Installing the switch into a 4-post rack

To install the switch, you must attach the front and rear mounting guides to the switch, install the slider rails on the rear of the rack, slide the switch into the slider rails, and secure the switch to the front of the rack. Typically, the front of the rack is the side that is easiest to access for maintenance.

Before you begin:

  • Inspect the switch shipment to ensure that you have everything you ordered.
  • Make sure that the switch rack-mount kit includes the following parts:
    • Rack-mount brackets (2)
    • Rack-mount guides (2)
    • Slider rails (2)
    • M4 x 0.7 x 8-mm Phillips countersink screws (12)
  • The rack is installed and secured to its location.
  • Determine how you want to set up your switch:
    1. Determine which end of the chassis is to be located in the cold aisle as follows:
      1. If the switch has port-side intake modules (fan modules and power supply units with red coloring), position the switch so that its ports are in the cold aisle.
      2. If the switch has port-side exhaust modules (fan modules and power supply units with blue coloring), position the switch so that its fan modules and power supply units are in the cold aisle.
    2. Determine which way the chassis should slide in and out of the rack—port-side entry first or rear-side entry first. You might consider whether the front or back of the rack provides better clearance for maneuvering the chassis in and out during installation and servicing. The end that needs to enter the rack first requires the guides and the other end the brackets.

To install the switch:

  1. Install two rack-mount brackets to the switch as follows:
    1. Position a rack-mount bracket so that three of its screw holes are aligned to the screw holes on the side of the chassis. You can align any three of the holes in the rack-mount bracket to three of the screw holes on the side of the chassis. The holes that you use depend on the requirements of your rack and the amount of clearance. For more information on clearance, see General requirements for cabinets and racks.
    2. You can install the rack-mount bracket either at the front or rear of the chassis. The choice is determined by which end of the chassis will be inserted into the rack first. If the rear end of the chassis is to be inserted first, then mount the brackets on the front of the chassis, and vice versa.
      Figure 1. Installing Rack-Mount Brackets on the Front Side of the Chassis
      Installing Rack-Mount Brackets on the Front Side of the Chassis.

      1. M4 screws

      2. Rack-mount

    3. Secure the rack-mount bracket to the chassis using the three M4 screws and tighten each screw to 12 in-lb (1.36 N·m) of torque.
    4. Repeat Step 1 for the other rack-mount bracket on the other side of the switch, and be sure to position it in the same distance from the front of the switch.
  2. If you are installing the chassis into an ungrounded rack, you must attach a customer-supplied grounding wire to the chassis, as explained in Grounding the switch. However, if you are installing the chassis into a grounded rack, you can skip this step.
  3. Install the slider rails into the rack or cabinet, as follows:
    1. Determine which two posts of the rack or cabinet you should use for the slider rails. Of the four vertical posts in the rack or cabinet, two will be used for the rack-mount brackets, and the other two posts will have the slider rails.
    2. Position a slider rail at the desired level side of the rack and use two 12-24 screws or two 10-32 screws, depending on the rack thread type, to attach the slider rail to the rack. Tighten the 12-24 screws to 30 in-lb (3.39 N·m) of torque, or tighten the 10-32 screws to 20 in-lb (2.26 N·m) of torque.
    3. Repeat Step 3 to attach the other slider rail to the other side of the rack.

      To make sure that the slider rails are at the same level, you should use a level tool or tape measure, or carefully count the screw holes in the vertical mounting posts.

  4. Insert the switch into the rack and attach it as follows:
    Figure 2. Attaching the Switch into the Rack
    Attaching the Switch into the Rack.

    1. Slider rails

    2. Rack-mount screws

    3. Chassis

    1. Holding the switch with both hands, position the two rack-mount guides on the switch between the rack or cabinet posts that do not have slider rails attached to them.
    2. Align the two rack-mount guides on either side of the switch with the slider rails installed in the rack. Slide the guides onto the slider rails, and then gently slide the switch all the way into the rack until the brackets come in contact with two rack or cabinet posts.
      Note: If you attached a grounding cable to the chassis, you will need to flex one of the rack-mount posts slightly to allow the grounding lug to go behind the post.
    3. Holding the chassis level, insert two screws (12-24 or 10-32, depending on the rack type) into each of the two brackets (using a total of four screws), and into the cage nuts or threaded holes in the rack or cabinet posts.
    4. Tighten the 10-32 screws to 20 in-lb (2.26 N·m), or tighten the 12-24 screws to 30 in-lb (3.39 N·m).
  5. If you have attached a grounding wire to the chassis grounding pad, connect the other end of the wire to the facility ground.