Server Racks And Cabinets - Depth Measurements Explained

Typically, equipment in standalone racks requires more space than equipment that can be mounted in a wall mount cabinet

. Mountable equipment is a standard 19 inch width to fit the standard cabinet or rack. But there are other measurements to consider, and an important one is depth. Total depth, max usable depth, max mountable depth and max distance between rails all need to be reviewed and might be confusing.

When buying a standard 19 inch (width between rails) cabinet or rack for the purpose of mounting your server, network equipment or any other 19 inch mountable equipment, one of the first things that you should check is the physical dimensions of the equipment that you would like to mount in the rack or cabinet. The technical specifications of the rack or cabinet will include a lot of information such as cable entry points, access points and maximum load capacity, among other information. You also need to explore the dimensions of the cabinet or rack you are looking at to make sure that it can accommodate your equipment.

Checking the needed mountable height is fairly easy. There are two points to consider with regards to the cabinet or rack height. First, consider allowing some vertical space between one piece of equipment to another, especially in cases where the mountable equipment generates heat. Second, decide whether you plan to mount more equipment in the future. If you plan to add more equipment, you might want to consider a taller rack or cabinet.

Checking the cabinet or rack depth is a bit trickier, as some buyers are not aware of the need to consider all depth aspects and as a result, may purchase racks or cabinets that fail to meet their needs. Besides the physical depth of the mountable equipment, it is necessary to allow some extra space in front of and behind the equipment if the equipment requires a cable hook-up such as network cables or power cables, as well as for the purpose of providing maintenance to equipment when needed.

Once you have calculated the actual depth needed for your equipment, review the technical specifications of the rack or cabinet you intend to buy and look for the depth information. The rack or cabinet depth information should include several different types of depths:

1.Total Depth - The total depth includes the distance between the front and the back of the rack or cabinet, including the thickness of the doors.

2.Maximum Usable Depth - The maximum usable depth includes the inside distance between the front and back doors or panels excluding the thickness of the door or any other obstructions inside the rack or cabinet, such as reinforcement beams or other structural elements.

3.Maximum Distance Between Rails - The maximum distance between rails refers to a rack or cabinet that contains four rails: Two rails in the front and two rails at the rear. Although the width between the rails is a standard 19 inches, the distance between the two front rails to the two rear rails is usually adjustable. The maximum distance between rails represents the distance between the front and rear rails when they are adjusted to the furthest possible setting.

4.Maximum Mountable Depth - In a small rack or cabinet, when only two mounting rails are available, the maximum mountable depth is the equivalent to the depth inside the cabinet with the rails at their furthest setting (closest to the front door).

Reviewing these metrics will help you decide if the rack or cabinet you are considering will accommodate your equipment needs. Doing the research up front will save you from the aggravation of dealing with a rack or cabinet that is not the proper size to hold your equipment.

by: Duncan Imhoff

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