A fan monitoring system for an electronics system or a computer system. The fan monitoring system includes a fan which produces a rotation signal, where the rotation signal is a function of the fan rotating. The fan monitoring system also includes a detection circuit responsive to the rotation signal and producing an operating signal indicative of the fan rotating. The fan monitoring system also includes a fan detection circuit having a primary connection point capable of being electrically coupled to the fan. The fan detection circuit provides a detection signal indicative of whether or not the fan is electrically coupled to the fan detection circuit. The fan monitoring system further includes an I/O circuit for receiving the fan detection signal and the operating signal. The I/O circuit providing I/O signals to a host computer system as determined by the operating signal and/or the detection signals.