3 Important Server Rack Dimensions

No data center can exist without server racks. After all, administrators should place devices somewhere. Server racks help cope with this task. This is specialized furniture designed to accommodate network equipment, hold dozens of devices, and protect apparatus from pollution and all kinds of external influences. Thus, furniture is of great popularity on the modern market.

Such products have the following advantages:

• save floor space and allow accommodating lots of devices on a small territory;
• provide multi-layer storage for IT equipment, cables, accessories, and supplementary components;
• provide durable and organized constructions equipped with all the needed slots, holes, and fasteners.

Manufacturers offer a rich diversity of models of different designs and sizes. They distinguish between 2- and 4-post racks of enclosed or open-frame servers with or without removable side panels and lockable doors, more you can find here.

To select an appropriate one, you should know how to determine the needed network rack size and what factors influence dimensions. An incorrectly chosen size of the rack will lead to many problems. For instance, too tight hardware placement results in overheating, some devices won’t fit models, no place will be left for cable routing, etc. Thus, it is important to approach the choice of a suitable rack seriously and responsibly.

Traditionally, three dimensions are taken into account when calculating the required model. Let’s have a more precise look at each dimension:

Server Furniture Height

This is the key and most complicated dimension. In system administration, height is indicated in U (units), where 1U is 1.75 inches. Thus, when you see 4U, 12U, or other designations in the description of models, you should multiply 4*1.75, 12*1.75, etc. to find out the height.

The modern market is ready to satisfy the demands of system administrators and offer lots of models for any purpose. Thus, data cabinet sizes can start from small and compact 2U and 4U products and reach up to large 48U and 50U cabinets.

The height is determined judging by the number of pieces to be accommodated. Measure the height of all apparatus and add the obtained figures. The most popular models are medium-sized 18U-26U products.

Note that wall-mount models are smaller and have a height of up to 9U-12U since the loading capacity of such products is limited, while floor-standing ones can reach 48U and allow housing dozens or even hundreds of components.

Data Center Furniture Depth

In comparison with height, this dimension is less complicated for measurement and calculation. It is measured in inches. The depth of furniture can vary from 0 to 50 inches. Yet, the most common depths are standardized to accommodate most types of IT hardware. The most popular depths are 24 and 48 inches.

The first option is excellent for accommodating all sorts of computing hardware, patch panels, AV devices, etc.

The second type of rack is usually applicable to open-frame models and allows for housing servers of popular developers, such as HP, Dell, IBM, and others.

If the depth exceeds the above-mentioned server rack dimensions, it means that extra space will be left for managing cables or fastening accessories. To adjust hardware to a deep model, it is possible to use adjustable mounting rails. Anyway, free space never harms.

Server Room Furniture Width

This dimension is also measured in inches. 19-inch-wide models are the most common solutions. The dimension is standardized since most network equipment, including servers, has this width. It is measured from one fastening hole to another. Thus, to fasten a server to the rack, posts must be located at a distance of 19 inches. In this case, the technology will be satisfied.

However, note one tricky thing. When measuring the width, three rack mount dimensions exist. System administrators distinguish between the following kinds of widths:

• exterior width with front panels;
• center-to-center measurements (from one hole to another on uprights);
• minimum interior opening (between edges of both posts).

Although 19-inch cabinets are classic for the business industry, nowadays, manufacturers produce 24-inch-wide models. Such solutions work well if 48-inch floor panels are used. If the room space is enough, administrators prefer to use one single panel to optimize a system and achieve better ergonomics.

When choosing a suitable model and calculating dimensions, keep in mind furniture weight. Metal enclosures are heavy and bulky. Solid metal bodies and locks provide high security and reliably support active equipment with accessories. Thus, the weight can total several hundred pounds. Wall-mount models weigh less since their loading capacity is determined by the capacity of dowels used to fasten racks to vertical surfaces.

To draw the line, note that when calculating the required rack size, it is not enough to measure devices. Two crucial rules exist among system administrators. To guarantee the required infrastructure, users must place hardware loosely; avoid tight equipment fitting since devices will exchange emitted heat, which will lead to overheating. It is also recommended to foresee future expansion. Most businesses face the necessity to add new devices to add power or improve other indicators. Thus, leave some extra space for this. So, to calculate the actually needed size, add a quarter or half of the size to the final estimates.