The increasing popularity of the computer rack both in home and office IT setup has led to its availability in the market
. Though you can buy most any type you desire, you can save money by building your own computer rack. We have listed several DIY tips that can save you time and money.
Decide on the depth:
While most all racks come in a standard 19-inch EIA size, there is no standard for depth. Always keep this is mind when you are planning to design your computer rack at home. Measure your deepest hardware so you know how far you're your rear rackrails need to be.
Measure in rack units:
Use rack units (U) to measure the height of the computer rack that you are designing. This would help you to get the accurate size. A rack unit (U) equals 1.75 inches. For instance, a common full-size rack size is 42U which equals 73.5 inches. Rackmount hardware is sold as a (U) size as well. It is common to see a 1U or 2U designation for a specific piece of hardware. This is a shorthand method of adding to see how much room is left when you are planning.
Building your computer rack frame:
You can buy pre-punched rack rails or make them yourself. If you make them, it is important to use the correct hole patterns. The two most common are universal and EIA. Universal hole patters are 5/8, 5/8, repeated and EIA are 1 , repeated. Common thread sizes are 10/32 and 12/24. 11 gauge steel is suggested when making threaded holes.
Specific power requirements:
Before designing your computer rack, decide on the density of power that will be required. Depending on your hardware configuration, you can determine if a vertical or rackmount powerstrip is best.
These are important factors that should be taken into consideration while designing or making a computer rack at home. Keep yourself tuned in to more articles by this author to know about the other things that are to be kept in mind for designing racks for computers at home.