Chapter 6: Advanced Chassis Setup

6-3

6-3 System Fans
Six 40-mm heavy duty counter-rotating fans provide the cooling for the AS1041M-
T2/1041M-82. Each fan unit is actually made up of two fans joined back-to-back,
which rotate in opposite directions. This counter-rotating action generates excep-
tional airfl ow and works to dampen vibration levels. It is very important that the
chassis top cover is properly installed and making a good seal in order for the
cooling air to circulate properly through the chassis and cool the components. See
Figure 6-2.

System Fan Failure

Fan speed is controlled by system temperature via a BIOS setting. If a fan fails,
the remaining fan will ramp up to full speed and the overheat/fan fail LED on the
control panel will turn on. Replace any failed fan at your earliest convenience with
the same type and model (the system can continue to run with a failed fan). Remove
the top chassis cover while the system is still running to determine which of the
fans has failed. Then power down the system before replacing a fan. Removing
the power cord(s) is also recommended as a safety precaution.

Replacing System Fans

1. Removing a fan
After turning off the power to the system, fi rst remove the chassis cover and unplug
the fan cable from the motherboard. Unscrew the failed blower fan from the chassis
and pull it completely out from the serverboard.
2. Installing a new fan
Replace the failed fan with an identical 40-mm, 12 volt fan (available from
Supermicro: p/n FAN-0086L). Push the new fan into the vacant space in the hous-
ing while making sure the arrows on the top of the fan (indicating air direction) point
in the same direction as the arrows on the other fans. Reposition the fan housing
back over the two mounting posts in the chassis, then reconnect the fan wires to
the same chassis fan headers you removed them from. Power up the system and
check that the fan is working properly and that the LED on the control panel has
turned off. Finish by replacing the chassis cover.