Many data centers historically didn’t put much more thought into deployment of server racks beyond basic functionality and the upfront costs of the rack itself . when compared to a data centers complex mechanical, electronic al , and technical systems , a server rack is low on the totem pole of strategic commodities .

But this perception is belied by a few simple facts. Server racks house millions of dollars worth of hardware, safeguarding all processed data, transaction, and intellectual property they are the definition of “physical” Infrastructure –welded steel that serves as your enterprises last line of physical security. Finally, and most importantly, no cooling approach can exist without taking the server rack into account.

SERVER RACK COOLING
Rack Cooling Solution

The only ASHRAE temperature standard at the equipment inlet-the front door of the rack. While the cooling process does not necessarily start there, nowhere is it more important. IT professionals, when considering a rack manufacturer and product, need to understand how that product contributes to productive cooling.

HOT AISLE / COLD AISLE CONTAINMENT WEBINAR REPLAY SERVER RACK CONSIDERATIONS 
 

Space utilization, flexibility, and lead-time are also important rack talking points. The following recommendations speak to these points.

INSTALL THE MAXIMUM FOOTPRINT POSSIBLE
 

Servers continually get smaller and more powerful. Meanwhile, the support requirements at the rack level continue to increase more power circuits, larger whips, more cables to manage. Installing the maximum practical footprint, in terms of width and depth, provides the most flexibility in the future for ever-changing hardware requirements.

The rack footprint, of course, must be weighed alongside real estate policies and costs. Data center floor space is expensive, and larger cabinets will consume more of it.