Panduit CABINET INLET DUCT FOR CISCO - CNLTD21B2

Panduit CNLTD21B2 2RU Cabinet Inlet Duct for Cisco

Overview

The Panduit CNLTD21B2 is a 2-rack-unit cabinet inlet duct engineered specifically for Cisco switching and server environments. At 29.25"L x 19.48"W x 7.0"H (743mm x 495mm x 177mm), this duct occupies a defined footprint in your rack and channels cold aisle air directly to the equipment intakes — cutting the hot/cold air mixing that quietly degrades thermal performance in high-density deployments. If you're running Cisco gear in a structured cabinet and losing efficiency to recirculation, CNLTD21B2 is where you start.

Key Features

• 2 RU Chassis Height: The 2-rack-unit form factor fits cleanly into standard 19" cabinets without sacrificing excess vertical space — useful when every U counts in a fully populated rack.
• 29.25" x 19.48" x 7.0" Envelope: The 743mm x 495mm x 177mm body is sized for full-depth cabinet bays, ensuring the duct seals against the cabinet structure and prevents bypass airflow around the unit.
• Switch Rail Support — 24" to 26": Adjustable support rails accommodate Cisco switches in the 24-to-26-inch depth range, so the duct holds the device securely without improvised brackets or custom fabrication.
• Server Rail Support — 28" to 30": A separate rail adjustment range of 28 to 30 inches covers deeper server chassis — meaning the same duct can serve both switching and compute tiers in mixed-equipment bays, rather than requiring separate hardware per device class.
• Dedicated Cisco Inlet Design: The inlet geometry is matched to Cisco equipment intake profiles, directing conditioned air where the equipment needs it rather than relying on open-frame airflow that dissipates before reaching the intake.

Integration & Compatibility

The CNLTD21B2 is designed for Cisco switch deployments within Panduit's NetRunner and compatible cabinet families. The adjustable support rails — 24"–26" for switches and 28"–30" for servers — cover the depth range of most current Cisco Catalyst and Nexus switching platforms as well as common 1U/2U server chassis. Verify your specific Cisco model's depth against these rail ranges before ordering; devices outside these dimensions will require a different inlet duct variant. This duct is a passive airflow component and requires no power or data connections — it installs as a mechanical assembly within the rack bay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What rack unit height does the CNLTD21B2 occupy?

A: The CNLTD21B2 occupies 2 rack units (2RU) in a standard 19" cabinet.

Q: What switch depths does the CNLTD21B2 support?

A: The support rails adjust from 24" to 26" for switches and from 28" to 30" for server chassis.

Q: What are the overall dimensions of the CNLTD21B2?

A: The unit measures 29.25"L x 19.48"W x 7.0"H (743mm x 495mm x 177mm).

Q: Does the CNLTD21B2 require any power or data connections?

A: No. It is a passive mechanical airflow component — no power or data connections are required.

Q: Is the CNLTD21B2 compatible with non-Cisco equipment?

A: The CNLTD21B2 is engineered for Cisco equipment. Compatibility with other vendors depends on whether the device depth falls within the 24"–30" rail adjustment range. Verify your equipment's depth before ordering.

Ted Perry

The CNLTD21B2 solves a specific problem I see repeatedly in structured Cisco deployments: rack bays where the inlet airflow is nominally correct on paper but hot-spots persist because the duct-to-equipment seal is loose or absent. The 7.0" height and 743mm x 495mm body give this unit enough surface area to actually seat against the cabinet bay and block bypass paths — not just sit in the rack and look like airflow management.

Technical Highlights:

• 2 RU Height: Fits without wasting vertical real estate — in a fully populated cabinet, every extra U consumed by infrastructure is a U you can't give to revenue-generating ports or compute.
• Dual Rail Range (24"–26" / 28"–30"): The split adjustment range means you can deploy this same duct against Cisco Catalyst switching chassis AND 1U/2U server depths in adjacent bays — fewer SKUs to stock for mixed-use rows.
• 743mm x 495mm Footprint: Full-depth sizing ensures the duct spans the cabinet bay width properly; undersized inlet ducts leave gap channels that short-circuit your cold aisle containment investment.

Deployment Considerations:

• Confirm your Cisco switch chassis depth against the 24"–26" rail spec before installation — Catalyst 9300 series runs around 17", which falls outside this range and needs a different Panduit inlet variant.
• This is a mechanical-only component; it delivers no benefit if your cabinet lacks front-to-back airflow discipline (blanking panels seated, cable management not blocking intake grilles).

Best fit for data center rows running mid-depth Cisco Catalyst or Nexus switching platforms in Panduit NetRunner or compatible cabinets where cold aisle containment is already in place and you need the final piece to close the inlet gap.