Dust and Contamination, Corrosion | Cisco Systems ME 6500 specs

Chapter 2 Preparing for Installation

Site Requirements

Dust and Contamination

Chassis fans cool power supplies and systems by drawing in air and exhausting air out through various perforations in the chassis cover. However, fans also ingest dust and other particles, causing contaminant buildup in the system and increased internal chassis temperature. A clean operating environment can greatly reduce the negative effects of dust and other particles, which act as insulators and interfere with the mechanical components in the system. In addition to regular cleaning, follow these precautions to avoid contamination of your equipment:

•Do not permit smoking anywhere near the system.

•Do not permit food or drink near the system.

Corrosion

Corrosion of system connectors is a gradual process that can eventually lead to intermittent failures of electrical circuits. The oil from a person’s fingers or prolonged exposure to high temperature or humidity can corrode the gold-plated edge connectors and pin connectors on various components in the system. To prevent corrosion, avoid touching contacts on boards and cards, and protect the system from extreme temperatures and moist, salty environments.

Electromagnetic and Radio Frequency Interference

When wires are run for any significant distance in an electromagnetic field, interference can occur between the field and the signals in the wires. This fact has two implications for the construction of plant wiring:

•Bad wiring practice can result in radio interference emanating from the plant wiring.

•Strong EMI, especially when it is caused by lightning or radio transmitters, can destroy the signal drivers and receivers in the system chassis, and can even create an electrical hazard by conducting power surges through lines and into equipment.

Note To predict and remedy strong EMI, you may also need to consult experts in radio frequency interference (RFI).

If you use twisted-pair cable in your plant wiring with a good distribution of grounding conductors, the plant wiring is unlikely to emit radio interference. If you exceed the recommended distances, use a high-quality twisted-pair cable with one ground conductor for each data signal where applicable.

If wires exceed recommended distances, or if the wires pass between buildings, give special consideration to the possibility of a lightning strike in your vicinity. The electromagnetic pulse caused by lightning or other high-energy phenomena can easily couple enough energy into unshielded conductors to destroy electronic devices. If you have had problems of this sort in the past, you may want to consult experts in electrical surge suppression and shielding.

Caution Category 5e and Category 6 cables can store large levels of static electricity because of the dielectric properties of the materials used in their construction. Always ground the cables (especially in new cable runs) to a suitable and safe earth ground before connecting them to the system.

Cisco ME 6500 Series Ethernet Switch Installation Guide

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ME 6500 specifications

The Cisco Systems ME 6500 is a sophisticated Ethernet switch designed to cater to the demanding needs of service providers and large enterprises. Engineered to deliver high performance and reliability, the ME 6500 series is ideal for both metro Ethernet applications and data center environments. One of its standout features is the ability to handle massive bandwidth, making it suitable for high-capacity networks. The switch supports a range of Ethernet services that facilitate seamless connectivity and network expansion.

At the core of the ME 6500 is its ability to provide Layer 2 and Layer 3 functionalities, which allows for flexibility in network design. This dual-layer capability enhances the switch's efficiency in managing traffic and ensures optimal forwarding of data packets. In addition, the ME 6500 series supports a wide range of Ethernet interfaces, including 10 Gigabit and 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports, which are essential for accommodating diverse bandwidth requirements.

One of the defining characteristics of the Cisco ME 6500 is its scalability. It supports up to 192 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports within a single chassis, enabling organizations to expand their network without compromising performance. Furthermore, the switch includes advanced Quality of Service (QoS) features that allow for traffic prioritization, which is crucial for maintaining the performance of voice and video services across the network.

The ME 6500 switch is also equipped with robust security features, including Access Control Lists (ACLs) and secure management protocols. These features protect sensitive data as it traverses the network, ensuring that only authorized users have access to critical resources. Management of the switch is simplified through Cisco’s management tools, allowing network administrators to monitor, configure, and troubleshoot the device efficiently.

Additionally, the switch supports various redundancy protocols, including Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) and Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP), ensuring high availability and minimizing downtime.

Overall, the Cisco ME 6500 is a powerful and versatile solution that meets the heavy demands of modern network environments, delivering outstanding performance, security, and scalability for both service providers and large enterprises. Its advanced features make it a go-to choice for organizations looking to future-proof their networking infrastructure.