Server Rack Ordering Guide - Server Rack Information
Picking a Server Rack Frame
Selecting a server rack frame could be the most important part of the designing
phase. In order to assist with choosing a proper fit for your environment, here
are 8 rack considerations to keep in mind:
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What size Rack Cabinet Enclosure
do I need? Selecting the correct
server cabinet size depends
on 2 major factors: the type of equipment needed for rack mount capabilities
and the amount of equipment requiring server rack enclosure space. The key to
having a good server rack buying
experience is planning. Ideally, users should tally the total amount of rack
units currently needed and also keep in mind future expansion because
cabinet rack units can not
be added on once a server rack is fabricated. If additional
rack
mount accessories such as environmental monitoring, battery back-up, and/or
remote power management are required, extra front and rear cabinet space might
be needed in order to sufficiently mount rack accessories vertically and horizontally.
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What is the significance of Internal
Rack Cabinet Enclosure Dimensions? Internal Dimensions should be
used as a guide to gauge the size and amount of equipment one can install in
server rack enclosures. Internal
vertical measurements from the tallest point of any side rail to the bottom
chassis is regarded as total internal height. Internal depth is figured by measuring
from the insides of both front and rear doors. Lastly, internal width measurements
extend from one side panel to the other.
When accessing rack mount needs,
internal dimension measurements should also take into consideration rack equipment
and
accessories that normally mount internally to the rear or side of cabinets.
Additional space can be modified during rack manufacturing to allow for side,
rear, and front mounted rack equipment. Additionally, the auxiliary compartment
space will provide room for ventilation systems, bulky power cords and
cabling
management requirements.
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What is the significance of External
Rack Cabinet Enclosure Dimensions? Determining
server
rack location within a data center or co-location facility is often overlooked
until the rack enclosure
arrives at the dock for delivery. It is very crucial for users to determine
if the finalized exact external dimensions of the server rack will fit through
doorways and other obstructions of the intended target location. Consider carefully
environmental factors such as ceiling height and clearance regulations in your
data center or server farm. Also, be sure to respect dimensions of stairways
and freight elevators if
server racks
need to be transported through them for final placement.
- Will my Rack Cabinet Enclosure fit in the
room it’s intended for? Considerations such as
server rack
weight and
height
are very important factors to take into account when moving server racks from
place to place. Particular
server racks
can weigh in at over 300 lbs and can stand very tall at over 7 feet.
Server racks
are large items which require considerable effort when moving, rounding corners,
lifting up stairs, and fitting in any tight spaces. Please ensure that enough
room has been made and accounted for before
rack enclosures
are purchases and finalized.
- Will the Rack Cabinet Enclosure
fit through all doors on the way into the destination room? All of our server
rack enclosures
ship fully assembled. There are some removable components, such as door as side
panels, but that will not change external dimensions of the
rack frame
which cannot be taken apart. Please consider all product dimensions carefully
to ensure server racks
meet all clearance regulations.
- What is a Rack Unit? What does 40U mean?
44U? 48U? etc. A "Rack Unit" or Rack "U" is an EIA standard allowance
unit for measuring rack mount equipment. One "Rack Unit" is equal to 1.75" in
height. To calculate internal useable space of a
rack enclosure,
simply multiply the total amount of Rack Units by 1.75". For example, a
44U rack
enclosure would have 77" of internal usable space (44 x 1.75).
- How do I calculate how many Rack Units I
need? Many data center managers calculate
rack enclosure height
needed by determining the optimal rack unit usage. For example, if users are
aware that future plans call for the addition of 20 2U sized servers, they could
count on needing a
44U rack
enclosure. This will allow enough internal height for approximately 20 servers,
room for a 1U patch panel and a 2U UPS back-up battery. Rear or side vertically
mounted power management devices will also have sufficient room to perform their
functions.
- What is the purpose of a Relay Rack?
A Relay Rack is a 2-post aluminum or steel structure with either EIA standard
(round) mounting holes or universal (square) mounting holes. Relay Racks are
also known as 2-Post Racks or Open Bay Racks. The vertical holes spacing on
Relay Racks are standardized for mounting Telco, or computer / network equipment.
Relay Racks can also mount cantilever shelving for other non-rack mountable
equipment.
The Open Bay rack design also provides maximum air flow for the entire rack
due to the open frame construction.
Rail
Comparison:
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Universal
Mounting Rails
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EIA Standard
10/32 Tapped
Mounting Rails
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Rack Mount
Rails: We can manufacture server rack enclosures with
either Universal Mounting Rails (square holes fitted with cage nuts) or
with EIA Standard rails (10/32 tapped holes). All our cabinet rails are
high quality gauge steel (1/8" thick or more) and have an electroplate finish
to maximize protection.
Universal Mounting Rails:
Universal rails will support 19" EIA width rack
mount and networking equipment and almost all sever equipment. Cage nuts
and screws will be needed in order to mount equipment to universal mounting
rails.
EIA Standard Mounting Rails: Standard
Mounting Rails support 19" EIA width rack mount and networking equipment
and some sever manufacturer's rack mounting equipment. Please be aware that
not all rack mountable equipment will match up against the EIA 1032 hole
pattern on Standard Rails. Standard mounting rails will not allow the use
of Cage Nuts.
Which Mounting Rails do I need? It
depends on the equipment you will be mounting in the rack enclosure. Most
rack mount and networking equipment such as hubs, routers, patch panels,
etc. will conform to EIA Standard hole spacing. However, some sever and
rack accessory manufacturers will implement rack mounting kits to assist
with attaching equipment to Universal Rails. With this example, proper cage
nuts and screws will most likely be needed in order to mount this type of
rack mount equipment in one of our server cabinets.
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Mounting Hardware
There are currently 3 types of Mounting Hardware
used with our server cabinet rails:
10-32 Tapped Cage Nuts and Screws
- American Version - Commonly used in all rack mount
applications including music, video, broadcast, data and more. The "10" refers
to the drill size for a tapped (threaded) hole. The outside diameter of a 10-32
screw is 0.19", it is smaller than a 12-24 screw. This screw type has 32 threads
per inch.
12-24 Tapped Screws - American Version - The
"12" refers to the drill size required for a tapped (threaded) hole (a #12 drill
is 0.189"). The outside diameter of a 12-24 screw is 0.2160". It is larger than
a 10-32 screw. This screw type has 24 threads per inch
M6 Tapped Cage Nuts and Screws - Metric Version - Metric thread
size of 6 millimeters. Typical thread size for European rack applications. Also
used in Compaq racks and Euro racks sold here in the US. Larger than both 10-32
and 12-24.
What mounting hardware do I need?
It depends on the mounting rails of the rack enclosure
or relay rack you will be ordering. Most 4-Post server racks, cabinets, LAN enclosures
either use Cage Nuts and Screws for square hole type Universal Mounting Rails or
1032 tapped screws for round hole style EIA Standard Mounting Rails. Please be aware
that almost all 2-post open relay racks use 1032 Tapped Screws (round hole mounting
rails).
Front
Doors
Front doors are available in many different sizes and ventilation options.
Locking mechanisms are available on most doors; however, please check with our engineers
before designing and ordering.
Rear
Doors
Rear doors are also available in many different sizes and ventilation options.
Locking mechanisms are available on most doors; however, please check with our engineers
before designing and ordering.
Cooling tip: adding a ventilated front and rear door will assist with air circulation
by creating a front to back flow pattern.
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Mesh - Perforated steel door adds ventilation to any size rack enclosure. |
Louvered
- A solid steel door with ventilation slots to help assist with rack ventilation. |
Solid - A steel rear door |
Top Panels
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Vented Top Panel
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Vented Top Panel
with 4" Hole for Cabling
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A top panel will help secure servers and valuable
rack equipment from foreign objects that could enter into the Server Rack from above.
Top panels can be ordered with perforated slots for added ventilation along with
grommet holes for supplementary cable management pathways. Top panels are also designed
to accept exhaust fans to help pull hot air out of the rack enclosure.
Please note that specialty cabinets such as Dust and Water Resistant Server Racks
will not support ventilated or fan.
Side
Panels
Side panels offer security and Side panels are available in 3 options: solid
fixed, solid removable, and louvered.
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Server Rack Cabinet
Removable Side Panel
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Removable Solid Side Panels:
These are recommended should you need occasional side access to your equipment,
or if you intend to gang rack enclosures together. If you order 2 or more
racks, you will only need one set of Left and Right Side Panels for the
rack enclosures on the ends of your row of enclosures - racks in the middle
would not require them as they will be ganged together. These allow you
to have access to the side of the cabinet. The doors have latches on the
front side and can be released. When released, the panels open like doors.
Each removable side panel adds .75 inches to the width of the cabinet. Keep
this in mind when figuring out if you have room for the cabinet.
Fixed Solid Side Panels:
These are an economical option for those who do not need side access to
their equipment, or are buying a single rack and not planning to expand
or gang rack enclosures together in the future. These panels are permanently
attached to the Server Rack and maintain the original dimensions.
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Anti Tip Feet
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For mid to top heavy loaded racks, retractable
Anti Tip Feet stabilize cabinets ensure your Server Rack will not fall
over.
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Casters
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Casters attach to the bottom of server
cabinets to help maneuver racks around the data center. Two of the four
wheels lock to assist with keeping the Server Rack from rolling.
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Levelers
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Levelers should be used if Casters are implemented
to ensure that the rack remains level once it’s moved from one place
to another. Both Casters and Levelers will install together on your
server rack to provide maximum stability.
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Air Circulation
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A fan is the best way to maintaining
a safe operating temperature for valuable rack equipment. Fans attach to
the top panel and assists with removing hot air from the server cabinet.
A fan mounted on the top of your Server Rack will help to keep your servers
at a cooler temperature.
A fan is an exhaust fan so it
is pulling the hot air out of your server rack bringing in the cooler air
from the bottom of the server rack. A single top mounted fan that we offer
is rated at 550 CFM single phase 50/60 Hz.
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Standard Server Rack Shelves
Which shelf would work best in my server
cabinet? The general rule of thumb is to measure 6” shorter than depth of cabinet
for all 4-post cabinets. This measurement will compute the optimal shelf depth for
your particular cabinet enclosure. Also, please take into consideration that rails
are often set at a distance less then the actual depth of the internal dimension.
Relay Rack Cantilever Shelves
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Cantilever Shelf - Designed to
mount to both mounting rails of a 2-Post Open Bay Relay Rack.
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Vented
Cantilever Shelf - Ventilated Cantilever Shelves are equipped with
ventilation slots to provide additional air circulation between rack
units. Vented Cantilever Shelves are designed to mount to both mounting
rails of a 2-Post Open Bay Relay Rack.
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Center Mount Cantilever Shelf
- Designed to evenly distribute weight to both mounting rails of a 2-Post
Open Bay Relay Rack.
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Power Distribution
Power Strips can be classified into 2 categories: standard and intelligent. Standard
power strips simply provide evenly distributed electrical power to servers and rack
accessories. Sometimes, standard power strips will provide features such as fuse
replacement or current output displays. Intelligent power strips provide users with
remote power control. This feature will enable you to cycle power or to completely
reboot a server or rack device by using a simple internet browser or Telnet session.
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Which Power Strips does my rack enclosure
require?
There are 5 main considerations in determining
which power strip to use:
- AMP requirements
- Number of outlets required
- Plug/receptacle requirements
- Redundancy requirements (single, dual-power, quad-power)
- Remote or standard power functionality
- Which Power Strips does my rack
enclosure require? Vertical and Horizontal PDU’s we represent
ship with 8,10,11,12, 14, 16, 20, or 24 power outlets. It is key
to take into account the power strips total AMP capability and your
redundancy needs to ensure proper power requirements can be support
by each individual power strip.
- AMP Requirements: We offer
15, 20, and 30 amp power strip models. It is important to calculate
the total amperage draw of your equipment to prevent exceeding the
recommended amperage capacities of the power strip.
- Plug / Receptacle Requirements:
Most server and network equipment in the U.S. have either NEMA
5-15P standard plugs or NEMA 5-20P standard plugs. This style of
plug will only join with like NEMA 5-15R standard receptacles or
NEMA 5-20R standard receptacles.
Please be sure that the power strip you order has both the correct
receptacle standard for you to plug your equipment into and that
the plug coming form the power strip has the correct plug to match
the power source receptacle you will be plugging it into. (See
NEMA Plug and Receptacle diagrams below)
- Redundancy
Requirements: Some higher-end
mission critical servers and network equipment offer a redundant
power supply option. The idea being if the main power supply in
your equipment were to fail, that you would have a backup or fail
safe to fall back on, so as to eliminate down time. The power supply
failure could be a result of the power unit itself failing or it
could be an interruption in the power source. Many data center managers
plan for both contingencies and have more then one power drop feeding
power to mission critical equipment in each rack enclosure. In other
words, rather than plugging both power plugs from mission critical
redundant equipment into the same power strip, they plug them into
2 (or more) power strips being fed by 2 (or more) power sources.
- Remote power or standard PDU:
When servers are mounted in a rack, most likely power will be
provided by some sort of power strip. Specific power strips made
for server racks mount vertically or mount behind mounting posts
in the back portion of a cabinet. Rear vertically mounted power
strips do not occupy any Rack Units opposite of horizontally mounted
PDUs which could inhabit 1U, 2U or more worth of precious rack space.
Power Distribution Units offers users with evenly dispersed power
over the entire power strip. Standard PDUs simply provides users
with electrical power only.
In order to cycle power to servers and network equipment, shutting
down system power remotely is the only option for a total cold reboot.
Remote reboot power management is accomplished through a standard
secure internet browser session – no special software is required.
In addition, alternate remote access options such as Telnet or serial
control are available in select models.
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Power Strip NEMA Outlets
/ Receptacles and Plug diagrams
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15 AMP |
20 AMP |
15 & 20 AMP Twist Lock |
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| NEMA 5-15P |
NEMA 5-15R |
NEMA 5-20P |
NEMA 5-20P |
NEMA L5-15P |
NEMA L5-20P |
| Plug |
Receptacle |
Plug |
Receptacle |
Twist Lock Plug |
Twist Lock Plug |
NEMA =
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
NEMA, created in the fall of 1926
by the merger of the Electric Power Club and the Associated Manufacturers of Electrical
Supplies, provides a forum for the standardization of electrical equipment, enabling
consumers to select from a range of safe, effective, and compatible electrical products.
Rack Mount Pullout LCD Keyboards
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Rack Mount LCD Keyboards - Maximizing
limited rack space and increasing comfort levels for administrators
are major benefits gained by implementing 1U LCD KVM drawers. Slim 1U
Rackmount LCD KVM drawers organize and streamline busy server rooms
by mounting a keyboard, video monitor and mouse into a neatly fitted
1U compact pull-out drawer. Convenient 1U LCD KVM drawers easily mount
anywhere within a standard 4-port 19" wide cabinet.
Optional 8- or 16-port KVM switches can mount into the back of most
1U LCD drawers for total rack control. The ability to mount a KVM switch
within the same rack unit as a 1U KVM drawer will ultimately help to
alleviate cabinet clutter. Often times, it is easier to purchase the
1U LCD KVM drawer with an 8- or 16-port KVM switch previously in installed
because it is challenging to add one at a later time due to the intricate
1U chassis.
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Blanking
Panels
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Server Rack
Blanking
Panels (sometimes called Filler Panels) are used primarily for aesthetic
purposes to fill in unused mounting space and give the rack enclosure
a full and attractive appearance. Blanking Panels are especially appealing
when either the front door of a Rack Enclosure is frequently open or
when viewed through Plexiglas doors.
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Colors Options for our Universal Racks Shelves
Shipping
Services
All SRO Universal
Server Rack Cabinets are shipped via air freight and/or padded truck to the location
you specify. For large server farms and data centers please feel free to specify
the server rack bay location you would like us to place your rack.
- Dock To Dock Delivery
- We can deliver Server Racks directly to your dock. Customers will be required
to move the Server Rack to its final destination.
- Inside Delivery
- In addition to Dock to Dock delivery, we located the Server Rack into the
room where the Server Rack will be placed. The fee for Inside Delivery is $65.00.
If stairs are involved or if the installation takes more than 1 hour, there
will be an additional fee billed at $65/hour.
- Inside Delivery and
Packaging Removal - In addition to Inside Delivery we will unpack
your Server Rack, unbolt the attached pallet, and dispose of all shipping materials.
The fee for Inside Delivery and Packaging Removal is $225.00. If stairs are
involved or if the installation takes more than 1 hour, there will be an additional
fee billed at $65/hour.
Apple Xserve Server Rack Mount Considerations
Apple Xserve Server Specific
Server Rack Mount Cabinets |
Can I rack mount my Apple Xserve Servers
in your Universal Racks?
Yes, and many of our customers do.
Apple Xserve servers are 19" EIA-310-D rack mountable compliant, and
securely fit in our Universal Racks. You naturally want to be
sure to select one of our racks deep enough to handle your deepest piece
of equipment. Apple recommends using "Four-post racks from 29
to 36 inches deep" or Two-post Telco / Relay Racks. Also, as Apple specifies
front to rear cooling for their Xserve servers, it is suggested that
you consider options such as front and rear vented or slotted doors.
What are the advantages of our Apple
Xserve Server Specific Racks?
Our Apple Xserve Server Specific Rack
Mount Cabinet helps eliminate and confusion or guess work. As
with all of our Universal Server Racks, you can customize these racks
to meet your specific requirements. The rack depth and options
available however were specifically designed to meet Apple's Xserve
Server EIA-310-D mounting and ventilation requirements.
Please note that Apple Xserve servers
come included with a cable management arm for four-post racks, and 10/32"
mounting screws.
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Sun Server Rack Mount Considerations
Sun Server Specific
Server Rack Mount Cabinets |
Can I rack mount my Sun Servers in
your Universal Racks?
Yes, and many of our customers do.
Sun servers are 19" EIA rack mountable, and securely fit in our Universal
Racks. You naturally want to be sure to select one of our racks
deep enough to handle your deepest piece of equipment. As Sun
server equipment tends to run on the hot side, it is also suggested
that you consider options such as vented doors, shelves, and an exhaust
fan.
What are the advantages of Sun Server
Specific Racks?
Our Sun Server Specific Rack Mount Cabinet
was designed specifically from the bottom up to be fully compatible
with Sun Servers. Many Sun Servers have side exhaust, and our
Sun Server Rack Mount Cabinets are designed with that in mind.
Our Sun Racks come standard with extra ventilation, rack mount rails
specifically designed for Sun Servers, and the ability to mount your
Sun servers from the sides.
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