Cisco N9348Y12C-SE1 Switch Hardware Installation Guide

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Cisco N9348Y12C-SE1 Switch Hardware Installation Guide

Install the switch

Updated: June 30, 2026

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Explains how to install the switch in a 4-post rack and 2-post rack.

This section describes how to use the rack mount kit to install the switch into a cabinet or rack that meets the requirements described in the Install options with rack-mount kits section.

Install the switch into a 4-post rack

To install the switch, you must attach the rack-mounting guides to the switch, install the slider rails, slide the switch into the slider rails, and secure the switch to the front of the rack. Typically, the front of the rack is the side that is easiest to access for maintenance.

Note

You must supply the eight 10-32 or 12-24 screws required to mount the slider rails and switch to the rack.

Before you begin

  • Inspect the switch shipment to ensure that you have received everything you ordered.

  • Make sure that the switch rack-mount kit includes the following parts:

    • Rack-mount brackets (2)

    • Slider rails (2)

    • M4 x 0.7 x 8-mm Phillips countersink screws (12)

  • The rack is installed and secured to its location.

  • Determine how you want to set up your switch.

    1. Determine which end of the chassis is to be located in the cold aisle as follows:

      • If the switch has port-side intake modules (fan modules with burgundy coloring), position the switch so that its ports will be in the cold aisle.

      • If the switch has port-side exhaust modules (fan modules with blue coloring), position the switch so that its fan and power supply modules will be in the cold aisle.

    2. Determine which way the chassis should slide in and out of the rack—port-side entry first or rear-side entry first. You might consider whether the front or back of the rack provides better clearance for maneuvering the chassis in and out during installation and servicing. The end that needs to enter the rack first requires the guides and the other end the brackets.

Procedure

1.

Install the two mount brackets to the switch.

  1. Position the mount bracket so that the screw holes are aligned to the screw holes on the side of the switch.

  2. Secure the mount bracket to one side of the switch using four M4 screws and tighten each screw to 12 in-lb (1.36 N·m) of torque.

    Figure 1. Attaching rack-mount brackets to the switch

    Attaching the rack-mount brackets

    1

    Rack mount bracket on the left side

    3

    Slider rail on the left side

    2

    Rack mount bracket on the right side

    4

    Slider rail on the right side

  3. Secure the rack-mount bracket on the other side of the switch and be sure to position that bracket the same distance from the front of the switch.
2.

If you are not installing the chassis into a grounded rack, you must attach a customer-supplied grounding wire to the chassis as explained in the Ground the chassis section. If you are installing the chassis into a grounded rack, you can skip this step.
3.

Install the slider rails into the rack or cabinet.

  1. Determine which two posts of the rack or cabinet you should use for the slider rails. Of the four vertical posts in the rack or cabinet, two will be used for the rack-mount brackets, and the other two posts will have the slider rails.

  2. Position a slider rail at the desired level side of the rack and use two 12-24 screws or two 10-32 screws, depending on the rack thread type, to attach the slider rail to the rack. Tighten the 12-24 screws to 30 in-lb (3.39 N·m) of torque, or tighten the 10-32 screws to 20 in-lb (2.26 N·m) of torque.

  3. Attach the other slider rail to the other side of the rack.

    To make sure that the slider rails are at the same level, you should use a level tool or tape measure, or carefully count the screw holes in the vertical mounting posts.
4.

Insert the switch into the rack and attach it.

  1. Hold the switch with both hands, position the rack-mount brackets on the switch between the rack or cabinet posts that do not have slider rails attached to them.


    Attaching the switch onto the 4-post rack

    1

    Slider rails

    2

    Rack-mount screws

  2. Align the two rack-mount guides on either side of the switch with the slider rails installed in the rack. Slide the rack-mount guides onto the slider rails, and then gently slide the switch all the way into the rack until the rack-mount brackets come in contact with two rack or cabinet posts.

    Note

    If you attached a grounding cable to the chassis, you will need to flex one of the rack-mount posts slightly to allow the grounding lug to go behind the post.

  3. Hold the chassis level, insert two screws (12-24 or 10-32, depending on the rack type) in each of the two rack-mount brackets (using a total of four screws) and into the cage nuts or threaded holes in the rack or cabinet posts.
5.

If you attached a grounding wire to the chassis grounding pad, connect the other end of the wire to the facility ground.

Install the switch into a 2-post rack

Before you begin

Determine how you want to set up your switch.

  • Determine which end of the chassis is to be located in the cold aisle as follows:

    1. If the switch has port-side intake modules (fan modules and power supply units with red coloring), position the switch so that its ports are in the cold aisle.

    2. If the switch has port-side exhaust modules (fan modules and power supply units with blue coloring), position the switch so that its fan modules and power supply units are in the cold aisle.

    3. Determine which way the chassis should slide in and out of the rack—port side entry first or rear-side entry first. You might consider whether the front or back of the rack provides better clearance for maneuvering the chassis in and out during installation and servicing. The end that needs to enter the rack first requires the guides and the other end the brackets.

Procedure

1.

Install two rack–mount brackets onto the switch.

  • Position a rack-mount bracket so that four of its screw holes are aligned to the screw holes on the side of the chassis. You can align any four of the holes in the rack-mount bracket to four of the six screw holes on the side of the chassis. The holes that you use depend on the requirements of your rack and the amount of clearance. For more information on clearance, see the General requirements for cabinets and racks.

  • You can install the rack-mount bracket either at the front or rear of the chassis. The choice is determined by which end of the chassis will be inserted into the rack first. If the rear end of the chassis is to be inserted first, then mount the brackets on the front of the chassis, and vice versa.

Figure 2. Installing rack-mount brackets on the left and right sides of the chassis

Aligning the mount bracket with the switch

1

Rack-mount bracket

2

Rack-mount screw holes
2.

If you are installing the chassis into an ungrounded rack, you must attach a customer-supplied grounding wire to the chassis, as explained in Ground the chassis. However, if you are installing the chassis into a grounded rack, you can skip this step.
3.

Install the switch onto the 2-post rack:

  1. Holding the switch with both hands, position the back of the switch between the two posts of the rack. Then gently move the switch until the rack-mount brackets come in contact with two rack posts.

  2. Holding the chassis level, insert three screws (12-24 or 10-32, depending on the rack type) into each of the two rack-mount brackets (using a total of six screws) and into the cage nuts or threaded holes in the rack or cabinet posts.

    Figure 3. Installing the switch onto the 2-post rack from the front side of the chassis

    Installing the switch onto the 2-post rack from the front side of the chassis

    1

    Rack-mount bracket

    2

    Rack-mount screws
    Figure 4. Installing the switch onto the 2-post rack from the rear side of the chassis

    Installing the Switch onto the 2-Post Rack From the Rear Side of the Chassis

  3. Tighten the 10-32 screws to 20 in-lb (2.26 N.m) or tighten the 12-24 screws to 30 in-lb (3.39 N.m).
4.

If you have attached a grounding wire to the chassis grounding pad, connect the other end of the wire to the facility ground.