Server Racks
Introduction
Server racks are one of the most important items in any data center. They come in
many different models, each of which can be a different overall design. This can
include a 2-post or 4-post rack, as well as an enclosed cabinet or open-frame rack.
No matter which type of rack is present, however, you can be confident that it will
store various different types of equipment that keep your company working
properly. Learning about what goes into a server rack can help you get the most
benefit from these devices.
Computer Servers
Patch Panels
Switches & Routers
Supporting Equipment
Types of Racks
The following is a list of the various types of 19″ Racks available:
• Server Racks (aka cabinet racks, equipment racks, 4Post racks)
• Open Frame racks (aka 4post racks)
• 2Post (aka Relay racks, Telco racks)
• Transport racks
• Portable racks
• Wall Mount racks
Server Racks
Server Racks (aka rack cabinets, rack enclosures, equipment racks)
Server racks typically have front and rear doors that are perforated or solid. The fully
enclosed server rack mount cabinet is the most expensive rack type due to the
amount of metal use.
The perforated doors allow for proper ventilation of the electronics in the rackmount
cabinet. The current standard for ventilation is a minimum of 63% perforated on
both the front and rear doors of the rack mount cabinet. Filler panels are typically
used to help minimize air recirculation. If the rack cabinet has a solid door, then
additional equipment must be installed in the rack to provide adequate ventilation.
Racks with solid doors typically have fans in the top and air enters the rack from the
floor.
The fully enclosed server rack provides the highest level of security for the
equipment. Typically the front and rear doors have a lock to prevent unauthorized
access to the equipment. The side panels of the rack mount cabinet can be easily
removed in most models which allows access to cabling or power distribution units
which are sometimes installed in the Zero-U space in the sides of rack cabinets.
SERVER
RACKS
Open Frame Rack
Open-frame server racks or cabinets consist of adjustable mounting rails
without sides or doors to provide the best airflow option. They’re typically
used for server room and data centre rack applications that don’t require
physical security. 4-post open frame racks provide a sturdy, cost-effective
solution for supporting large rack-mount equipment such as servers, telecom
communication equipment and other network facilities. Open frame racks
optimise cooling and make wiring easier.
An open-frame rack cabinet provides ease of access and offers plenty of open
space for cable management, making this solution ideal for comms cupboards
and distribution frame applications with high-density cabling. Depth
adjustable from 22” to 40” (558.8 to 1023mm) to support large equipment on
depth adjustable shelves (sold separately). One type screw connection design
for fast, easy installation.
2Post Relay Racks
Relay Racks are the least expensive of the server racks. Relay racks only have
two uprights to support the equipment instead of the four uprights that other
rackmount cabinets have. 90% of all relay racks are made from aluminum
extrusions and have threaded holes.
Relay racks are most commonly used in data closets and back offices where only
one or two racks are needed. The are also used in huge data centers with 1000″s
of racks when space is a premium and cooling is critical.
Most network and telephony equipment is designed to be installed in a relay
racks without additional rails or brackets. Servers and electronics can be
installed in a center mount or a flush mount configuration in the relay racks. The
installation of servers, however, will require the purchase of special rackmount
installation kits or conversion kits for center mounting or flush mounting.
Transport Rack
Wall Mounted Rack
Portable Rack
Patch Panels
A patch panel is a piece of
hardware with multiple ports
that helps organize a group
of cables. Each of these
ports contains a wire that
goes to a different
location. Patch panels can
be quite small, with just a
few ports, or very large, with
many hundreds of ports.
They can also be set up for
fiber optic cables, cat5
cables, RJ45 cables, and
many others.
Blanking Panels
Blanking panels are pieces
of either plastic or metal that
are used to fill a spot in a
rack that is not currently in
use. Blanking panels help
improve the aesthetics of
the server rack, but more
importantly, they help to
manage airflow within.
Rails
Rails are attached to the
sides of a server or other
piece of equipment,
which then allows the
equipment to slide into
the server rack. These
rails secure the
equipment to the rack so
that it won’t move up or
down. Most types of rails
will also make it easier
for a technician to slide
the equipment in or out
as needed for
troubleshooting or
upgrades.
Cable
Management
Bars –
A cable management
bar allows the cables to
be neatly organized
within the server rack.
It typically has a slot for
each cable so that you
can route it from the
equipment to its
destination.
Rack Measurement
Rack sizes are measured in the units of U
A U is a standard unit of measure for designating the height in computer
enclosures and server rack cabinets.
A rack unit is abbreviated as U or RU with a number prefix. A U equals 1.75
inches, so a 4U chassis would be 7 inches high. A 40U rack cabinet would be
70 inches high.
Server Rack Height
Server rack height is one of the more popular ways to classify a server.
People often label their rack by its specific height, such as “42U server racks”
or, much more informal, “7-foot racks.”
the “U” in “42U” is stands for “rack units,” or “U-spaces,” which equal 1.75
inches. If you are investing in data center racks, the standard height is 48U (“7-
foot rack”) or, on some occasions, 42U. The reason this has become “standard”
is because it is large enough to allow room for growth and small enough to
access equipment easily. For rack enclosures, you might also encounter 22U
and 27U racks. In the data center industry, you would consider this a standard
“half-rack.”
Plenty of people in the rack infrastructure business build non-standard sizes.
This is especially true for open-frame racks. Because of their lighter weight and
versatility, open-frame racks can reach heights of up to 70U. At the same time,
they can be as small as 5U. Server rack cabinet enclosures, on the other hand,
can be a non-standard 18U or 37U.
Server Rack Depth
Unlike height, server rack depth is commonly measured in inches and has is
much less variation in sizes. Server racks can range from 0 to 50-inches in
depth, but are commonly seen at 24 and 48-inch depths. A 24-inch rack would
be perfect for housing network equipment, AV equipment, patch panels, etc.
A 29-inch depth, which is standard for open-frames, is compatible with many
servers from Dell, HP, IBM, and Cisco. Any depth greater than that can either
house larger equipment or provide extra space for cable management and
other accessories. Even if you have a high depth rack, rails with adjustable
mounting depths can help a shorter server fit perfectly.
Server Rack Width
The most common standard server rack width is 19 inches. Most rack-mounted
equipment, especially servers, have a mounting width of 19 inches measured from one hole
to another. Thus, the rack must be 19 inches across in order to fit this technology.
Many racks today come with a exterior width of 24 inches. A 24-inch exterior width works
well sense in the data center industry because of the standard 48-inch floor panel. Data
center floor panels are typically 24 in. x 24 in. Thus, a standard rack with a depth of 48
inches and a width of 24 inches makes it much easier to match up your racks with your
available floor space. A rack with a 24-inch depth keeps things rather simple as well because
it takes up exactly one panel.
There are plenty of racks that have a 19-inch mounting width and 24 exterior width. This
allows for space on the edge to manage cables,mount PDUs or monitoring equipment while
optimizing floor space.
Server Rack Installation
The first thing that should be considered when setting up your server, or network
rack is choosing the right location. Since most businesses don’t have a large area
designated as a data center, it is necessary to find a location that is available, won’t
cause problems, and will meet the requirements for the rack itself.
1. Finding the Right Room
Choosing the right room within your building is critical. To start with, the room should
be as secure as possible since server racks often contain valuable hardware with
essential company data on it. Rooms in the center of a building are often ideal since
they don’t have windows. Having the ability to lock the room to keep employees and
visitors out is also going to be a good idea.
2. Keeping the Rack Away from People
If at all possible, keep your server racks away from people. Servers can generate a
lot of heat and noise, which can be quite annoying to those who work in the
surrounding area. In addition, when people work near a server rack, they expose
the equipment to the risk of being bumped or even having water spilled or splashed
onto the rack. While a good server rack will provide a lot of protection to the servers
within, the more you can do to keep them safe, the better.
3. Think About Cooling
Few things are more important than keeping computer equipment cool. The
server rack itself will help to facilitate proper cooling, but that is just one piece of
the puzzle. Positioning the rack near a heat vent, for example, is a big mistake.
If there are windows in the room where the rack will go, make sure that they are
shaded so that the sun doesn’t contribute to the temperature of the room.
Making sure that the rack is not against a wall that could limit airflow is also
very important.
4. Consider the Type of Rack
Choosing the right rack is very important. You need to consider what type of
equipment will go inside to ensure there is enough room, and make sure that
the equipment can be secured properly in place. Some companies find that a
wall mounted rack is the ideal solution. Others will want an enclosed rack, and
still others and open frame model. Taking the time to look through all the
different designs is well worth the time and effort.
5. Make Sure the Rack & Rails are Compatible
When purchasing the server rack and other equipment, you will need to ensure
you are able to properly secure the equipment within the rack. Choosing a
server rack that is not compatible with the rails used on your computer
equipment will cause a lot of frustration. If you’re not sure what type of rack you
need, feel free to speak with one of our server rack specialists to get advice.
6. Think About Costs
Some companies make the mistake of going ultra-high end when purchasing
their rack and computer equipment. While there are certainly times when this is
necessary, most people can save money by opting for a good quality rack that
meets all their needs, without choosing those with the premium prices.
7. Choosing Your PDU
When putting all your servers and other computer equipment in a rack, you’ll
often need to use a power distribution unit to ensure a steady, clean supply of
electricity to the rack. Finding a PDU for your server rack installation that is
reliable and will be able to handle your specific power needs is critical. Talking
to a supplier who can make custom recommendations based on your needs will
help ensure you have just what you need.
8. Labeling Your Cables
When adding equipment to a server rack, you will need to run the cables from the
different devices to your routers, switches, servers, or other equipment. Labeling
these cables on each end will help ensure you can quickly identify where they are
going, which is critical for troubleshooting. While it is a little more work up front, it
will save a lot of trouble down the road.
9. Organizing Your Cables
In addition to labeling your cables, you will want to organize them so they look
nice within the rack. This means trimming cables so they aren’t significantly longer
than needed, bundling them together using zip ties and cable management
products, and running them along the edges of the server rack whenever possible.
Organized cables not only look nicer, but they are less likely to get damaged as
well.
10. Plan for the Future
When planning out a server rack installation, you will need to make sure that it is
able to meet all your current needs. Looking at expected growth for the company,
and future equipment needs, however, is also a great strategy. Spending a little
more money today to get a server rack that will be able to meet your needs for
years into the future will save you time and money in the long run.