Server Rack Buying Guide

Organize and Secure Servers and Other Network Equipment

Server Rack Basics

What is a server rack?
Server racks are open frames or cabinets designed for mounting, organizing and securing EIA-standard 19-inch width rack-mount IT and A/V equipment such as servers, routers, hubs, switches and audio/video components, regardless of the manufacturer. They also provide cable management and enable optimized airflow for increased operational efficiency and prolonged equipment life.

Where are server racks used?

Are server racks hard to install?
No. Most racks come fully assembled and ready to accept IT equipment. Compatible designs, toolless mounting and an extensive line of rack accessories mean easy planning, fast deployment and more efficient maintenance. As long as you have a level floor or surface that is capable of bearing the combined weight of a rack and the equipment inside of it, installing a cabinet is quite simple.

Top Server Rack Features

Provide organization and security for critical equipment
Server racks have sturdy steel frames and locking cabinets to secure and organize up to 3,000 lbs. of 19-inch rack equipment. They provide safe homes for servers, storage, network hardware and all the indispensable devices that keep your network efficient and productive.

Deliver efficient cooling
Most network racks feature front-to-rear airflow that supports efficient hot-aisle/cold-aisle configurations and exceed server manufacturer requirements to keep equipment operating reliably. Roof and panel fans are also available to optimize cooling efficiency.

Support diverse applications
Many server rack heights, widths, depths and other variations are available, with a wide range of configuration options so support any application.

Makes your job easier
Most server racks have been designed to optimize installation and maintenance, and that philosophy shows in the details that make routine tasks quicker and easier, adding up to big benefits over the workday.

Features like quick-adjust mounting rails, modular side panels and toolless mounting slots for vertical PDUs and cable managers facilitate installation and configuration. Seamless compatibility with all EIA-standard 19-inch rack equipment ensures trouble-free setup.

Types of Server Racks

Eaton's premium-grade floor and wall mount server racks and cabinets organize and secure IT equipment wherever it is located, from high-density data centers to the tightest of spaces at the edge of your network.

Compatible designs, tool-less mounting and an extensive line of rack accessories mean easier planning, faster deployments and more efficient maintenance.

• Wall-Mount
• Floor-Standing
• Open-Frame
• Special Applications
• Cable Management
• Accessories

	Patch-Depth	Switch-Depth & Switch-Depth-Plus	UPS-Depth	Server-Depth	Vertical-Mount
Features	For devices up to 13 in. deep	For devices up to 20.5 in. deep	For devices up to 24.5 in. deep	For devices up to 32.5 in. deep	For devices up to 36 in. deep
Rack Height	12U - 18U	2U - 26U	12U - 26U	12U - 18U	2U - 16U
Maximum Load Capacity	Up to 250 lb [113 kg]	Up to 250 lb [113 kg]	Up to 250 lb [113 kg]	Up to 500 lb [227 kg]	Up to 400 lb [181 kg]
Hinged Back	Select Models	Select Models	Yes	Select Models	No
Doors	Lockable; Reversible	Lockable; Reversible	Lockable; Reversible	Lockable; Reversible	Lockable; Reversible (Select)
Mounting Rails	Square and round/threaded hole	Square and round/threaded hole	Square and round/threaded hole	Square and 12-24 threaded hole	Supports M6 and 12-24 mounting
Airflow Management	Ventilated side panels and door	Ventilated side panels and door	Ventilated side panels and door	Ventilated side panels and door	Vented side panels (select) and door
Built-In Cable Management	Top and bottom routing ports	Top and bottom routing ports	Top and bottom routing ports	Top and bottom routing ports	Top and bottom routing ports; Side (select)
Special Features	Clear acrylic window; IP20	Clear acrylic window; IP20; IP54/NEMA 12 (Select)	Clear acrylic window; IP20	Side-mount (Select); IP20	Low profile; IP20
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	Shallow-Depth	Mid-Depth	Standard-Depth	Deep	Wide	Deep and Wide
Features	For devices < 28 in. deep	For devices 28 - 33.5 in. deep	For devices 34 - 39.5 in. deep	For devices > 40 in. deep	750 mm in width	For devices > 40 in. deep; 750 mm in width
Rack Height	25U - 45U	12U - 45U	25U - 48U	14U - 48U	42U - 48U	42U - 48U
Maximum Load Capacity	Up to 3000 lb [1361 kg]	Up to 3000 lb [1361 kg]	Up to 3000 lb [1361 kg]	Up to 3000 lb [1361 kg]	Up to 3000 lb [1361 kg]	Up to 3000 lb [1361 kg]
Doors	Lockable; Reversible	Lockable; Reversible	Lockable; Reversible	Lockable; Reversible	Lockable; Reversible	Lockable; Reversible
Mounting Rails	Square or 10-32 hole	Square	Square or 10-32 hole	Square	Square	Square
Airflow Management	Ventilated side panels and door	Ventilated side panels and door	Ventilated side panels and door	Ventilated side panels and door	Ventilated side panels and door	Ventilated side panels and door
Built-In Cable Management	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Special Features	IP20	IP20; IP54/NEMA 12 (Select)	Clear acrylic window; IP20; IP54/NEMA 12 (Select)	IP20	IP20	IP20
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	2-Post Wall-Mount	2-Post Floor-Standing	4-Post Floor-Standing
Rack Height	12U - 22U	12U - 45U	12U - 58U
Maximum Load Capacity	Up to 200 lb [91 kg]	Up to 800 lb [363 kg]	Up to 3000 lb [1361 kg]
Mounting Rails	Threaded 12-24 hole	Square or threaded 12-24 hole	Square or threaded 12-24 hole
Special Features	Expandable 8U/12U/22U (select models)		Heavy-duty casters (select models)
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	Quiet Racks	Seismic-Certified Racks	NEMA 12 (IP54) For Harsh Environments
Special Features	Specifically designed to minimize external acoustic levels caused by network equipment. Special foam sound-dampening baffles built into doors and side panels reduce acoustic levels by as much as 28 decibels. Ideal for small offices, recording studios, retail applications, classrooms and other areas where you need equipment to be secure, organized and quiet.	Designed and tested to meet Telcordia GR-63-CORE Network Equipment & Building Systems (NEBS) requirements for Zone 4 Seismic Earthquake Environments. Ideal for secure, high-density server and networking applications in IT environments that are earthquake-prone or subject to regular vibrations, such as an airport or factory.	Built with an IP54 (NEMA 12) protection rating and certified to protect equipment against dirt, dust, lint, oil, drips and splashes. Ideal for harsh, dirty work environments with limited floor space, such as factories, construction areas, utility plants, power stations, transportation terminals, distribution hubs and warehouses.
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Vertical Managers

Installs inside your rack enclosure to organize cabling and/or provide additional 0U mounting of PDUs and other devices and accessories with toolless mounting keyhole slots.

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Horizontal Managers

Prevents messy cable clutter by supporting and organizing cabling, while routing it from either side of the rack to interior connections.

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Cable Trays

Cuts down on cable clutter and stressed connections by safely supporting and segregating the equipment cabling from either side of the rack to interior connections.

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Ladders

Eliminates cable stress by organizing cabling across the top of your rack, neatly bundling it across an aisle or within a row of bayed racks.

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Troughs

Organizes and safely routes cabling across the top of a rack enclosure, creating a dedicated path that helps eliminate cable stress.

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Rail/Hardware Kits

Hardware lets you mount cable ladders above your rack enclosures and extend them horizontally or vertically to maximize space.

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Raceways

Securely conceals your network or other cabling, protects it from damage, and keeps it neat and organized outside of walls.

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Cable Ties

Must-have accessory for keeping bundles of cables manageable.

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J-Hooks

Recommended for setting up network or digital signage installations that require cabling to run along walls and ceilings, above drop ceilings or through inner duct systems for long distances.

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Airflow Management

Blanking panels, brush strips, etc. improve cooling efficiency by blocking unwanted airflow and preventing recirculation.

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Duct Kit

Directs warm air away from your rack equipment or cool air directly toward it to improve your cabinet's airflow and keep your equipment at peak levels.

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Mounting Accessories

Hardware and other accessories for mounting rack equipment or managing cabling in your data center.

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Mounting Brackets

Brackets and rack extensions for your KVM, patch panels and DIN rails.

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Rack Shelves

Shelves and locking draws for convenient storage of laptops, towers, tools, cables, etc.

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Rack-Mount Kits

Provides extra support for your KVM, UPS system or other rack equipment.

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Security

Extra locks and panels to protect your rack equipment from damage, tampering or theft.

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How to Choose a Server Rack: Key Questions to Ask

When selecting a server rack, there are some key questions that need to be answered.

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.

Some racks cabinets come pre-assembled and can be rolled through standard 7-ft. (2.13m) commercial doorways. This allows network equipment to be racked, cabled and rolled into place in a server room for easy installation.

Wall-mount racks offer secure organization for standard 19-inch rack equipment and can support depths up to 36 inches in locations with limited floor space. Most include clear acrylic windows that allow you to monitor equipment without unlocking rack doors.

Open-frame, low-profile and vertical-mount racks are also available to accommodate unique network equipment sizes in locations where security is not a priority and space is limited.

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

What is the maximum rack depth required?
Rack depth is dictated by the deepest device you want to install. Determine the maximum rack depth required to mount your equipment in a floor-standing or wall-mount rack enclosure cabinet.

Floor-Standing Rack Depth Designations

Wall-Mount Rack Depth Designations

Can the rack handle the weight of your equipment?
A fully populated rack can weigh upwards of 3,000 lbs. Make sure that the capacity of the rack is greater than the total weight of the equipment being mounted.

Other Features to Consider

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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. Most seismic racks are designed and tested to meet Telcordia GR-63-CORE Network Equipment & Building Systems (NEBS) requirements for Zone 4 seismic earthquake environments.

Sound Suppression
Quiet server racks are also available to muffle loud network equipment for a less stressful work environment. These acoustic server racks are specifically designed to minimize external acoustic levels caused by network equipment. Less noise makes for a calmer work environment that encourages productivity.

Cable management and accessories
Shelves, mounting rails, stabilization, cooling, patch panels, hardware kits, casters, cable ducts and troughs enable custom installations to accommodate any space limitation or expansion requirement.

Hinged back
Select rack cabinets swing away from the wall on a sturdy hinge, allowing easy access to equipment and cabling during installation and maintenance.

Products Mentioned in this Article

Floor-Standing Enclosures

Wall-Mount Racks

Open-Frame Racks

Low-Profile Racks

Vertical Mount Racks

Racks with Sound Suppression

Racks for Harsh Environments

Racks for Earthquake Zones

Server Rack Glossary of Terms

A

All-Metal Frame

Server racks constructed from heavy-duty, all-metal steel frames with a durable black powder-coated finish that are virtually indestructible.

C

Cable Management

Shelves, mounting rails, stabilization, cooling, patch panels, hardware kits, casters, cable ducts and troughs enable custom installations to accommodate any space limitation or expansion requirement.

Cable Routing

Convenient ports with removable covers allow cable routing through top and bottom of rack units.

Clear Acrylic Window

Acrylic windows allow you to monitor equipment without unlocking rack doors.

Co-Location

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

E

Expansion Rack

Expansion racks can be attached or “bayed” together easily to form rows, which is ideal for hot-aisle/cold-aisle cooling techniques.

Extra Width Rack

Extra wide racks provide extra width space for additional cables and improved airflow.

F

Front-to-Rear Airflow

Most racks feature front-to-rear airflow that supports efficient hot-aisle/cold-aisle configurations and exceed server manufacturer requirements to keep equipment operating reliably.

H

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.

Hinged Back

Select rack cabinets swing away from the wall on a sturdy hinge, allowing easy access to equipment and cabling during installation and maintenance.

K

Knockdown Rack

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.

L

Locking Cabinet

Rack locking cabinets secure and organize standard 19 in. rack equipment. They provide security for servers, routers, hubs, UPS systems and other essential network equipment.

N

Network Equipment-Building System (NEBS)

NEBS (Network Equipment-Building System) describes the environment of a typical United States RBOC Central Office. NEBS is the most common set of safety, spatial and environmental design guidelines applied to telecommunications equipment in the United States. It is an industry requirement, but not a legal requirement.

O

Open-Frame Rack

Expandable open-frame racks store 8U, 12U or 22U of 19-inch rack equipment up to 18 inches deep in locations with limited floor space where a locked enclosure is not required. Allows easy access to equipment and cabling.

P

Patch-Depth

Racks specifically designed to accommodate patch panel depths up to 13 inches.

PCI and PCI DSS-Compliant

The Payment Card Industry (PCI) data security standard requires that all companies that process, store or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment. PCI-compliant racks provide physical equipment and media security required for PCI DSS compliance.

Q

Quiet Rack

Racks specifically designed to minimize external acoustic levels caused by network equipment. Special foam sound-dampening baffles built into doors and side panels reduce acoustic levels by as much as 28 decibels.

R

Rack Depth

Rack depth is dictated by the deepest device you want to install. Determine the maximum rack depth required to mount your equipment in a floor-standing or wall-mount rack enclosure cabinet.

Reversible Front Door

Rotate rack cabinets 180° before mounting to open reversible front door left or right.

Roll-Through Capability

Some rack cabinets come pre-assembled and can be rolled through standard 7-ft. (2.13m) commercial doorways. This allows network equipment to be racked, cabled and rolled into place in a server room for easy installation.

S

Seismic Protection

Seismic server racks 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 racks feature additional reinforcement and shock-absorbing material for safely re-shipping loaded racks to remote sites.

T

TAA-Compliant

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

V

Vented Rack Panel

Vented rack panels allow generous airflow that keeps equipment cool.

Vertical-Mount Rack

Vertical-mount racks extend less than 12 inches from the wall while housing equipment up to 36 inches deep, including 1U servers, UPS systems, battery packs and switches.

Vertical Mounting Rail

Vertical mounting rails adjust in 7/8-inch increments to accommodate equipment up to 16.5 in. deep, such as network switches and patch panels.

W

Wall-Mount Rack

Wall-mount racks offer secure organization for standard 19-in. rack equipment and can support depths up to 36 in. in locations with limited floor space.