ELWhat size rack do you need
What size rack you need: how to work out the height in U, which depth suits your equipment and why the cabinet's weight limit matters.
Height
Rack height is measured in Us. Each U is 1.75 inches or 44.45mm. For example, a 42U cabinet has an internal height of 42x1.75 = 73.5 inches / 1866.9 mm. A rack server or a rack UPS usually takes up 2U or more. Make sure you accurately calculate the height of the equipment to be housed, as well as the height available for equipment that may be added later.
Depth
Choose the depth of the cabinet (rack) according to the equipment it will house.
Floor-Standing Rack
Typical equipment depths.
| Rack | Depth (mm) | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|
| Shallow | 690 | A/V equipment, limited space |
| Mid-depth | 790 | Limited space |
| Standard | 940 | Servers |
| Deep | 1070 | Extra cabling, better airflow |
Wall-Mount Rack
Typical equipment depths.
| Rack | Depth (mm) | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|
| Shallow | < 410 | Patch panels |
| Mid-depth | 410 - 610 | Switches |
| Standard | 611 - 810 | UPS |
| Deep | > 810 | Servers |
Equipment weight
Cabinets (racks) can hold equipment up to a weight limit. Make sure the total weight of your equipment does not exceed the cabinet's permitted weight limit.
Learn more about the special features of racks here.
