General site requirements

Ensure that the site is properly prepared before beginning installation. If you are experiencing shutdowns or unusually high errors with your existing equipment, the guidelines provided in this section can also help you isolate the cause of failures and prevent future problems.

Observe these general precautions when using and working with your Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers:

• Keep your system components away from radiators and heat sources, and do not block cooling vents.

• Do not spill food or liquids on your system components, and never operate the product in a wet environment.

• Do not push any objects into the openings of your system components. Doing that can cause fire or electric shock by shorting out interior components.

• Position system cables and power supply cables carefully. Route system cables and the power supply cable and plug so that they cannot be stepped on or tripped over. Be sure that nothing else rests on your system component cables or power cable.

• Do not modify power cables or plugs. Consult a licensed electrician or your power company for electrical modifications at your site. Always follow your local and national wiring rules.

• If you turn off your system, wait at least 30 seconds before turning it on again to avoid system component damage.

Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers require specific environmental operating conditions. Temperature, humidity, altitude, and vibration can affect the performance and reliability of the router. The sections provide specific information to help you plan for the proper operating environment.

Environmental monitoring in the router protects the system and components from damage caused by excessive voltage and temperature conditions. To ensure normal operation and avoid unnecessary maintenance, plan and prepare your site configuration before installation. After installation, ensure the site maintains the required environmental characteristics.

Note

To prevent the system from overheating, do not operate the C8355-G2 device in an area that exceed a local ambient of 40C. For altitude above sea-level, de-rate the ambient operating temperature by 1C per 1000-feet of elevation.

When mounting a Cisco 8300 Series Secure Router, the local ambient should be measured 2-inches from the I/O side of the product and, if possible, the local ambient should be measured 2-inches below the fully mounted product as well.

Be familiar with the physical characteristics of the Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers to assist you in placing the system in the proper location.

For more information on the physical characteristics, see the datasheet for the Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers.

Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers can be placed on a desktop or installed in a rack. The location of your router and the layout of your equipment rack or wiring room are extremely important considerations for proper operation. Equipment placed too close together, inadequate ventilation, and inaccessible panels can cause malfunctions and shutdowns, and can make maintenance difficult. Plan for access to both front and rear panels of the router.

When planning your site layout and equipment locations, refer to the General Site Requirements section. If you are currently experiencing shutdowns or an unusually high number of errors with your existing equipment, these precautions and recommendations may help you to isolate the cause of failure and prevent future problems.

• Ensure that the room where your router operates has adequate air circulation. Electrical equipment generates heat. Without adequate air circulation, ambient air temperature may not cool equipment to acceptable operating temperatures.

• Always follow the ESD-prevention procedures to avoid damage to equipment. Damage from static discharge can cause immediate or intermittent equipment failure.

• Ensure that the chassis cover and module rear panels are secure. All empty network module slots, interface card slots, and power supply bays must have filler panels installed. The chassis is designed to allow cooling air to flow within it, through specially designed cooling slots. A chassis with uncovered openings permits air leaks, which may interrupt and reduce the flow of air across internal components.

• Baffles can help to isolate exhaust air from intake air. Baffles also help to draw cooling air through the chassis. The best placement of the baffles depends on the airflow patterns in the rack. You can find the best placement by experimenting with different configurations.

• When equipment installed in a rack (particularly in an enclosed rack) fails, try operating the equipment individually. Power off other equipment in the rack (and in adjacent racks) to allow the router under test maximum cooling air and clean power.

The Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers include brackets for use with a 19-inch rack or, if specified in your order, optional larger brackets for use with a 23-inch rack.

These information can help you plan your equipment rack configuration:

• Allow clearance around the rack for maintenance.

• Enclosed racks must have adequate ventilation. Ensure that the rack is not congested, because each device generates heat. An enclosed rack should have louvered sides and a fan to provide cooling air. Heat generated by equipment at the bottom of the rack can be drawn upward into the intake ports of the equipment above it.

• If the chassis is installed on slides, check the position of the chassis when it is seated in the rack.

Note

When mounting C8355-G2 on a rack, ensure at least one rack unit (1RU) of vertical space between routers. This ensures more heat removal, which in turn helps the local air temperature to stay within the specified operating conditions.

Check the power at your site to ensure that you are receiving clean power (free of spikes and noise). Install a power conditioner if necessary.

The AC power supply includes these features:

• Autoselects either 110 V or 220 V operation.

• All units include a 6-foot (1.8-meter) electrical power cord. (A label near the power inlet indicates the correct voltage, frequency [only AC-powered systems], and current draw for the unit.)

For additional information on the power requirements, see the Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers datasheet.