Fanless Mode Support for an ICX Switch

Fanless mode, when enabled, allows the device to run silently with zero RPM fan speed, while limiting the Power over Ethernet (PoE) budget to 150 Watts.
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Beginning with Unleashed 200.16, fanless mode on an ICX switch can be enabled or disabled from the RUCKUS Unleashed web interface. If fanless mode is disabled, the fan speed is reset to auto and the PoE budget is reinstated to the default value.

Requirements

  • ICX 7150-24P, ICX 7150-48P, ICX 8200-24, ICX 8200-24P, ICX 8200-48, ICX 8200-48P, and ICX 8200-48PF devices support fanless mode.
  • Fanless mode can be enabled only if the PoE power allocation is less than or equal to 150 Watts.
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Considerations

  • Even if fanless mode is configured on a switch, fans will be turned on temporarily during bootup or reboot and will be turned off after the bootup.
  • In fanless mode operation, if the temperature of the switch goes beyond a maximum limit, the switch reboots. When fanless mode is enabled on an ICX 8200 device with both 1G and 10G SFPs installed, the maximum temperature for the 10G SFP ports is used.
  • When fanless mode is enabled, inserting a 25G SFP will disable the port. If a 25G SFP is already inserted in a port, the optic must be removed before fanless mode can be enabled.
  • If the PoE power allocation is more than 150W, PoE load must be reduced by disabling PoE on interfaces manually or by unplugging PoE devices.
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Best Practices

Check for PoE allocation on the switch before enabling fanless mode.

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Prerequisites

  • If the PoE power allocation is more than 150W, PoE load must be reduced by disabling PoE on interfaces manually or by unplugging PoE devices.
  • When fanless mode is enabled, inserting a high-speed optic such as a 25G SFP will disable the port to prevent overheating. If a 25G SFP is already inserted in a port, the optic must be removed before fanless mode can be enabled.
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In this section:

  1. Enabling Fanless Mode on an ICX Switch
    Fanless mode enables the device to operate with the fans disabled while limiting the PoE budget to 150 Watts. That is, when fanless mode is enabled, the fan speed is set to zero RPM, thus allowing the device to operate silently. You can enable fanless mode on an ICX switch from the RUCKUS Unleashed web interface.
Parent topic: ICX Switch Management