Rackmount Server Case: Protect & Organise Servers and Network Equipment

Whether you are an electronics tinkerer, a person who owns a musical studio, or just someone who works from home in a room that has lots of UPS systems, switches and routers, when all these stuff start taking up too much floor space, this might be the time when you need to invest in a rackmount equipment, like rackmount server cases. Their main purpose is to protect, secure and organise different types of equipment while enabling enough airflow.

Having at least one rackmount server case is a real blessing especially in data centres, server rooms, factory floors and more. There are two types of rackmount server cases available on the market and they are designed for different purposes.

Floor Standing

Floor standing racks are the first option you have when it comes to choosing one; you can choose between rack enclosure and open frame.

Rack enclosure is a type of rack mainly used for those of you who need more access, control and immpecable equipment protection.

Open Frame, on the other hand, are more economical and are mainly used for easier organisation of IT equipment.

Wall Mount

Wall mount are the second solution for organizing your rackmount equipment, and are also available in the same two forms; rack enclosure and open frame.

Rack enclosure – These types of wall mount racks are the perfect solution for storing IT equipment in classrooms or rooms that don’t have enough free space.

Open Frame wall mount racks are mainly used in smaller spaces where one needs easier access to wiring and excellent airflow.

Measure Twice, Cut Once

You know what they say, when it comes to choosing the right size, it is best to double check before making a decision. The height of the rack itself and the equipment in it is measured in units wherein 1 rack unit is 44.45mm. Thus, before making any rush decisions, carefully measure the amount of rack space you need at the moment, and also do not forget to leave some free space in order to add more racks in the future.

Rack Depth

Both wall-mounted and floor-standing cabinets have different depths and are designed for different types of equipment.

Floor-Standing Rack Depth

Floor-standing racks have four different depths wherein:

• Shallow depth rack (68cm), designed for audio/video equipment and for spaces with limited floor space.
• Mid-depth rack (79cm), designed for limited spaces.
• Standard rack (94cm), designed for storing servers.
• Deep rack (107cm), designed for storing extra cables while enabling excellent airflow.

Wall Mount Rack Depth

Wall mount racks also have four different depths wherein:

• Patch-depth rack (< 40cm), ideal for holding patch panels.
• Switch-depth rack (40 – 61cm), perfect for organising switches.
• UPS-depth rack (61 – 81cm), great for storing and UPS systems.
• Server-depth rack (> 81cm), designed for storing and organising servers.

When it comes to the weight, racks have a weight limit, so when choosing a rackmount server case, make sure that the overall rack’s capacity is greater than the total weight of the equipment you are planning to store.

Reference: Server Transport Case: The Best Way To Protect Your Audio Gear