Passive cooling rack-mount switch compatible bolt-on fan option
Passive cooling rack-mount switch compatible bolt-on fan option
Hi everyone. I just got a passively cooled rack-mounted switch for my new home and want to improve its cooling since SFP jacks tend to get warm. It’s a standard 1u frame. Do you think there’s a way to fit an external fan directly on the switch? I’m open to swapping it out if needed, but I haven’t touched the switch yet and don’t know if there are any fan headers or power connections available. The rack is small—6u open frame—and I’ll be placing it in a quiet bedroom closet, so noise isn’t an issue. I’m also looking for something that works without drilling into the top, just maybe drilling a few holes for airflow. Any tips would be great!
I think the switch has ventilation built in. A little airflow should work fine. I placed fans at different locations on my rack where I thought they’d help (see photo). I’m also using the low-noise adapters from Noctua, which makes it quite quiet.
Relies on the SFP adapters; if it supports 10G-BASE-T, place a well-ventilated switch apart from others and avoid direct placement next to each other. A fan offers little benefit since airflow between them won’t improve performance, but fiber or DAC work well without active cooling.