Cisco Fan Tray for Nexus 9508 Chassis, Port-side

Description

Cisco Fan Tray for Nexus 9508 Chassis, Port-side Intake N9K-C9508-FAN

Cisco N9K-C9508-FAN Fan Tray – Port-Side Intake Cooling Solution for Nexus 9508 Chassis | High-Performance Thermal Management for Enterprise Data Centers

In today’s high-density, always-on data center environments, thermal management is just as critical as network performance and uptime. The Cisco N9K-C9508-FAN Fan Tray is a purpose-built, enterprise-grade cooling solution designed specifically for the Cisco Nexus 9508 modular switch chassis. Engineered for port-side intake airflow, this fan tray ensures optimal thermal regulation, system reliability, and seamless integration within modern data center cooling architectures. Whether you’re deploying a new Nexus 9508 switch or maintaining an existing infrastructure, the N9K-C9508-FAN delivers the performance, redundancy, and efficiency required for mission-critical networking.

Purpose-Built for the Cisco Nexus 9508 Chassis

The Cisco Nexus 9508 is a high-performance, modular data center switch designed for spine-leaf architectures, cloud-scale deployments, and software-defined networking (SDN) environments. With support for up to 8 line cards and high-bandwidth throughput, the chassis generates significant heat that must be efficiently dissipated to maintain stable operation.

The N9K-C9508-FAN fan tray is not a generic accessory—it is a Cisco-validated, chassis-specific component that aligns precisely with the Nexus 9508’s mechanical and thermal design. Installed in the rear of the chassis, it works in concert with power supplies and line cards to create a consistent front-to-back (port-side intake) airflow path, which is the industry standard for hot-aisle/cold-aisle data center layouts.

Port-Side Intake Airflow: Aligning with Modern Data Center Best Practices

Airflow direction is a critical consideration in data center design. The port-side intake configuration of the N9K-C9508-FAN means that cool air is drawn in from the front (port side) of the switch—where network cables typically connect—and exhausted out the rear. This design:

• Matches standard rack cooling layouts, where cold air is delivered to the front of equipment and hot air is expelled to the rear.
• Prevents hot air recirculation, improving cooling efficiency and reducing the risk of thermal throttling or hardware failure.
• Supports energy-efficient operations by enabling better coordination with in-row cooling, containment systems, and CRAC units.

Choosing the correct airflow variant (port-side intake vs. port-side exhaust) is essential—using the wrong fan tray can lead to overheating and voided warranties. The N9K-C9508-FAN is clearly designated for port-side intake, ensuring compatibility with your data center’s thermal strategy.