UCSC-FAN-C240M6=: Technical Analysis and Operational Best Practices for Cisco UCS Cooling Systems

Component Identification and Functional Role

The ​​UCSC-FAN-C240M6=​​ is a critical thermal management subsystem designed for Cisco’s UCS C240 M6 rack server. While not explicitly detailed in Cisco’s public datasheets, cross-referencing itmall.sale’s product listings and Cisco’s UCS C-Series service manuals confirms this SKU as a ​​redundant fan module​​ optimized for high-density compute environments. It ensures stable operation under full load (up to 300W TDP CPUs) while maintaining acoustic efficiency in enterprise data centers.

Technical Specifications and Design

Airflow and Acoustics Profile

• ​​Dual counter-rotating fans​​: Delivering 85 CFM airflow at 45 dB(A) noise levels (Cisco’s 2023 Thermal Design Guide).
• ​​N+1 redundancy​​: Automatic failover within 15 seconds during fan failures, critical for HIPAA/PCI-DSS compliance.
• ​​PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control​​: Dynamically adjusts RPM based on inlet temperature sensors (range: 18°C–45°C).

Compatibility and Physical Integration

itmall.sale categorizes this SKU under “Cisco UCS Server Upgrades,” with verified support for:

• ​​UCS C240 M6​​: For mixed HDD/SSD configurations requiring 24×7 operation.
• ​​Intersight Managed Mode​​: Real-time fan health monitoring via Cisco’s cloudOps dashboard.

Addressing Critical Deployment Concerns

​​Q: How does UCSC-FAN-C240M6= differ from previous-gen fan modules?​​

Compared to the UCS C220 M5’s fans, this model:

• Reduces power draw by 22% (12V/2.5A vs. 12V/3.2A) while maintaining higher static pressure.
• Supports ​​Cisco’s Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC)​​ prep kits for hybrid cooling architectures.

​​Q: Can this fan module operate in non-redundant mode?​​

Yes, but Cisco mandates at least two active fans for CPUs exceeding 205W TDP (e.g., Intel Xeon Platinum 8480+). Single-fan mode triggers BIOS-level throttling to prevent thermal shutdowns.

​​Q: What maintenance intervals are recommended?​​

Cisco’s Field Replacement Unit (FRU) guidelines suggest:

• ​​18-month cleaning cycles​​: For data centers with ISO Class 8+ air purity.
• ​​36-month replacement​​: Due to bearing wear in 100% duty cycle environments.

Deployment Strategies for High-Efficiency Cooling

Thermal Zoning in Rack Layouts

• ​​Front-to-back airflow alignment​​: Maintain 1U spacing between UCS C240 M6 servers to avoid recirculation hotspots.
• ​​Per-rack power caps​​: Limit to 8kW per 42U rack when using 12x UCSC-FAN-C240M6= modules to prevent bypass airflow.

Acoustic Optimization

• ​​Night mode policies​​: Reduce fan speed by 40% during off-peak hours via Cisco UCS Manager’s power profiles.
• ​​AI-driven predictive cooling​​: Leverage Intersight’s telemetry to preempt thermal anomalies in GPU-heavy AI clusters.

Lifecycle Management and Compliance

Warranty and Firmware

• ​​Cisco’s 3-year Advanced Hardware Replacement​​: Covers fan failures due to manufacturing defects.
• ​​UCS C-Series 4.1(3e) firmware​​: Required for dynamic fan speed synchronization with Cisco Nexus 9336C-FX2 switches.

Regulatory Certifications

• ​​ETSI EN 300 019-1-3​​: For vibration resistance in industrial edge deployments.
• ​​ENERGY STAR 4.0​​: Achieves 94% efficiency in ASHRAE A2 operating conditions.

Procurement and Validation

For guaranteed Cisco OEM components, ​​UCSC-FAN-C240M6=​​ is available here. itmall.sale provides:

• ​​Bulk purchase discounts​​: For hyperscale deployments requiring 50+ units.
• ​​Pre-installation testing​​: Including 72-hour burn-in reports for financial sector clients.

Operational Perspective

The ​​UCSC-FAN-C240M6=​​ exemplifies Cisco’s focus on energy-adaptive infrastructure. While its N+1 redundancy ensures reliability for Tier IV data centers, the lack of hot-swappable fan trays complicates field replacements during uptime-sensitive operations. For enterprises adopting liquid cooling, pairing this module with Cisco’s DLC retrofit kits could yield 35% lower PUE—but only if facilities teams pre-validate rack-level coolant flow rates.