eRacks Systems Tech Blog
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Things to know before buying a rack cabinet
What is a Rack?
Racks are frame structures designed for mounting standard 19″ rack-mount equipment-servers, switches, routers, UPS systems, audio/video-regardless of vendor. They provide rack equipment organization, security and cable management while enabling airflow. There are two basic types: rack enclosures (also called rack cabinets) and open-frame racks.
Where are Racks used?
- Server rooms and data centers
- Audio/video installations
- Closets housing telecommunications equipment
- Industrial environments such as a factory floor
What type of rack do you require?
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Floor Standing |
Wall Mount |
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| Rack Enclosure | Open Frame | Rack Enclosure | Open Frame |
If access control and equipment protection are important to you, we recommend a Rack Enclosure |
If you simply need an economical way to organize IT equipment, we suggest an Open-Frame Rack. |
Wall Mount Racks are ideal for securely housing IT equipment in classrooms or sites with limited floor space. |
In small but secure locations, a wall mount open frame rack provides excellent airflow and easy access to wiring. |
What size of rack do you need?
The height of a rack, and the height of equipment in it, is expressed in “rack units” (a rack unit is 1.75 inches, or 44.45mm). The actual height of a 42U rack is therefore 42 x 1.75 = 73.5 inches. A 2U server would occupy two of the available 42 rack units.
Be sure to make an accurate assessment of the amount of rack space you currently need, and allow for future growth.
Rack Depth
Determine the maximum rack depth required to mount your equipment in a floor-standing or wall-mount rack enclosure cabinet.
Floor-Standing Rack Depth Designations
| Rack | Depth (in.) | Ideal for… |
| Shallow | 27 | A/V equipment, limited space |
| Mid-depth | 31 | Limited space |
| Standard | 37 | Servers |
| Deep | 42 | Extra cables, improved airflow |
Wall-Mount Rack Depth Designations
| Rack | Depth (in.) | Ideal for… |
| Patch-depth | < 16 | Patch panels |
| Switch-depth | 16 – 23.99 | Switches |
| UPS-depth | 24 – 31.99 | UPS systems |
| Server-depth | > 32 | Servers |
Can the rack handle the weight of your equipment?
Do you need any special features?
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PCI-Compliance
The Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard requires that all companies that process, store or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment. |
Shock Pallet Packaging
Shock Pallet models feature additional reinforcement and shock-absorbing material for safely re-shipping loaded racks to remote sites.
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Expansion
Expansion models can be bayed together easily to form rows, which is ideal for hot-aisle/cold-aisle cooling techniques.
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Disassembled Shipping
Racks ship fully assembled for easy installation. However, sometimes doorways or tight spaces cannot accommodate fully assembled racks, so knockdown models ship disassembled for easier transportation. |
Heat Removal
Thermal Duct Rack Enclosures directly connect to a facility’s exhaust system to remove hot air not only from the rack but from the entire room.
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Co-Location
Some data center sites host multiple users in a single Rack Cabinet. Co-location models have two separate compartments to allow secure access to the correct users.
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Extra Width
In addition to extended-depth models, extra-wide models provide extra space for cables and improved airflow.
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TAA-Compliance
GSA schedule purchases and other government contracts require products that comply with the Trade Agreement Act (TAA).
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Seismic Protection
Seismic Enclosures have a rugged welded construction and are tested to Seismic Zone 4 standards, making them ideal for sites that are earthquake-prone or are subject to regular vibration, such as an airport or factory. |
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Cable Management & Accessories
Shelves, mounting rails, stabilization, cooling, patch panels, hardware kits, casters, and more enable custom installations to accommodate any space limitation or expansion requirement.
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If you are in need of a rack cabinet, enclosure, or open-frame rack, or
have any questions, or just need advice on your installation, please do
not hesitate to contact us at info@eracks.com, or use our contact form at: https://eracks.com/contact/
Shahzad May 23rd, 2016
Posted In: How-To