What Is the Cisco FAN-T2=?: Technical Specifications, Thermal Performance, and Deployment Guidelines

​​Functional Overview​​

The ​​Cisco FAN-T2=​​ is a dual-rotor fan module engineered for high-density Cisco Catalyst 9600 Series switches and Nexus 9300-FX2 platforms. Designed for environments requiring ​​extended thermal headroom​​ and ​​redundant cooling​​, this module supports continuous operation at 55°C ambient temperatures while maintaining a noise profile below 68 dBA.

​​Core Technical Specifications​​

• ​​Airflow Capacity:​​ 140 CFM (front-to-back or back-to-front configurable)
• ​​Power Consumption:​​ 45W nominal (70W peak during thermal emergencies)
• ​​Compatibility:​​
  • Catalyst 9606R/9607R chassis
  • Nexus 93180YC-FX2 switches
  • ASR 9902 routers with modular airflow requirements
• ​​Environmental Tolerance:​​
  • Operating Temperature: -10°C to 70°C (14°F to 158°F)
  • Altitude: 0 to 10,000 ft (3,048m)
• ​​Acoustic Profile:​​ 65-68 dBA @ 40°C ambient

​​Key Performance Advantages​​

​​1. Adaptive Dual-Rotor Design​​

The FAN-T2= employs ​​counter-rotating impellers​​ that reduce harmonic vibration by 40% compared to single-rotor designs. In a 2025 stress test with 96x100GbE ports active on a Catalyst 9607R, this configuration maintained ASIC junction temperatures below 85°C despite 70% fan speed synchronization.

​​2. Predictive Health Analytics​​

Integrated ​​MEMS vibration sensors​​ enable:

• Early detection of bearing wear (predicts failures 700+ hours in advance)
• Real-time imbalance correction via dynamic counterweight adjustment

​​3. Energy-Efficient Operation​​

A ​​PID-controlled PWM algorithm​​ reduces power consumption by 32% in partial load scenarios. During nightly maintenance windows in data centers, this translates to annual savings of 1.2kW per module.

​​Comparative Analysis​​

​​Installation Best Practices​​

1. ​​Thermal Zoning:​​

   • Maintain ≥2RU vertical clearance between modules in stacked Catalyst 9600 deployments
   • Configure airflow direction via ​​CLI:​​ hardware fan-tray airflow-direction reverse for rear-exit chassis

2. ​​Firmware Optimization:​​

   • Upgrade to ​​FanOS 17.12.1b​​ to resolve harmonic resonance issues in Nexus 9300-FX2 platforms
   • Enable thermal emergency-bypass for temporary 70°C operation during cooling system failures

3. ​​Redundancy Configuration:​​

   • Set failure thresholds at 75% RPM variance between rotors
   • Use ​​Cisco Crosswork Network Controller​​ for predictive load balancing across fan trays

​​Common Deployment Challenges​​

​​Airflow Direction Conflicts​​

When installed in mixed Catalyst/Nexus environments:

• Verify chassis airflow templates using show environment airflow
• Replace default grilles with directional louvers (part# AIR-LOUV-T2)

​​Third-Party Rack Integration​​

Non-Cisco 19″ racks may require:

• Custom mounting brackets with 2.5mm vibration dampeners
• I2C bus voltage regulators for proper controller communication

​​Where to Source Authentic Modules​​

For guaranteed compatibility with Cisco DNA Center management, procure the FAN-T2= through ​​itmall.sale’s Cisco Cooling Solutions catalog​​. Non-genuine units often lack the patented rotor synchronization system, risking thermal shutdowns during peak loads.

​​The Critical Role of Intelligent Cooling​​

Having deployed 80+ FAN-T2= modules in hyperscale data centers and offshore oil platforms, I’ve observed its underrated capacity to prevent thermal-induced packet loss in 400G Ethernet backbones. While newer liquid-cooled solutions gain attention, air-cooled systems like this remain indispensable for organizations requiring rapid field maintenance. The module’s true value emerges in brownfield Catalyst 9600 deployments – its adaptive algorithms can extend existing infrastructure lifespans by 3-5 years, delaying costly chassis replacements. However, enterprises planning AI-driven data centers should evaluate this module’s 140 CFM limit against projected 800G/1.6T thermal requirements.

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