Cheap/easy lockable cabinet for a switch?

Russinating

Russinating

Russinating

Soldato
Joined
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Looking at buying a TP-LINK TL-SG108 and need to get a compact, lockable server cabinet for it. I've never had one before so unsure how they work. Found a 4-15U one which is fine price-wise, but don't know if I then need to buy extra rails/shelves for it and if so where you get those from? Do any just come with 2/3 shelves? Thanks.
 
Cabinets don't usually come with shelves as they're designed to take rack mounted gear.

Typically switches that can be rack mounted are either oversized to make them fit (unmanaged switches don't have a great deal to them), or are physically smaller but come with blanking plates that attach to either side to allow them to be fitted.

Annoyingly, some rack shelves can be quite expensive. Factoring in this cost you may find that a 24port rack mounted switch (which can be silent as well) will set you back £80 - which only works out at double the cost for three times the number of ports.

If you're going down the cabinet route as well I'm not sure I'd ever put "free-floating" gear in it simply for the looks factor :)
 
Oh, also, if you're just getting a lockable cabinet just for a unmounted switch, it's worth mentioning that you get 2U vertical wallmount brackets.

Great for simple setups where you just have a patch panel and switch to deal with - although I do need to tidy this up a little... :)

thwGkYf.png
 
^Bad idea to mount switches vertically like that, you'll get dust/bugs falling down into the ports.
 
bledd said:
^Bad idea to mount switches vertically like that, you'll get dust/bugs falling down into the ports.
Click to expand...
Every port is filled now so not much of an issue but I know where you're coming from.

Russinating said:
All I need is a switch to be in a locked something, whatever that is!
Click to expand...
While you might get away with some random lockbox most lockable "things" don't haves holes for cables to run in and out so rack is still probably the easiest solution.

I think the smallest case you'll get will be 4U. Look for a wall mounted one and it means you can get it more out of the way at the same time.

Also, you don't strictly need a shelf, just put it on the bottom of the rack.
 
Is the "lockable" requirement an actual security need, as most switch cabinets use generic keys (i.e. buy 2 of the same cabinets and they will likely both be the same locks), and the locks on most cheaper ones are fairly easy to open (or bypass e.g. by bending the cabinet)
 
Armageus said:
Is the "lockable" requirement an actual security need, as most switch cabinets use generic keys (i.e. buy 2 of the same cabinets and they will likely both be the same locks), and the locks on most cheaper ones are fairly easy to open (or bypass e.g. by bending the cabinet)
Click to expand...

Yes, relatively but it doesn't need to be fort knox. Effectively we're going to be sharing our line, all doable via the network switch and unique IP addresses per connection, but it would be nice for the switch to be locked as a deterrent to prevent switching of cables or intercepting of connections. The cabinet/switch itself will be in a locked storage room who only our staff have the code to, in a locked building with a security guard, so yeah, a deterrent but it's not going to be in a public area.
 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/9U-IT-Wal...s-Door-Lock-/322220338053?hash=item4b05d42b85

I have this one

Inside is a Hikvision NVR, mounted power bar, small UPS, 24 port network switch. three home signal booster thing, hive wireless connector, power transformers for LED strips
Wall mounted against the ceiling so all the cables are invisible apart from inside the box itself

It is not particularly secure, it does have locks but I'm sure you could bend the doors etc with enough strength, but if someone wants to get into any cabinet with enough time they will get in. For us it is just a way of neatening up the cables etc

To mount rackmount switches you will need the rackmount bracket for the switch and some cage nuts, or you can simply buy a rackmount shelf and just put it on top of that
 
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