C9300 Wall mount?

[gloriachn29]

Dear community, 

I was looking for options to mount a C9300 switch in an IDF with no more rack room. I was wondering if there are any options to mount the switch on a wall. Since neither the hardware installation guide nor the mounting kit consider walls, I'm thinking that it is not supported. Can anyone please confirm this? Alternatively, any experience with wall mount scenarios would be highly appreciated 

[liviu.gheorghe]

Hello @gloriachn29 ,

I never done this before because I never has to, but there might be a way to do it - there is an installation guide for the IE9300 rugged switch: https://www.niap-ccevs.org/MMO/Product/st_vid11395-agd11.pdf

On page 32 of the document is described how to attach the mounting brackets for wall installation.

Hope this helps.

[stephan.l.martin1 · Accepted solution]

In my experience working in austere environments I have seen multiple setups including creating wall mounted supports that you can rest the rack mounts on. I wouldn't recommend this particular setup however there are vertical wall-mount cabinets that can facilitate the setup that would allow for 3-6U worth of space. 

6U Wall Mount Network Cabinet - Vertical Wall Mount Patch Panel Rack - 30" Server Room Cabinet (RK630WALVS) is one such option. I cannot speak for the vendor in particular, but the installation method will offer the most ideal solution as it offers device protection and network security (mildly). Please ensure that your switch clearance meets the requirement as power supply/cable plugins will obviously skew the "depth"

Hope this helps.

[gloriachn29]

Thank you, Stephan, for the suggestion! This could be a cost-effective enough solution in my situation. 

[Joseph W. Doherty]

Possible air flow cooling issue?

@liviu.gheorghe provides an interesting reference, but it's for a "rugged" switch, which I believe often are designed for more "challenging" operational environments.

[rasmus.elmholt]

@Joseph W. Doherty I have never done this myself but the 2960 had the same option to use the bracket to wall-mount the switch: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/catalyst2960xr/hardware/installation/guide/b_c2960xr_hig/b_c2960xr_hig_chapter_010.html

[Joseph W. Doherty]

Yup, your reference, for the 2960-X(R), does describe how to wall mount that switch and several times has this warning:

Read the wall-mounting instructions carefully before beginning installation. Failure to use the correct hardware or to follow the correct procedures could result in a hazardous situation to people and damage to the system.

The primary hazard appears to be the switch falling off the wall, but I note they show a specific orientation for mounting on the wall including describing front face plate must be facing down.  I suspect the switch probably has a front to back airflow, and if so, front facing down makes sense.  As this is all Cisco documented, I would take this mounting as a "certified" option for operation (for these particular switch models).

If the C9300 doesn't have similar documentation, doing a non-documented mounting might imperil the operational life of the switch (and also possibly imperil warranty).

BTW, I'm not recommending against an undocumented mounting, just be aware you may impact the operational life of the switch.  However, any adverse impacts might be mitigated by exactly where you wall mount.  For example, if possible, you may want to avoid mounting behind the exhaust of other devices (similar to DC considerations of cold and hot aisles) and/or not mount close to the ceiling, etc.

[Joseph W. Doherty]

Oh, just want to also note, airflow engineering is critically important to device not overheating when the device is running at its maximum capacity and ambient air temperature is at its maximum of operational spec.  Often neither is true, even individually, so airflow often does need to meet its intended design either.  However, knowing where the "line" is, when you don't meet airflow spec is difficult to know.  Airflow engineering is more than just moving so much air through the device, it also concerns itself with hotspots.  (BTW, you do know slot cover plates are used most importantly to maintain specific airflow, improved device appearance is just a side benefit.)

Also BTW, even if the device has a temperature sensor to alarm when it's overheating, this too depends on expected airflow.  I.e. incorrect airflow may cause overheating at a particular hotspot which a temperature sensor might not "see".

Again, the above is critically important to operation at maximum capacity at environmental limits, which is often not encountered, but I wanted to highlight the common importance of using slot cover plates to provide designed airflow.

[Leo Laohoo]

Refer to the Hardware Installation Guide.

The rack mounting kit can be installed in the middle of the switch and perpendicularly. 

[Elliot Dierksen]

It limits the amount of devices you can put in it, but a vertical wall mount uses less space. I have used these in the past and been happy with them.

https://www.cableorganizer.com/categories/racks/wall-mount-cabinets/open-rack/middle-atlantic-vertical-wall-mount-rack/