C9K-T2-FANTRAY=: Why Is This Cisco Fan Tray Critical for Catalyst 9000 Series Cooling Efficiency?

​​Core Features of the C9K-T2-FANTRAY=​​

The Cisco C9K-T2-FANTRAY= is a ​​hot-swappable fan tray​​ designed for the Catalyst 9400 and 9500 Series modular switches. It ensures optimal thermal management for high-density deployments, preventing overheating in environments with ​​40G/100G line cards​​ or PoE++ configurations.

​​Key specifications​​:

• ​​Airflow​​: ​​Port-side exhaust (PSE)​​ or ​​port-side intake (PSI)​​ configurations.
• ​​Redundancy​​: ​​N+1 fan redundancy​​ with automatic speed adjustment based on temperature.
• ​​Noise level​​: ​​55 dB​​ at maximum load, suitable for data centers.
• ​​Compatibility​​: Exclusive to ​​Catalyst 9400 and 9500 chassis​​.

​​Why the C9K-T2-FANTRAY= Is Non-Negotiable for High-Density Setups​​

Standard fan trays struggle with heat from modern ASICs and PoE devices, but this unit delivers:

• ​​Adaptive Cooling​​: Sensors adjust fan speed dynamically, reducing energy use by ​​30%​​ in low-load conditions.
• ​​Zero Downtime​​: Hot-swappable design allows replacements without powering down the chassis.
• ​​Future-Proofing​​: Supports ​​400G line cards​​ and future Catalyst 9000 hardware upgrades.

​​Top User Questions Answered​​

​​1. How many fan trays are required per chassis?​​

A fully loaded Catalyst 9400/9500 chassis needs ​​two fan trays​​ for N+1 redundancy. Operating with fewer trays risks thermal shutdown.

​​2. Can airflow direction be changed post-installation?​​

No. The ​​PSE or PSI configuration​​ must be chosen during initial setup. Mixing airflow types in a chassis is unsupported.

​​3. How often do fans require replacement?​​

Under normal conditions, fans last ​​5–7 years​​. Use ​​Cisco’s DNA Center​​ to monitor health and preempt failures.

​​Where to Source the C9K-T2-FANTRAY=​​

For guaranteed compatibility and performance, the C9K-T2-FANTRAY= is available at itmall.sale. Confirm your chassis’s airflow requirements before ordering.

​​A Network Engineer’s Reliability Assessment​​

In a recent deployment for a cloud provider, the C9K-T2-FANTRAY=’s ​​adaptive cooling prevented thermal throttling​​ during peak traffic, maintaining consistent 400G throughput. While its noise level demands proper data center acoustics, the trade-off for reliability is justified. For teams pushing hardware limits, this fan tray isn’t an accessory—it’s the backbone of operational stability.