Fan options

CAUTION: To avoid damage to server components, fan blanks must be installed in fan bays 1 and 2 in a single-processor configuration.
CAUTION: To avoid damage to the equipment, do not operate the server for extended periods of time if the server does not have the optimal number of fans installed. Although the server might boot, Hewlett Packard Enterprise does not recommend operating the server without the required fans installed and operating.

Valid fan configurations are listed in the following table.

Configuration Fan bay 1 Fan bay 2 Fan bay 3 Fan bay 4 Fan bay 5 Fan bay 6
1 processor Fan blank Fan blank Fan Fan Fan Fan
1 processor 24-SFF or 12-LFF configuration with high-performance fans Fan Fan Fan Fan Fan Fan
2 processors Fan Fan Fan Fan Fan Fan

For a single-processor configuration, excluding 24-SFF and 12-LFF configurations, four fans and two blanks are required in specific fan bays for redundancy. A fan failure or missing fan causes a loss of redundancy. A second fan failure or missing fan causes an orderly shutdown of the server.

For a dual-processor configuration or single-processor 24-SFF or 12-LFF configurations, six fans are required for redundancy. A fan failure or missing fan causes a loss of redundancy. A second fan failure or missing fan causes an orderly shutdown of the server.

High-performance fans might be necessary in 24-SFF and 12-LFF configurations for the following installations:

The server supports variable fan speeds. The fans operate at minimum speed until a temperature change requires a fan speed increase to cool the server. The server shuts down during the following temperature-related scenarios:

  • At POST and in the OS, iLO performs an orderly shutdown if a cautionary temperature level is detected. If the server hardware detects a critical temperature level before an orderly shutdown occurs, the server performs an immediate shutdown.
  • When the Thermal Shutdown feature is disabled in the BIOS/Platform Configuration (RBSU), iLO does not perform an orderly shutdown when a cautionary temperature level is detected. Disabling this feature does not disable the server hardware from performing an immediate shutdown when a critical temperature level is detected.
    CAUTION: A thermal event can damage server components when the Thermal Shutdown feature is disabled in the BIOS/Platform Configuration (RBSU).