Rack sizes?

GodAtum

GodAtum

GodAtum

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Obviously racks can have different height sizes but why do they have different depths and widths? I though the whole point is to standardise component size.

I am looking for a 15U rack but there are different size options:
600mm(W) x 900mm(D) x 920mm(H)
600mm(W) x 1000mm(D) x 920mm(H)
800mm(W) x 900mm(D) x 920mm(H)
800mm(W) x 1000mm(D) x 920mm(H)
600mm(W) x 1200mm(D) x 920mm(H)
800mm(W) x 1200mm(D) x 920mm(H)

If I'm not sure what I'm going to put in there how do I know what size to buy!?
 
The depths are different because equipment varies in depth.

Wider racks will have the same spacing between the rails but more space at the sides for cable routing and the like.
 
When servers went from 3/4/5U down to 1 or 2U they got deeper.
All the tier 1 manufacturers were in a race to get fully featured 1U servers to market.

The other reason is to allow space for cable management. Servers shrank as the number of connections rose. If you've got 42 1U servers each with 2 NICs, 2 HBAs and dual power it's a shedload of cables to try and fit it.

In most DCs the standard floor tiles are 600mm. If you putting it into a co-lo you might have to pay more for an 800mm wide rack.
 
bluebox said:
In most DCs the standard floor tiles are 600mm. If you putting it into a co-lo you might have to pay more for an 800mm wide rack.
Click to expand...

True and it works the other way too, 800mm may be standard width for that datacentre. This is all down to under floor cable trunking and sometimes top of cabinet trucking.

Some racks have space for 1U KVM or network switch which sits vertically at the side.

There are network racks and server racks which have slightly different size and loading (weight) too.

Some racks especially network racks are fitted with a APC device to provide dual AC paths to single powered devices.

The datacentres I work in specify the racks I'm allowed to use and manufacturer, which has benefits that if you miss something off the order they've typically have a spare hidden somewhere in a backroom?

If these are stand alone racks (not fixed to an adjacent rack), then you should order an anti tilt device for the rack as well (health and safety).
 
I just need to order a small 12 or 15U rack for home :) Prob go for the 600mm(W) x 900mm(D) x 920mm(H) as none of my servers will be over 900mm.
 
I have a 42U rack at home - 600mm (w)x 1000mm (d).

The space is fine between the core structure and the side panels for cable routing and I would imagine it will be fine for a half height unit as the equipment volume is likely to be less.

Supermicro do a 1U cahssis that would fit in a 600mm depth network cabinet and it is very nice. I haven't seen anything much else though (excluding mITX 1U chassis).

As for top fans, I have a top fan panel with 4 and they are loud. The panel came with the rack and i am in the process of getting a Coolerguys fan controller (4 fans) which is thermally controlled and 4 quiet fans (ball bearing type). Hopefully they should arrive next week.

Also look for cooling fans / fan panels for home theatre cabinets as they are generally much quieter but around the same size.

Also get some rails if you can for your kit as it makes working on the machines so much easier (if they are in rack mount chassis).

Just to add... my rack is in an ambient temperature of 31 degrees and stays around that temp with the servers all working fine.

RB
 
Last edited:
RB, do you run any air conditioning in the room?

With these racks, the internal rack depth can normally be adjusted to suit the rails and equipment being used, right? E.g. I think Dell kit usually needs 31.5" or ~800mm, so that only gives 5cm space front and rear on a 900mm deep cabinet. And if you're using Dell rails with the cable management arm then for big servers like a 2950 you really need ~950mm of space to accommodate it all, which might not work in a cab with 1000mm external depth. Cite: http://www.server-racks.com/dell-poweredge-1950-2950-rack-rails.html

Slightly off topic I suppose. Bottom line I think is go as deep as you can (that's what she said).
 
Shad said:
RB, do you run any air conditioning in the room?
Click to expand...

Nope, just a ceiling fan which is only on when the machines are being used by me. We only have aircon in the bedrooms for sleeping.

Shad said:
With these racks, the internal rack depth can normally be adjusted to suit the rails and equipment being used, right?
Click to expand...

Yep but it can be a right royal PITA to do adjust especially if you have anything already mounted.

Shad said:
Slightly off topic I suppose. Bottom line I think is go as deep as you can (that's what she said).
Click to expand...

Well as deep as you can manage with the space available at least.. boom, tish ;).

RB
 
My Xcase server measures 483mm W x 550mm D x 176mm H. I only need to fit a UPS, 1U server and a switch into my rack so I dont think I will need anything deeper larger then the 600mm(W) x 900mm(D) x 920mm(H) one?
 
GodAtum said:
rackcabinets look good too plus they have wheels even better! Value one for £245.
Click to expand...

Hi,

Check out Zpas if you want the best.

Fully customisable rack "builders" so you can specify different doors, different sides, whether you have brushed cable entries, dust filters etc etc...


http://www.zpasgroup.com/


I like the SZB and plan to buy one for myself.

http://www.zpas.pl/index.php?idl=2&idp=szb&id=-2


Configurator here:-

http://www.zpas.pl/obr/zpaspl/szb/konfigurator/konfigurator-szb-en.htm
 
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