Very unusual rack requirement

[TangoSixteen]

Hi folks,

This is totally unusual, so please bear with me!

I want to get a small rack for home use, which sounds fine, but I have three ML110G6 boxes to fit inside.

The way I wanted to do this, was to just have them standing side by side in the bottom, together, facing the front.

The problem is that 19" racks seem just a few mm short. The combined width of three G6 boxes is 525mm, and I measured a Rittal 19" rack, and from behind the rack holes to behind the other rack holes is 514mm, so extremely close but wont fit.

Looking at this rack though, it has these bits that from the profile of the post into a wierd shape that curl back around to the inside, taking up valuable millimeters. (maybe 20mm in total)

Ideally I want a rack that is still 19" obviously, but with thinner posts to give me that extra little bit of room.

I guess what Im asking is whether anyone knows of any 19" racks that can take slightly wider bits of kit than standard, by way of a diffferent post or thinner post construction?

The best solution to this would be to get some super smart shelving like this:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HP-Universal-..._EN_Networking_Components&hash=item2eafc073df

(is that ok to link?)

The problem with this however, is that despite looking beautifully solid and having a nice thick rubber mat, the price is utterly ludicrous.

Any suggestions?

 

[ecksmen]

I think you're going about this in completely the wrong way. If I've understood correctly, the computers are towers and you don't want to rack them horizontally but vertically, but a normal rack is too narrow? So how do you intend to use a rack if you can somehow widen it? Surely that will mean that any normal spec kit wont fit and there's no point in having a rack.

I think either use a rack for what its mean for, or not bother...

 

[mikeh501]

whilst I agree with the above....

To the OP, you realise that racks have varying widths; not the front/rear posts which are always 19" obviously but the cabinet which sits round them, so if those boxes fit between the posts then you would definately get three across... just a thought.

 

[TangoSixteen]

No I dont want to widen the rack.

Its just that I noticed on a rack that I looked at the other day, that the posts have the two flaps with the holes in to mount the equipment, and that behind these flaps you have extra space where slightly bigger than 19" equipment can be fitted.

Now the profile of the posts seems to vary... I.e the thickness of the posts themselves, which means that the width of the equpment you can fit between them varies.

But I see what you guys are saying.. most racks just have a hole at the bottom that you cant just stand tower servers on either. So its really got to be shelving hasnt it?

 

[Will Gill]

racks without a hole in the bottom would be like cars without fuel caps

just widen the rear pillars and dump the servers on a shelf in between

 

[vsmora]

Have you considered positioning the servers behind the front pillars i.e. put the first 2 servers in then slide each one sideways to make space for the 3rd in the middle? That way you'd still be able to rack sandard kit above, but would be hassle if you need physical access to the front or inside of the side servers.