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Regulatory Compliance and Safety Information for the Cisco IP/TV 3400 Series Servers
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General Site Requirements
General Site Requirements
This section describes the requirements your site must meet for safe installation and operation of your
system. Ensure that your site is properly prepared before beginning installation.
Site Environment
The Cisco IP/TV 3400 Series Servers can be placed on a desktop or mounted in a rack. The location of
the Cisco IP/TV 3400 Series Servers and the layout of your equipment rack or wiring room are extremely
important for proper system operation. Equipment placed too close together, inadequate ventilation, and
inaccessible panels can cause system malfunctions and shutdowns, and can make maintenance of the
Cisco IP/TV 3400 Series Servers difficult.
When planning your site layout and equipment locations, keep in mind the precautions described in the
next section, “Preventive Site Configuration,” to help avoid equipment failures and reduce the possibility
of environmentally caused shutdowns. If you are currently experiencing shutdowns or unusually high
errors with your existing equipment, these precautions may help you isolate the cause of failures and
prevent future problems.
Preventive Site Configuration
The following precautions will help you plan an acceptable operating environment for your Cisco IP/TV
3400 Series Servers and will help you avoid environmentally caused equipment failures:
• Electrical equipment generates heat. Ambient air temperature might not be adequate to cool
equipment to acceptable operating temperatures without adequate circulation. Ensure that the room
in which you operate your system has adequate air circulation.
• Always follow the ESD-prevention procedures described previously to avoid damage to equipment.
Damage from static discharge can cause immediate or intermittent equipment failure.
• Ensure that the chassis cover is secure. The chassis is designed to allow cooling air to flow
effectively within it. An open chassis allows air leaks, which may interrupt and redirect the flow of
cooling air from internal components.
Configuring Equipment Racks
The following tips will help you plan an acceptable equipment rack configuration:
• Enclosed racks must have adequate ventilation. Ensure that the rack is not overly congested, because
each unit generates heat. An enclosed rack should have louvered sides and a fan to provide cooling
air.
• When mounting a chassis in an open rack, ensure that the rack frame does not block the intake or
exhaust ports. If the chassis is installed on slides, check the position of the chassis when it is seated
all the way into the rack.
• In an enclosed rack with a ventilation fan in the top, excessive heat generated by equipment near the
bottom of the rack can be drawn upward and into the intake ports of the equipment above it in the
rack. Ensure that you provide adequate ventilation for equipment at the bottom of the rack.
• Baffles can help to isolate exhaust air from intake air, which also helps to draw cooling air through
the chassis. The best placement of the baffles depends on the airflow patterns in the rack. Experiment
with different arrangements to position the baffles effectively.
