A server rack is a special piece of furniture designed for accommodating all sorts of A/V and IT equipment, such as servers, routers, switches, hubs. Also, they provide convenient cable management and enable a functioning system with optimal climate conditions to ensure prolonged operating life.
Server racks are distinguished by open-frame designs and have standardized dimensions to fit all sorts of hardware regardless of its manufacturer. They are widely used in data centers, network closets, server rooms, industrial/factory floors, quiet network locations.
Reasons to Use Server Racks
- optimize space and allow storing devices efficiently.
- provide efficient cooling. Air ventilation systems allow keeping devices cool.
- support diverse applications.
- makes the working process easier.
Does Server Installation Require Special Knowledge?
Often, server rack installation doesn’t cause any difficulty or problem. Furniture pieces are supplied fully assembled and ready to accommodate IT and A/V equipment. No special tools are required to mount it; designs are compatible and ergonomic. Server rack installation takes little time and doesn’t require special skills or knowledge.
A Guide to Buying a Server Rack
However, before installation, you should pick the appropriate model. A more crucial and complicated issue is how to buy the server rack that fit the server. Let’s make a guide to guarantee to pick the best possible model for your purpose.
Decide on the hardware accommodated in the rack
Before you get down to picking the server rack, you should clearly understand what type of equipment and how many of it will be stored inside the rack. Make a list of all devices.
Calculate the required dimensions
All racks are produced in standardized dimensions. For measuring the rack’s height, units (= 1,75 inches) are used. Models have different depths and widths, but panel sizes are generally the same from one manufacturer to another. This is the main point, since if calculations are wrong, your system will break down quickly due to improper functioning conditions.
You should measure devices, add their dimensions to find out the required space to allocate all equipment. Note that devices should be placed loosely. In no case should you place them tightly. This is done for several reasons. Foresee system expansion and leave extra space for adding new components. Usually, 10% of the required space is added to the final size. Ensure enough space between devices to avoid overheating and provide sufficient air circulation. Leave space for cable routing.
Think about functional requirements and aesthetics
Consider AMP, plug, outlet, and redundancy requirements to determine what power distribution a cabinet requires.
Consider the issue of cooling
When the size is determined and an approximate layout is created, think about the way the in rack cooling system will be arranged. This is another crucial point since computing and telecommunication hardware tends to heat well during operation, which can easily lead to overheating. Thus, it is important to organize even heat distribution and provide devices with sufficient cooling due to active or passive ventilation systems. Pick the most suitable option.
Think about sound suppression
When picking models, consider the issue of noise reduction and productivity encouraging. Answer whether you need a product with a noise-reduction system or the issue of noise is not critical for you. Modern manufacturers provide models of floor server rack, in which noise is reduced due to the use of special materials for enclosure production.
Remember that the choice of server racks is not a quick and easy task. You should foresee too many issues. So, treat this matter seriously to pick the best fitting model that provides optimal efficiency for your functioning unit. Hope this server rack buying guide helps you in selecting the right one that meets all your requirements and enhances the performance and safety of your servers.