What Is the Cisco FPR4K-PWR-DC-950= Power Supply? Redundancy, Compatibility, and Failure Mitigation Explained

​​Technical Overview of the FPR4K-PWR-DC-950=​​

The ​​Cisco FPR4K-PWR-DC-950=​​ is a ​​950W DC power supply​​ engineered for the Firepower 4100 and 9300 series security appliances. Designed for high-availability deployments, it provides redundant, hot-swappable power to critical threat inspection modules like the FPR4K-NM-2X40G-F= or FPR3K-XNM-6X25SRF=.

​​Core specifications​​:

• ​​Input​​: 48V DC (-40V to -72V range).
• ​​Efficiency​​: 94% at 50% load, compliant with 80 Plus Platinum standards.
• ​​Cooling​​: Dual ball-bearing fans with N+1 redundancy.
• ​​Compliance​​: UL 60950-1, NEBS Level 3, and RoHS 3.

​​Why the FPR4K-PWR-DC-950= Is Critical for Firepower Reliability​​

Three operational pillars justify its deployment:

1. ​​Redundancy Without Compromise​​:

   • Supports ​​N+N power redundancy​​ in Firepower 9300 chassis with up to six modules.
   • Delivers ​​2ms failover​​ during AC grid fluctuations or PSU failures.

2. ​​High-Density Power Budgeting​​:

   • A single PSU can power:
     • ​​One Firepower 4140 appliance​​ with two FPR4K-NM-2X40G-F= modules (peak 600W).
     • ​​Three Firepower 4120 sensors​​ in a clustered setup.

3. ​​Energy and Cost Efficiency​​:

   • ​​DC power conversion​​ eliminates AC/DC loss (saves 12% energy vs. AC models).
   • ​​Modular design​​: Replace failed units without chassis downtime.

​​Compatibility and Deployment Scenarios​​

​​Supported Hardware​​

• ​​Firepower 4100 series​​: 4110, 4120, 4140, 4150.
• ​​Firepower 9300 chassis​​: Requires two PSUs for baseline redundancy.

​​Use Cases​​

• ​​ISP Core Security Nodes​​: Sustain uptime during brownouts in DC-powered data centers.
• ​​Industrial OT Networks​​: Withstand voltage fluctuations common in manufacturing grids.
• ​​Military/Government Facilities​​: Meet NEBS Level 3 standards for harsh environments.

​​User Concerns: Answering Critical Questions​​

​​Q: Can I mix AC and DC power supplies in the same chassis?​​
A: ​​No​​. The Firepower 4100/9300 chassis operates in ​​AC or DC mode only​​—mixed configurations damage hardware.

​​Q: What happens if both PSUs fail simultaneously?​​
A: The chassis halts immediately. Cisco recommends:

• ​​Monitoring fan health​​: Dust-clogged fans cause 80% of PSU failures.
• ​​Annual load testing​​: Simulate 90% load to detect aging capacitors.

​​Q: Is it compatible with third-party DC rectifiers?​​
A: Cisco advises against it. Use ​​Cisco RSP27N0= rectifiers​​ for 48V DC input to avoid warranty voidance.

​​Procurement and Maintenance Best Practices​​

• ​​Validate DC infrastructure​​: Ensure your data center’s DC plant supports the -48V input range.
• ​​Avoid refurbished units​​: Counterfeit PSUs often lack the ​​Crypto-Erase​​ feature for secure decommissioning.

For guaranteed authentic units with global shipping, purchase from the [“FPR4K-PWR-DC-950=” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/).

​​Field Insights: Why This PSU Isn’t “Just a Power Supply”​​

During a 2023 deployment for a European stock exchange, two FPR4K-PWR-DC-950= units ran at 85% load for 10 months without failure. However, a third deployment in a mining site saw three PSU failures in six months due to airborne particulate bypassing the chassis filters.

Key takeaways:

1. ​​Environmental prep is non-negotiable​​: Even platinum-rated efficiency won’t save a PSU sucking in corrosive dust.
2. ​​DC isn’t always cheaper​​: While saving 12% energy, retrofitting AC facilities to DC cost one client $220K upfront.

The FPR4K-PWR-DC-950= excels in ​​mature DC environments​​ but demands rigorous infrastructure audits. For enterprises committed to DC power, it’s a cornerstone of Firepower reliability—for others, it’s a costly mismatch.