Replacing a Rack-Mounted Chassis

Replacing the Chassis

This section describes how to replace a chassis that is installed in an equipment rack. The order in which you remove the existing system, install the new chassis, and replace the components will vary depending upon the space available in the rack and in the work area.

Some rack conﬁgurations, such as an enclosed rack or a rack with a power strip that limits access, prohibit the normal installation sequence of ﬁrst installing the chassis in the rack and then installing the cable management brackets before installing the processor modules. In these situations, you can move all the components into the new chassis before installing it in the rack, but ensure that you follow the safety guidelines for lifting and working with electrical equipment that are provided in the section “Safety Guidelines” beginning on page 4.

If there is sufﬁcient space available in the same rack (or an adjacent rack) and you have a rack-mount kit available, you can install the new (replacement) chassis before you remove the existing system. You can minimize downtime and avoid having to disconnect network interface cables by leaving the existing system operating while you install the empty replacement chassis in the rack. Also, an empty chassis is signiﬁcantly lighter and easier to handle than one that is fully conﬁgured. Just ensure that both chassis, when installed, will be close enough to avoid straining the interface cables connected to the interface processors.

If you must remove the existing system to make room for the replacement chassis, or if you need the existing rack mounting hardware to mount the new chassis, you will have to disconnect all network interface cables before removing the existing system from the rack. You can leave the system components in the old chassis until after you install the new, empty chassis in the rack.

Assess your rack and lab conﬁguration and the equipment you have available, then choose the appropriate replacement procedure from the following:

•If you have a spare rack-mount kit available and you are able to install the new, empty chassis before you shut down and remove the existing one, follow the installation instructions provided with the rack mount kit, Cisco 7010 and Cisco 7505 Rack-Mount and Cable Management Kits Installation Instructions (Document Number 78-1231-xx).

•After you install the new chassis in the rack and install the cable management brackets, proceed to the section “Moving Processor Modules” on page 14 to move the components. (After you complete the replacement and check the installation, you will be directed to the following section, “Removing the Existing Chassis from the Rack,” to remove the empty chassis.)

•If you must remove the existing chassis before you can install the new one, proceed to the following section, “Removing the Existing Chassis from the Rack.”

Cisco 7010 and Cisco 7505 Chassis Replacement Instructions 9