Quanta LB6M (10GbE) -- Discussion

[Fritz]

Mine is mounted in the rear of the rack also. I got a couple of 120v fans and mounted them to the rear mesh door. They suck air from outside the rack and blow it into my LB6M and my ProCurve.

120mm 38mm New Case Fan 120V VAC 93CFM 2 Pin Sleeve Bearing Muffin 958*

 

[Toby]

Has anyone looked into what it would take to reverse the fans on an LB6M (for back-to-front airflow). Mine is mounted to in rear of my rack and as springtime temps come up its getting too hot ingesting the hot air in the rear area - fans spin up to 100% and its just too loud.

Same thing happened to me. I also have mine in the rear, in between a fibre channel switch and my 48 port POE switch. Got home today and they were at 100%. Cooled it off with a box fan but I need something better than this.

Also, does anyone know what the LED's mean?
I have a green light under "P" but then under that green light is an amber light. It's blinking in an irregular pattern. Both power supplies are plugged in and have green lights in back.

Any idea what that LED is? Does anyone else have a blinking amber light there?

 

[PigLover]

I think the amber is an overtemp alarm. Only a guess but it seems to flash when fans spin up.

I guess I could open it up and physically reverse them...

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

 

[Toby]

I think the amber is an overtemp alarm. Only a guess but it seems to flash when fans spin up.

I guess I could open it up and physically reverse them...

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

Does your flash amber? Anyone else?

 

[Sleyk]

Mines do from time to time as well. I don't think the amber blinking light is harmful to the operation or anything. It might even just indicate normal operation. I remember seeing that light blink even before I modified my LB6M. I was actually working on doing something like this:

My thinking was that it can connect to the internal fans and slow down the originals without having to swap out for slower fans. If you notice, the fan controller leaves a bit of a gap on there. If you don't need both psu's running on this beast, I would recommend this. The fan controller is cheap and goes for like $9 bucks on ebay:

3.5inch PC HDD CPU 4 Channel Fan Speed Controller Led Cooling Front Panel

Piglover, I'm thinking that the best bet is to possibly reverse them to pull air out. I wish I had proper metal working tools. I would just modify the top metal panel to attach two or three 80mm fans to the top to help evacuate hot air...

 

[DonJon]

Does your flash amber? Anyone else?

Yes, mine flashes amber too. The one just below Green light that is below P. It blinks consistently at every second interval right from powering up the switch. Did not care to check what that would be yet cause I'm still getting used to the switch. Just hooked the cables to my server and they all worked. Just slowly getting into the console to figure everything out. BTW if anyone knows if that amber light has different meaning with its blink pattern, let us know.

 

[Fritz]

Yep, mine is slowly flashing too.

 

[Toby]

Yes, mine flashes amber too. The one just below Green light that is below P. It blinks consistently at every second interval right from powering up the switch. Did not care to check what that would be yet cause I'm still getting used to the switch. Just hooked the cables to my server and they all worked. Just slowly getting into the console to figure everything out. BTW if anyone knows if that amber light has different meaning with its blink pattern, let us know.

Thanks guys. I was just making sure, as I just purchased my switch and it seems to be working fine but if there was a problem I would want to send it back.

And actually, mine blinks consistently but it's not a regular pattern. Almost looks like some morse code.

 

[Sleyk]

LB6M: Help Me! I am new to this place! Why is everyone talking about me! I feel warm. Must. Get. Message. Out. ...---...-..-.-..--- Dot dot ... dash... dot... dash dash...dot...

Heheh.

 

[maul0r]

Quanta LB6M fan/silence modifications:

So go ahead and purchase three (3) of these bad boys: Amazon.com: Scythe Mini KAZE ULTRA 40mm Silent Mini Fan (SY124020L): Computers & Accessories

For the power supply noise-makers, purchase two (2) of these types: Amazon.com: Scythe Mini KAZE 40mm Silent Case Fan (SY124010L):

I am curious - I tired modding it with some noctua 40mm fans. I felt that my switch got way to got - is it possible for you to read the temperature of it? My noctuas push about 5 CFM and I think that yours push even less?

 

[DonJon]

I'm thinking these delta fans would be an ideal replacement.

Delta EFB0412HD 40 x 40 x 20mm with 8.54 CFM and 28.5 dba noise which is not bad at all compared to the ones in there. Or even the 40 x 15mm AFB0412HB with 9.46 CFM and 28.5 dba, which pushes a little more air.

For the power supply: Delta AFB0412MB 40 x 40 x 15mm, 8.12 CFM and 24.5 dba.

Specs:
afb0412lb Datasheet | DatasheetLib.com
http://partner.delta-corp.com/Products/FANUploads/Specification/EFB40x20mm.pdf

 

[Sleyk]

You could try reading the temps with a small pc probe maybe? My heat ramped up indeed, but i can attest to you that it did nothing to hinder the operation of the switch. Yeah, i think my mini scythes are like 4.2 cfm if i remember properly. What i did was have the fans oriented in pull in direction to get cool air from the outside and just use the psu fans to pull air out. I also set the switch in back to front orientation as seen in my mod pics so that it sucks in cool air from the front of my setup instead of warm air from the back. I have the 10gb sfp+ ports facing the back with all my mess of wires.

As for the temp readings, i bought me one of these:

Nice Non-Contact LCD IR Laser Infrared Digital Temperature Thermometer Gun B2

Reads pretty decently. Oh, here is a pic of the first picture in the auction. Cracks me up every time i see it and realize just how smart that mother is:

Absolutely freakin hilarious.

 

[Toby]

I am curious - I tired modding it with some noctua 40mm fans. I felt that my switch got way to got - is it possible for you to read the temperature of it? My noctuas push about 5 CFM and I think that yours push even less?

I just do a "show environment". It tells me my temperature.

(LB6M 10GB) #show env

Temp (Celsius)................................. 44
Fan Speed, RPM................................. 8120
Fan Duty Level................................. 55%
Temperature traps range: 0 to 55 degrees (Celsius)

Temperature Sensors:
Unit     Sensor  Description       Temp (Celsius)  State
----     ------  ----------------  --------------  --------------
1        1                         44              Normal

Fans:
Unit   Fan     Type        Speed      Duty level State
----   ------  ----------  --------   ---------- --------------
1      1       Fixed       8120              55% Operational
1      2       Fixed       8219              55% Operational
1      3       Fixed       8219              55% Operational

Power supplies:
Unit     Power supply  Type          State
----     ------------  ----------    --------------
1        1             Removable     Not powered
1        2             Removable     Operational

 

[maul0r]

I'm thinking these delta fans would be an ideal replacement.

Delta EFB0412HD 40 x 40 x 20mm with 8.54 CFM and 28.5 dba noise which is not bad at all compared to the ones in there. Or even the 40 x 15mm AFB0412HB with 9.46 CFM and 28.5 dba, which pushes a little more air.

For the power supply: Delta AFB0412MB 40 x 40 x 15mm, 8.12 CFM and 24.5 dba.

Specs:
afb0412lb Datasheet | DatasheetLib.com
http://partner.delta-corp.com/Products/FANUploads/Specification/EFB40x20mm.pdf

There really isnt a lot of space in the PSU - so I think you have to stick with 10mm fans there....

 

[Sleyk]

Ah, Toby my man, didn't know about the show environment command.

See, i wanted to be like the mom in the pic and shove that laser temp probe in every part of the switch i could find an opening to!

But...your way works too I guess!

Yeah, the psu fans are actually 15mm as Donjon suggested. I ended up just using 10mm fans to replace the jet engines in there, so your right Maul0r. My switch is quiet, and I must say, I used to get alot of heat and a bit of a smell, but it has since gone away, and the switch is super quiet. I hear my htpc fans over the switch and they run at 300rpm.

These things were built tough, heat won't be an issue as long as you have a fan in it. Why not go for a quieter one right?

 

[Drewy]

These switches really aren't that loud. Try something like a Voltaire 4036 for a few days and these things are relatively silent.
Be careful moving to quieter fans that move less air, keep a close eye on the temps. If you really want it quieter consider using larger external fans and reducers. Won't win any prizes for looks but will retain or even exceed the airflow of the standard blowers. Admittedly the psu's could prove a challenge.

While they may run at increased heat, how long will they continue to do so?

 

[Sleyk]

Hmm...well there is certainly something to be said for running a component sslightly outside of spec. I mean, yeah changing out the fans for something quieter does increase the heat quotient. Thing is, the switch gets piping hot already, even with stock fans! I honestly cant see adding another 5 degrees of heat causing major damage. I can attest that i have had the switch running quietly with the scythe kaze replacement fans from the time i bought my switch sometime in feb or so. Switch has never rebooted or went down. Not once. I havent had to restart or reboot involuntarily since i bought it.

Now my friends, nothing i can say will convince you to believe me if you dont want to, but i can tell you that i have had zero problems.

Now, dont get me wrong my peeps, i care greatly about my computer equipment. I have a pentium 3 still running in one of my test benches because i care about it and wont get rid of it. I love my electronics. Believe me when i tell you that i would not run the switch at any greater heat if i knew there was a chance of it going bad due to heat.

For those of you guys using the switch in a slightly louder environment/lab, there is kinda no reason to modify/replace the fans, but for anyone seeking to use it at home, the noise can really be disruptive and so i do recommend some sort of mod.

I agree though, the switch at full boot isnt as loud as other 1u electronics, but its still loud enough.

 

[DonJon]

I just do a "show environment".

Nice, thanks. Mine says
Temperature traps range: 0 to 45 degrees (Celsius)
Is that range configurable?

Also to anyone replacing fans, for the main fans use 4 pin pwm ones. I used the 3 pin ones and the status shows as failed (these are ones with 5500 rpms, may be they are fine with a higher rpm fans but don't have anything to test). 3 pin is what is needed for the power supply though.

Definitely this switch is not louder than 1U servers I have seen. But still loud for a home environment. May be I shouldn't care since its going into a closet in a room where my mother-in-law is going to stay. Her talks and this switch sounds the same. I can mute the switch but the other I can't. ;-)

 

[Sleyk]

Heheh... mute your mother in law.....

Priceless.

 

[WeekendWarrior]

With regard to the LB6Ms I have any my need to communicate between them:

I spoke with Fiberstore today about selecting 10G SFP+ optics and fiber to be used for communicating between two rooms in my office (> 20M). Their recommendation was for these optics:

Customized 10GBASE-SR SFP+ 850nm 300m DOM Transceiver (850nm, SR)

and these cables

40M LC UPC to LC UPC 10G 50/125 OM3 Duplex Multimode Armored Fiber Patch Cable - 3.0mm PVC Jacket | FS.COM (OM3, armored)

through these adapters

LC/UPC to LC/UPC OM3 Duplex SC Type With Flange Plastic Fiber Adapter | FS.COM

and this faceplate

4-Port Duplex LC Fiber Optic Wall Plate Outlet | FS.COM

As has been repeatedly reported here, FS has been very helpful - especially to an optical noob like me.

But, the couple questions I have are:

1. they say that their transceivers must be customized to work with my Quanta LB6M switch and with my various transceivers - is that right?:

* Intel x520-DA2
* Intel x710-DA4FH
* Chelsio CC2-N320E-SR (110-1088-30)
* Mellanox MNPA19-XTR

I thought that I read that some - but not all - optics may be tied to certain NICs but that other optics are usable on different NICs and switches. I would obviously prefer generic optics for these NICs and my LB6M if possible. Is it possible?

2. They say that the faceplate and adapters will work together but they don't appear to have the same geometry - would the adapters fit properly in the faceplate?

3. If I have computers in two different rooms, and each room has its own LB6M, could I run a couple cables between rooms and aggregate or combine the bandwidth of the couple cables to get higher throughput between rooms; i.e., does the LB6M support that?

thanks
Dave