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Replacing a system fan

Use this information to replace a system fan in the server.

Read the safety information in Safety and Installation guidelines.

If you are replacing a server component in the server, you need to slide the server out from the rack enclosure, turn off the server and peripheral devices, and disconnect the power cords and all external cables.

Attention
Static electricity that is released to internal server components when the server is powered-on might cause the server to halt, which might result in the loss of data. To avoid this potential problem, always use an electrostatic-discharge wrist strap or other grounding system when you work inside the server with the power on.

To replace a system fan, complete the following steps.

  1. Position the replacement fan so that the airflow arrow on the fan points toward the rear of the server.
    Note
    The correct airflow is from the front to the rear of the server.
    Figure 1. System fan installation
    System fan installation
  2. Install the replacement fan in the bracket:
    1. Make sure that the fan cable sits in the channel on the side of the fan.
    2. In the location from which you removed the failed fan, route the fan cable into the fan cable slot in the fan bracket top.
    3. Insert the fan into the bracket.
    4. Make sure that each of the grey soft tabs on the fan is fully seated in its slot in the fan bracket.
  3. Connect the replacement fan cable to the system board (see System-board internal connectors for the locations of the fan cable connectors on the system board).
  4. Reinstall the air baffle if it was removed before (see Replacing the air baffle).
  5. Reinstall the cover (see Replacing the cover).

What to do next

  1. Install the server into the rack enclosure and push the server into the rack until it clicks into place.
  2. Reconnect the power cords and any cables that you removed.
  3. Turn on the peripheral devices and the server.