HCI-RIS1C-22XM7=: What Is It and How Does It
Understanding the HCI-RIS1C-22XM7= Component�...
What Is the C9K-T1-FANTRAY=?
The C9K-T1-FANTRAY= is a front-to-back (F2B) airflow fan tray designed for Cisco Catalyst 9200, 9300, and 9400 Series switches. It provides critical thermal management by dissipating heat generated during high-performance operations, ensuring switch longevity and reliability in demanding environments.
Technical Specifications and Compatibility
- Airflow Direction: Front-to-back (F2B), optimized for standard data center hot/cold aisle layouts.
- Fan Redundancy: Supports N+1 redundancy, allowing continuous operation during fan failures.
- Compatibility: Compatible with Catalyst 9200L, 9300, 9400, and 9500 Series switches.
- Noise Levels: Operates at 45 dB under typical load, reducing acoustic impact in office environments.
- Power Draw: Consumes 25W, integrated into the switch’s total power budget.
Why Choose Cisco’s Genuine Fan Tray Over Third-Party Alternatives?
- Guaranteed Airflow Precision: Matches Cisco’s thermal design specifications, preventing hotspots that degrade ASIC performance.
- Seamless Integration: Automatically synchronizes fan speeds with IOS XE’s Embedded Event Manager (EEM) policies.
- Warranty Compliance: Use of non-genuine trays voids Cisco’s hardware support and may trigger syslog alerts.
For deployment guidelines and compatibility checks, refer to “C9K-T1-FANTRAY=” technical documentation.
Installation and Maintenance Best Practices
- Airflow Consistency: Ensure all fan trays in a stack use the same airflow direction (F2B or B2F) to avoid conflicting currents.
- Redundancy Activation: Enable
hw-module fan redundancy overridevia CLI before replacing trays in live environments. - Health Monitoring: Use
show environment fanto track RPM, status, and error logs proactively.
Addressing Common User Questions
Q: Can this fan tray operate in a Catalyst 9500-48Y4C switch?
Yes, but only if the chassis is configured for front-to-back airflow. Verify via show environment airflow.
Q: Is the tray hot-swappable?
Yes, but redundant trays must be active to avoid thermal shutdowns during replacement.
Q: How often should fans be replaced?
Cisco recommends replacement every 5–7 years or if show environment reports fan speeds below 8,000 RPM.
A Lesson from the Field: Overlooking Cooling Costs More
During a warehouse network upgrade, a client’s Catalyst 9400 switch using third-party fans overheated, throttling PoE output and disconnecting 50+ security cameras. Replacing the trays with C9K-T1-FANTRAY= units restored full performance within hours. While cutting corners on “minor” components like fans seems harmless, the domino effect on uptime and productivity is anything but. In high-density deployments, this fan tray isn’t optional—it’s the backbone of predictable operations.