Rack Buying Guide

Server Rooms & Wiring Closets

Typical Environment

  • 5-25 servers in rack cabinets, plus network storage, switches and routers
  • Typically cooled using passive or fan-assisted ventilation, facility air conditioning
  • Supports a small / medium business or a branch office

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Data Centers & Industrial Facilities

Typical Environment

  • 500-5,000 sq. feet; 10+ rack enclosures with servers (30+), storage and networking equipment
  • Facility air conditioning, supplemented by row / rack cooling
  • Rack enclosures are typically arranged in rows for hot-aisle / cold-aisle cooling

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What is a Rack?

Racks are frame structures designed for mounting standard 19" rack-mount equipment—servers, routers, UPS systems, switches, audio/video—regardless of vendor. They provide rack equipment organization, security and cable management while enabling airflow. There are two basic types: rack enclosures (also called rack cabinets) and open-frame racks.

Where are Racks used?

  • Server rooms and data centers
  • Audio/video installations
  • Closets housing telecommunications equipment
  • Industrial environments such as a factory floor
  • Note: Earthquake zones and locations prone to shock or vibration use specially designed racks.

What type of rack do you require?

If security and equipment protection is important to you, we recommend a Rack Enclosure.

If you're simply looking for an economical way to organize rack equipment while conserving space, we suggest an Open-Frame Rack.

Wall-Mount Racks are ideal for classrooms or sites with limited floor space.

What size of rack do you need?

The height of a rack, and the height of equipment in it, is expressed in "rack units" (a rack unit is 1.75 inches, or 44.45mm).
The actual height of a 42U rack is therefore 42 x 1.75 = 73.5 inches. A 2U server would occupy two of the available 42 rack units.

Be sure to make an accurate assessment of the amount of rack space you currently need, and allow for future growth.

Rack Depth

Determine how much depth your equipment requires and consider how much floor space you have.

Rack Depth (in.) Ideal for...
Shallow-depth 32 A/V equipment, limited space
Mid-depth 36 Limited space
Standard 42 Standard servers
Extra-deep 48 Extra cables, improved airflow

Can the rack handle the weight of your equipment?

Racks have a weight limit. Make sure that the capacity of the rack is greater than the total weight of the equipment being mounted.

Do you need any special features?

PCI-Compliance

The Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard requires that all companies that process, store or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment.

Expansion

Expansion models can be bayed together easily to form rows, which is ideal for hot-aisle/cold-aisle cooling techniques.

Heat Removal

Thermal Duct Rack Enclosures directly connect to a facility’s exhaust system to remove hot air not only from the rack but from the entire room.

TAA-Compliance

GSA schedule purchases and other government contracts require products that comply with the Trade Agreement Act (TAA).

Seismic Protection

Seismic Enclosures have a rugged welded construction and are tested to Seismic Zone 4 standards, making them ideal for sites that are earthquake-prone or are subject to regular vibration, such as an airport or factory.

Shock Pallet Packaging

Shock Pallet models feature additional reinforcement and shock-absorbing material for safely re-shipping loaded racks to remote sites.

Disassembled Shipping

Racks ship fully assembled for easy installation. However, sometimes doorways or tight spaces cannot accommodate fully assembled racks, so knockdown models ship disassembled for easier transportation.

Co-Location

Some data center sites host multiple users in a single Rack Cabinet. Co-location models have two separate compartments to allow secure access to the correct users.

Extra Width

In addition to extended-depth models, extra-wide models provide extra space for cables and improved airflow.

Cable Management & Accessories

Shelves, mounting rails, stabilization, cooling, patch panels, hardware kits, casters, and more enable custom installations to accommodate any space limitation or expansion requirement. View our Compatibility Guide to look at the options.

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Open Rack Frames
Model Height (U) Depth (inches) Capacity (lbs)
Stationary / Rolling		 Key Features
SR2POST 45 4.8 800
Stationary only
  • 2-post open frame rack
  • Black aluminum with round threaded and numbered mounting holes
  • Toolless button holes to accept PDUs or cable managers
SR4POST 45 39.3 1000
Stationary only
  • 4-post open frame rack
  • Black steel with square, numbered mounting holes
  • Toolless button holes to accept PDUs or cable managers
SR42UBEXPND 42 37 3000 / 2250
  • Premium open frame rack
  • 4 interior vertical posts with unthreaded square hole openings
  • Ships fully assembled
  • Preinstalled casters and leveling feet; Rolls through standard 7 foot doorway

Rack Enclosures
Model Height (U) Depth (inches) Capacity (lbs)
Stationary / Rolling		 Key Features
SR25UB 25 37 3000 / 2250
  • Ships fully assembled
  • 4 interior vertical posts with non-threaded square hole openings
  • Locking, removable, reversible front and rear doors; Locking, removable side panels
  • Meets all enclosure requirements towards PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliance
SR42UB 42 37 3000 / 2250
  • 4 interior vertical posts with unthreaded square hole openings
  • Locking, removable, reversible front and rear doors; Locking, removable side panels keyed alike with doors
  • Pre-installed casters and leveling feet; Rolls through standard 7 foot doorway
  • Meets all enclosure requirements towards PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) Compliance
SR45UB 45 37 3000 / 2250
  • 4 interior vertical posts with unthreaded square hole openings
  • Massive front to rear ventilation capacity
  • Locking, removable, reversible front and rear doors; Locking, removable side panels keyed alike with doors
  • Meets all enclosure requirements towards PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) Compliance

Wall-Mount Racks
Model Height (U) Depth (inches) Capacity (lbs) Key Features
SRW6U 6 16.5 200
  • Designed for VoIP closets and education environments where equipment needs to be secure and out of the way
  • Adjustable front vertical rackmount rails
  • Locking, reversible front door and locking, removable side panels
  • PCI-Compliant: meets stringent physical security requirements
SRW12US 12 20.5 200
  • Adjustable front and rear vertical rackmount rails
  • Hinged cabinet swings away from wall bracket for easy equipment access (swing direction is reversible)
  • Locking, reversible front door and locking, removable side panels
  • PCI-Compliant: meets stringent physical security requirements
SRW18US 18 20.5 250
  • Adjustable front and rear vertical rackmount rails
  • Hinged cabinet swings away from wall bracket for easy equipment access (swing direction is reversible)
  • Locking, reversible front door and locking, removable side panels
  • PCI-Compliant: meets stringent physical security requirements

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