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To help distinguish a rack from a cabinet, consider the rack as the two- or four-post framework to which the IT equipment is secured; either directly or by way of rack rails. The perceived drawbacks with open frame racks illustrates the current trend for enclosed cabinets; that easy access raises security fears due to their susceptibility to damage, either accidental or malicious; that production equipment is exposed to contaminants, dirt and debris; and that exposed cables and cable managers, if poorly maintained, lead to poor aesthetics.

For the full article on which this summary is based, see Rack versus Cabinet: Which is Right for You? at Anixter's website.
 

Rack standards

  • Rack enclosures have vendor neutral mounting rails. They are fully adjustable and compatible with all compliant 19” equipment. See Vertiv rack details for further information.
     
  • Access points for power and data pathways are at the top of the cabinets.
     
  • Blanking panels will be installed in any unused rack space to minimize cold/hot air mixing.
     
  • Brushed blanking panels are available for instances requiring front-to-back cable runs:

    blanking panels
     

  • Horizontal cable management bars are available:

    cable management bars
            

  • Patch cabling is to be contained within each cabinet.
    • Structured fibre cabling is presented within each of the racks
    • Structured Ethernet cabling can be supplied upon request
  • No superfluous items are to be left inside cabinets including, but not limited to:
    • Keyboards
    • Monitors
    • Documents
    • Post-It notes
    • Packaging
    • Fibre Optic cable terminator protectors
    • Tie wraps
       

Rack dimensions

  • WCDC:
    • Data Hall 3 - Knurr Racks
      • External dimensions: Width 800mm x Depth 1200mm
      • The space between the front and rear rack strut is 720mm
      • The space between the cabinet edge and the front rack strut is 100mm
      • The space behind the rear rack strut and the cabinet edge is 310mm
      • 47U
    • If the gap is to be extended, to accommodate deeper devices, bear in mind that prescribed cable bend radii need be observed, and that vertical power strips need to be accommodated; these concerns will reduce the theoretical maximum to which the rack depth could be extended.
  • Soulsby Building:
    • SBY-Ax - Rittal Racks
      • The space between the front and rear rack strut is 740mm
      • Scope to extend at front up to 400mm; assuming rack mounted power strips are installed, plus possible loss of vertical cable management tray.
    • SBY-Ex - Unknown brand
      • The space between the front and rear rack strut is 740mm
      • There is no scope to alter the position of the rack struts