Network device with baffle for redirecting cooling air and associated methods

1. A method of cooling a pluggable transceiver in a network device, the method comprising:

drawing cooling air into an enclosure of the network device through a first plurality of ventilation openings in a bezel of the enclosure;

passing the cooling air through the enclosure and over an electromagnetic interference (EMI) cage within the enclosure in a front-to-back or back-to-front direction; and

directing the cooling air, using a bi-directional airflow baffle positioned in close proximity to a first wall of the cage, toward the cage first wall and through a second plurality of ventilation openings in the cage first wall by passing the air through a passage between the cage and a baffle plate, a height of the passage smoothly varying from a relatively tall air intake opening down to a relatively short central portion and back up to a relatively tall air outlet opening.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the EMI cage is configured to receive a pluggable transceiver.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network device is a switch, a host system, a server, a peripheral, an input/output subsystem, a bridge, a hub or a router.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the baffle includes a first end portion that extends substantially parallel to the cage first wall at a first distance from the cage first wall, a second end portion that extends substantially parallel to the cage first wall at the first distance from the cage first wall, and an intermediate portion that is substantially U-shaped in profile and includes a convex surface facing the cage first wall.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the baffle is symmetrical in profile.