While I hold no ill will towards the tech that asked this, I still understand why he asked it. I might just be a crazy user after all…
[I have edited this email to remove names and companies and some extra stuff]
I sent this to the tech in charge of the firewalls
> —–Original Message—–
> Subject: Firewall
>
> The firewall is making noise, its the fan. Not sure if we have
> replacements or not.
He sent this to the company
> Subject: FW: Firewall
>
> Hi,,
>
> Need to ask are the fans covered in the Firewalls?
The Sale Rep response
> Hey,
>
> Absolutely, your hardware support covers any product deficiencies. We will
> need to open a case with TAC, they will determine that the unit needs RMA
> and away we go. The challenge …. it is a return and replace coverage,
> which means you will need to return the defective and they will send the
> replacement. Do you have a spare? If not, I believe we have one in our
> office.
>
> Can you send me the serial number of the device.
>
> Thanks.
Then this came… Probably from TAC…
> Support is asking me to ‘elaborate’ on the noise. Their exact response to
> me is that “it is not uncommon for fans to be audible in units that support
> them” ….. did you ever feel like jumping out of your computer and punching
> the tech support on the other end????? Man, sometimes these support guys
> get on my nerves!!! But I keep smiling. 
>
So I was sent this:
> LOL that is exactly how I feel about Tech support, I will ask the
> tech that told me but it sounds like it’s a bad fan rattling not a “normal”
> fan noise.
>
> Roger is that accurate?
To which I replied…
It was louder and off pitch, which made it noticeably more noisy than the two switches and four servers that were in the room. It had a subtle whiney grinding noise to it, that at regular intervals raised and decreased in volume, like a car trying to turn over. While the fan is still spinning it sounds like its fighting for every rotation.
I may not know much, but I have learned in my years as a tech, that users hate noisey fans! I also know that if I hear a grinding noise in the server room I investigate Noisey fans and finedining is all I know…
