follow the prescribed electrostatic discharge (ESD) prevention procedures to prevent damaging the equipment. Static discharge can cause components to fail completely or intermittently over time.

  • Install the device in a secure area, so that only authorized personnel can access the device.

Site Electrical Wiring Guidelines

Table 1 describes the factors you must consider while planning the electrical wiring at your site.

Warning

You must provide a properly grounded and shielded environment and use electrical surge-suppression devices.

Table 1: Site Electrical Wiring Guidelines

Site Wiring Factor

Guidelines

Signaling limitations

If your site experiences any of the following problems, consult experts in electrical surge suppression and shielding:

  • Improperly installed wires cause radio frequency interference (RFI).

  • Damage from lightning strikes occurs when wires exceed recommended distances or pass between buildings.

  • Electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) caused by lightning damage unshielded conductors and electronic devices.

Radio frequency interference

To reduce or eliminate RFI from your site wiring, do the following:

  • Use a twisted-pair cable with a good distribution of grounding conductors.

  • If you must exceed the recommended distances, use a high-quality twisted-pair cable with one ground conductor for each data signal when applicable.

Electromagnetic compatibility

If your site is susceptible to problems with electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), particularly from lightning or radio transmitters, seek expert advice.

Some of the problems caused by strong sources of electromagnetic interference (EMI) are:

  • Destruction of the signal drivers and receivers in the device

  • Electrical hazards as a result of power surges conducted over the lines into the equipment

Environmental Requirements and Specifications for an MX150

The MX150 must be installed in a rack or cabinet. It must be housed in a dry, clean, well-ventilated, and temperature-controlled environment.

Follow these environmental guidelines:

  • The site must be as dust-free as possible, because dust can clog air intake vents and filters, reducing the efficiency of the device cooling system.

  • Maintain ambient airflow for normal operation of the device. If the airflow is blocked or restricted, or if the intake air is too warm, the device might overheat, leading to the device temperature monitor shutting down the device to protect the hardware components.

Table 2 provides the required environmental conditions for normal operation of the MX150.

Table 2: MX150 Environmental Tolerances

Description

Tolerance

Altitude

No performance degradation up to 6000 feet (1828 meters) at 86° F (30° C)

Relative humidity

Normal operation ensured in relative humidity range of 5% through 90%, noncondensing

Temperature

Normal operation ensured in temperature range of 32° F through 122° F (0° C through 50° C)

Seismic

Complies with Zone 4 earthquake requirements as per GR-63, Issue 4

See also

Clearance Requirements for Airflow and Hardware Maintenance for an MX150

When planning the site for installing an MX150, you must allow sufficient clearance around the installed chassis (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Clearance Requirements for Airflow and Hardware Maintenance for an MX150
Clearance Requirements for Airflow and Hardware Maintenance for an MX150

  • For the cooling system to function properly, the airflow around the chassis must be unrestricted. See MX150 Cooling System for more information about the airflow through the chassis.

  • If you are mounting an MX150 in a rack or cabinet with other equipment, ensure that the exhaust from other equipment does not blow into the intake vents of the chassis.

  • Leave at least 24 in. (61 cm) both in front of and behind the MX150. For service personnel to remove and install hardware components, you must leave adequate space at the front and back of the MX150. NEBS GR-63 recommends that you allow at least 30 in. (76.2 cm) in front of the rack or cabinet and 24 in. (61 cm) behind the rack or cabinet.

See also

Requirements for Mounting an MX150 on a Desktop or Other Level Surface

You can install the MX150 on a desktop or other such level surface, by attaching the four rubber feet (provided) to the bottom of the chassis.

When choosing a location, allow at least 6 in. (15.2 cm) of clearance between the front and back of the chassis and adjacent equipment or walls.

Ensure that the desktop or other level surface on which the device is installed is stable and securely supported.

Cabinet Requirements for an MX150

You can mount the MX150 in an enclosure or cabinet that contains a four-post 19-in. open rack as defined in Cabinets, Racks, Panels, and Associated Equipment (document number EIA-310-D) published by the Electronics Industry Association.

Cabinet requirements consist of:

  • Cabinet size and clearance

  • Cabinet airflow requirements

Table 3 provides the cabinet requirements and specifications for the MX150.

Table 3: Cabinet Requirements for the MX150

Cabinet Requirement

Guidelines

Cabinet size and clearance

The minimum cabinet size for accommodating an MX150 is 36 in. (91.4 cm) deep. Large cabinets improve airflow and reduce the chance of overheating.

Cabinet airflow requirements

When you mount the switch in a cabinet, ensure that ventilation through the cabinet is sufficient to prevent overheating.

  • Ensure that the cool air supply you provide through the cabinet adequately dissipates the thermal output of the switch (or switches).

  • Ensure that the cabinet allows the chassis hot exhaust air to exit the cabinet without recirculating into the switch. An open cabinet (without a top or doors) that employs hot air exhaust extraction from the top allows the best airflow through the chassis. If the cabinet contains a top or doors, perforations in these elements assist with removing the hot air exhaust.

  • Install the switch in the cabinet in a way that maximizes the open space on the side of the chassis that has the hot air exhaust.

  • Route and dress all cables to minimize the blockage of airflow to and from the chassis.

  • Ensure that the spacing of rails and adjacent cabinets allows for the proper clearance around the switch and cabinet.

  • A cabinet larger than the minimum required provides better airflow and reduces the chance of overheating.

Rack Requirements for an MX150

You can mount the MX150 on two-post racks or four-post racks.

Rack requirements consist of:

  • Rack type

  • Mounting bracket hole spacing

  • Rack size and strength

  • Rack connection to the building structure

Table 4 provides the rack requirements and specifications for the MX150.

Table 4: Rack Requirements and Specifications for the MX150

Rack Requirement

Guidelines

Rack type

Use a two-post rack or a four-post rack. You can mount the device on any two-post or four-post rack that provides bracket holes or hole patterns spaced at 1 U (1.75 in. or 4.45 cm) increments and that meets the size and strength requirements to support the weight.

A U is the standard rack unit defined in Cabinets, Racks, Panels, and Associated Equipment (document number EIA-310–D) published by the Electronics Industry Association (http://www.ecianow.org/standards-practices/standards/).

The rack must meet the strength requirements to support the weight of the chassis.

Mounting bracket hole spacing

The holes in the mounting brackets are spaced at 1 U (1.75 in. or 4.45 cm), so that the device can be mounted in any rack that provides holes spaced at that distance.

Rack size and strength

  • Ensure that the rack complies with the standard defined for 19-in. rack as defined in Cabinets, Racks, Panels, and Associated Equipment (document number EIA-310–D) published by the Electronics Industry Association (http://www.ecianow.org/standards-practices/standards/).

  • Ensure that the rack rails are spaced widely enough to accommodate the device chassis' external dimensions of 1.72 in. (4.3 cm) height, 17.36 in. (44.1 cm) width, and 12 in. (30.5 cm) depth. The 19-in. rack brackets dimensions are 0.82 in. (2.1 cm) wide, 1.72 in. (4.3 cm) height, and 2.1 in. (5.4 cm) depth. The 23-in. rack brackets dimensions are 3.3 in. (8.4 cm) wide, 1.72 in. (4.3 cm) height, and 8.5 in. (21.6 cm) depth.

  • The rack must be strong enough to support the weight of the device.

  • Ensure that the spacing of rails and adjacent racks allows for the proper clearance around the device and rack.

Rack connection to building structure

  • Secure the rack to the building structure.

  • If earthquakes are a possibility in your geographical area, secure the rack to the floor.

  • Secure the rack to the ceiling brackets as well as wall or floor brackets for maximum stability.

One pair of mounting brackets for mounting the device on two posts of a rack is supplied with each device. For mounting the device on four posts of a rack or cabinet, you can order a four-post rack-mount kit separately.

See also