Server Rack Buying Guide | Eaton

This buying guide will help you:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Eaton Tripp Lite’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.

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

Rack
Depth (in.)
Ideal for…

Shallow
27
A/V equipment, limited space

Mid-depth
31
Limited space

Standard
37
Servers

Deep
42
Extra cables, improved airflow

Wall-Mount Rack Depth Designations

Rack
Depth (in.)
Ideal for…

Patch-depth
< 16
Patch panels

Switch-depth
16 – 23.99
Switches

UPS-depth
24 – 31.99
UPS systems

Server-depth
> 32
Servers

See this convenient Rack Advisor Tool to find a rack that can accommodate the depth and weight of a UPS system, servers and switches it powers.

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.