Air flow is critical for ensuring the operating air temperature
stays within permissible limits.
- Each BladeCenter S system requires
a maximum of 450 cubic feet per minute (CFM) and a minimum of 200 CFM of air
circulation.
- Each BladeCenter S system has
four fan modules, each containing two fans, for a total of eight fans.
- Each power supply contains fans that are used to cool
the disk storage modules.
- Airflow direction is from front to back.
- All BladeCenter S chassis bays
must be populated, either with a module, a blade server, or a filler in place
of the component.
- All equipment installed in a rack with a BladeCenter S system must
use front-to-back airflow to prevent warm-air-recirculation problems. Devices
that use back-to-front air flow cause warm air to enter the front of the BladeCenter S chassis. This
can cause reduced reliability, component failure, data loss, or blade server
shutdown.
- In racks with multiple BladeCenter S systems,
populate the BladeCenter S chassis starting
with the bottom chassis in the rack and working up towards the top of the
rack.
- Any unused rack space must be covered with a blank rack filler panel to
ensure proper air circulation.