Overview

This document will provide information pertaining to the Electronic Industry Alliance
(EIA) 310-D standard for Server Racks and Cabinets. The three major server
manufacturers: Dell, HP, and IBM provide hardware that is compatible with Server
Racks that meet the EIA-310-D standard. However there are Server Racks that meet the
EIA-310-D standard but are not compatible with Dell, HP, and IBM hardware. This
document will explain what the EIA defines as a standard 19” Server Rack as well as the
variations in Server Rack manufacturing that lead to installation issues. The methods
used by the three major computer manufacturers; Dell, HP, and IBM to install their
electronics varies by manufacturer as well as server model and can cause significant
installation issues. Where possible, off the shelf solutions will be provided to most
common installation issues and custom solutions for atypical installations.

Content Page
Introduction 4
EIA Standard Rack Dimensions 4
Server Rack Upright Shapes 7
Dell Rail Kits 10
HP Rail Kits 11
IBM Rail Kits 12
Cable Management 13
Dell Cable Management 15
HP Cable Management 15
IBM Cable Management 17
RackSolutions Cable Management 17
Adapter Brackets 18
Fixed rails 19
Rack Shelves 20
Server Racks 21
Rack Cabinets 21
Open Frame Server Rack 22
Portable Server Rack 23
Transport Rack 24
Wallmount Rack 25
Wallmount Brackets 26
Relay Racks 27
Relay Rack Conversion Kits 28
Relay Rack Shelves 29
Conclusion 30

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 List of Figures Page
1 Mounting Flange Dimension of Server Rack 5
2 Center to Center Hole Dimension of Server Rack 5
3 Outside Dimension of Server Rack 6
4 Hole Spacing of Server Rack 7
5 Hole Dimensions of Server Rack 7
6 L Shaped Server Rack Upright 8
7 J Shaped Server Rack Upright 8
8 Question Mark Shaped Server Rack Upright 9
9 C Shaped Server Rack Upright 10
10 Dell PE2950 Rail Kit 11
11 HP DL380G4 Quick Rail 12
12 IBM X345 Rail Kit 13
13 The Cable Jungle 14
14 Dell Cable Management Assembly 15
15 HP Cable Management Assembly 16
16 HP Cable Management Assembly Top View 16
17 RackSolutions Cable Management Assembly 17
18 RackSolutions Cable Management Assembly Top View 18
19 2U Adapter Bracket Kit 18
20 Adapter Brackets installed in a shallow rack 19
21 Adapter Brackets installed in a deep rack 19
22 3U Fixed Rail 20
23 Sliding Rack Shelf 21
24 Rack Cabinet 22
25 Open Frame Server Rack 23
26 Portable Server Rack 24
27 Transport Rack 25
28 Wallmount Rack 26
29 Wallmount Brackets 27
30 Relay Rack 28
31 Relay Rack Conversion Kit 29
32 Relay Rack Shelf – Cantilever Design 29
33 Relay Rack Shelf – Centermount Design 30

Terminology & Acronyms

2 Post Rack A rack with 2 rack uprights
4 Post Rack A rack with 4 rack uprights
Big 3 Dell, HP, and IBM
CMA Cable Management Assembly
Enclosed Racks A rack that has doors, side panels, and a top.
EIA Electronic Industry Alliance
Front Space The space from the front door of the cabinet to the front of the
server.

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Mounting Flange The surface of the slide rail assembly that attaches the slide rail to
the rack upright. It also refers to the surface of the rack that the
slide rail mounts to.
OEM Original Equipment Manufacturer
Open Frame Rack A rack that does not have doors or side panels.
PDU Power Distribution Unit
Rack Upright The structural corner piece of the rack.
Rear Space The space from the rear door of the cabinet to the rear of the
server
RU Rack Unit – 1.75”
Zero U Space Typically the space between the internal rack frame and the side
panels.

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Introduction
The EIA has developed a standard set of dimensions and features that the Server Rack
Manufacturers and the Electronic Manufacturers follow. This standard defines a large set
of dimensions and features but there are areas where variations can occur. This variation
can cause installation issues with the Big 3; Dell, HP, and IBM hardware. The current
trend in rackmount servers is to occupy as little space as possible in the rack while still
packing as much electronics as possible into the chassis. This is impossible to do without
extending the length of the chassis. The trend therefore is to make a server as short as
possible but very deep. The most common issues that prevent a rackmount server from
being properly installed are: The slide rail kit’s installation range is not within the
installation range of the server rack. The second most common issue is the frame of the
server rack is causing an obstruction with the slide rail kit that prevents it from being
properly installed. These two common issues will prevent the installation of rackmount
equipment although both the electronics as well as the server rack meet the EIA-310-D
standards.

EIA Standard Rack Dimensions

The mounting flange is where the rail kits attach and provide structural support for the
servers and electronics. The mounting flange is located at the corners of the server rack.
In an open frame rack the mounting flange can be a structural member of the frame. In a
fully enclosed rack the mounting flange can be part of an internal sub-frame assembly
and can be fully adjustable. The EIA has set three critical dimensions for the mounting
flange. The standard 19” server rack is measured from the outside edge of the mounting
flanges (Figure 1). This dimension is not the physical width of the server rack, which can
have significant variation in width, but the width of the mounting flange.

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Figure 1. Mounting Flange Dimension of Server Rack.

The center to center hole dimension is the same regardless of whether the server rack has
square or round holes (Figure 2). This dimension does not change regardless of whether
the server rack is of the 2 Post variety.

Figure 2. Center to Center Hole Dimension of Server Rack.

Rackmount equipment designed to be installed into 19” standard racks cannot exceed
17.717” in overall width or the equipment will not fit through the opening of the server
rack (Figure 3). Rackmount equipment that is designed to slide out of the rack on
telescopic slide rails must also allow for the slide rail assembly to protrude out of the rack
as well. Some manufacturers such as HP and IBM have their slide rail assemblies wrap
around to the front of the mounting flange. Dell however uses the rear surface of the
mounting flange to attach their slide rail kits. In order to maximize the width of their

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server chassis some manufacturers design a notch into the sides of their server chassis to
allow for the slide rail assemblies.

Figure 3. Inside dimension of Server Rack.

The hole spacing in the mounting flange is spaced in groups of three. This three hole
group is defined as a Rack Unit (RU). The Big 3 manufacture their rackmount product
lines based upon how many RUs that the equipment occupies in the server rack. The
three hole group spacing is measured from center hole to center hole and does not vary
regardless of whether the server rack has square or round mounting holes (Figure 4).
This uneven hole spacing can cause installation issues if the installer does not pay close
attention as to where the slide rail assemblies are being installed. The most common
problem is that the slide rail assembly hooks or holes do not line up with the holes in the
server rack. This is typically due to the slide rail assemblies being misaligned with the
hole pattern or otherwise referred to as “being off a U”.

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Figure 4. Hole Spacing of Server Rack

The mounting holes in a square hole rack are 0.375” square. The hole diameter in a
round hole rack is 0.28” in diameter if the hole is not threaded (Figure 5). The square
hole rack is designed to accept square hooks on the mounting flange of the slide rail
assemblies. This provides a tool-less installation, reducing the amount of time required
to install the servers and electronics into the server rack. The EIA standard does not
define whether the round hole rack is tapped or a simple through hole. The three most
common size threads for a tapped hole are: 10-32, 12-24, and M6.

Figure 5. Hole dimensions of Server Rack

Server Rack Upright Shapes

The EIA does not define a standard for the shape of the server rack upright. Therefore
there are variations determined by the manufacturer of a given server rack. These
variations in server rack upright shapes are used for mounting a variety of different types
of equipment such as PDUs. There are four common shapes that are most widely used.
The L shaped upright is the simplest (Figure 6). This shape is typically found in fully
enclosed server rack where the upright itself does not provide any structural support for
the server rack itself but is part of a sub-frame assembly. The L shaped upright provides
the most open profile for the slide rail assemblies. Rarely will this type of server rack
upright cause any type of obstruction.

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Figure 6. L shaped Server Rack upright

The J shaped server rack upright is similar to the L shaped upright however it has one
extra bend (Figure 7). This bend typically has the same mounting surface as the front and
is used for mounting accessory equipment such as Power Distribution Units (PDU). This
mounting surface is commonly referred to as the Zero U Space. The J shaped upright is
used in both open frame server racks as well as fully enclosed server racks. The extra
bend strengthens the upright so it can be used as a structural member of the rack itself.
The extra bend can also cause an obstruction with slide rail mechanisms and assemblies
in some cases.

Figure 7. J Shaped Server Rack Upright

The question mark shaped server rack upright is similar to the J shaped upright however
it has two extra bends (Figure 8). As with the J shaped upright this surface typically has
the same mounting as the front and is used for mounting accessory equipment such as
PDUs. It is also referred to as the Zero U Space. The difference with the question mark

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shaped upright is that its shape will orient accessory equipment towards the outside of the
rack rather than toward the inside of the rack. The question mark shaped upright is used
in both open frame server racks as well as fully enclosed server racks. The extra bend
strengthens the upright so it can be used as a structural member of the rack itself. The
extra bends can also cause an obstruction with slide rail mechanisms and assemblies in
some cases. There are some manufactures such as Sun MicroSystems that use this extra
bend as an attachment point for some of their servers and electronics.

Figure 8. Question mark shaped Server Rack upright

The C shaped server rack upright is similar to the J shaped upright however the rear bend
is even with the front bend (Figure 9). The C shaped upright causes more obstructions
than any other upright shape. The back bend on this upright will likely cause an
obstruction with most slide rail assemblies. This type of server rack is usually the result
of using a pair of 2 post relay racks together in an attempt to create an economical 4 post
server rack. This type of server rack should be avoided if possible.

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Figure 9. C Shaped Server Rack Upright

Dell Rail Kits

Dell is continually trying to improve the rail kits used to install its product line. These
improvements are typically done to reduce the installation time required to install the
servers and make the installation as easy as possible. The Dell rail kits require an
installation depth of about 29”. There is some adjustment in the mounting depth of the
rail kit from about 27.5” to 30.5” depending of the server model. This limited adjustment
range can make the Dell rail kit incompatible with server racks that have an installation
depth outside of this range. The older generation Dell rail kits came in two different
models, the Rapid Rail and the Versa Rail. The Rapid Rail is compatible with square
holed racks; the Versa Rail is compatible with round non-threaded holed racks. The
Rapid Rail has a small mechanism that locks the Rapid Rail to the mounting surface of
the rack. In some server racks the shape of the mounting upright could cause an
obstruction with this mechanism and prevent the rail kit from being installed. The new
style rail kit has combined both the Rapid Rail and the Versa Rail into a single rail kit.
This is accomplished by a large rotating assembly that provides both a square hook for
square holed racks as well as threaded holes for racks that have round non-threaded holes
(Figure 10). This new combination rail kit requires the server rack to have a mounting
upright with an open profile or an obstruction will likely occur. The Cable Management
Assembly (CMA) on the Dell rail kits has evolved from a simple hinged arm to a very
complicated hinged basket assembly. This basket assembly can add 5” to the overall
installation depth of the rail kit. This basket assembly makes cable management very
easy if the server rack provides the rear space needed. The front of the Dell servers has a
bezel that has several functions. This bezel is about 2” in depth added to the front of the
server. There is an additional 1” of airspace required for proper cooling. This makes the
overall mounting depth of most Dell servers around 38”. This depth requirement is
outside the mounting depth range of numerous fully enclosed rack cabinets.

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Figure 10. Dell PE2950 Rail Kit

HP Rail Kits
HP is continually trying to improve the rail kits used to install its product line. The first
HP rail kits were a fixed length and would only install into server racks that met that
depth. HP has since made significant improvements in their rail kit design making them
very versatile. Where other manufacturers have a very limited adjustment range on their
rail kits, HP has gone to adjustment extremes. Some of the new HP rail kits have an
adjustment range from 22.25” to 37.75”. This is 15.5” of adjustment. There are very few
server racks manufactured that are not within this installation depth range. HP uses a
clever method of attaching some of their new rail kits to square or round holed racks.
The mounting flange has a set of cones that allow it to mount into square holed racks
(Figure 11). When the cones are removed the rails are compatible with round holed
racks. The rail kits are then held in place by a small piece of spring steel. This is a very
simple and elegant design. There are very few mechanisms or assemblies that could
cause an obstruction with the frame of the server rack. This has not always been the case
with HP. Aside from the fixed length rail kit HP has made some other rail kits that were

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very difficult to install. In an effort to simplify the rail kit installation HP had large
levers, arms, and springs running the entire length of the rail kit. These mechanisms and
assembles had the potential of causing numerous obstructions with the frame of the
server rack. HP in their effort to make a versatile CMA has created an overly
complicated design that is difficult to install, specifically in their larger class of servers.
These CMA assemblies are relatively shallow in depth compared to other manufacturer’s
and so the rear space required is not as critical of an issue as with other manufacturer’s.

Figure 11. HP DL380G4 Quick rail

IBM Rail Kits

IBM is slower to evolve its rail kit design compared to the other manufacturers. This has
the advantage of allowing rail kits to be compatible with multiple generations of IBM
servers. The most unique feature of the IBM rail kit is the method of attachment to the
rack. IBM uses a spring loaded mechanism with small bullet shaped pegs (Figure 12).

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The Bullet Peg assembly is technically compatible with square holed server racks,
however until the server is installed the rail kits appear to be loose. IBM is one of the
few manufacturers that use a round non-threaded holed rack. The other manufacturers
use a square holed rack. The IBM Bullet Peg requires the server rack to have an open
profile mounting upright or there will very likely be an obstruction that prevents the
proper installation of the rail kit. The IBM rail kits will install into a threaded hole rack if
the bullet pegs are not used. Some of the new IBM rail kits have an installation depth
range from 18” to 34.5”. This is a full 16.5” of adjustment. Very few server racks are
outside this installation depth range making the IBM rail kits very versatile. The CMA
on the IBM rail kits are a very simple design that does not take up much of the rear space
in the rack. The CMA is very functional and easy to install.

Figure 12. IBM X345 Rail Kit

Cable Management
Most IT Professionals have seen or experienced a trek through a Cable Jungle (Figure
13). This environment is next to impossible to manage and maintain. The problem
continues to get worse until steps are taken to correct the problem. It is imperative to
properly dress out the cables on the back of a server regardless of the number of servers.

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Whether there is a single server in a small office or hundreds of servers in a large
datacenter cable management is critical for the proper operation of the equipment.
Installing and properly dressing out the cables on one server is a labor intensive and time
consuming job. Multiply this task by hundreds of servers and it can require a
professional team of installers to successfully install the equipment. The Big 3 server
manufactures therefore have tried at great lengths to make their equipment as quick and
as easy as possible to install. In this effort there have been improvements in the design of
the installation kits that make a quick and easy installation possible. However in these
improved designs there are issues that prevent the proper installation of the equipment in
some types of server racks even though these server racks meet all EIA-310-D standards.
The CMA discussed is only a single sample of an entire line of products. In most cases
the manufactures use a similar design for all their assemblies. The products discussed in
the following sections are typically the most problematic.

Figure 13. The Cable Jungle

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Dell Cable Management
The Dell cable management system has evolved from a very simple arm that secured the
cables with Velcro strips to a complicated basket assembly that only requires the installer
to route the cables through the basket and latch the top (Figure 14). It’s very clean, very
simple, and very deep. This depth issue is the most common problem that prevents the
use of Dell’s cable management. This CMA can add an additional 5” of space at the rear
of the server that some server racks cannot provide so it’s simply not used and the cables
are dressed out using an alternate method or left to hang.

Figure 14. Dell Cable Management Assembly

HP Cable Management
The HP slide rail kit and CMA are at opposite ends of Engineering Design Methods. The
HP slide rail kit is simple, elegant, and sets the standard for other manufactures to follow.
The HP CMA for the larger servers is complicated, over-engineered, and difficult to
install (Figure 15). HP attempted to design a CMA that would install on either side of the
server, which is a good idea but a bad design. The problem is the method that HP uses to
attach the CMA to the slide rail kit requires multiple pieces that must be assembled
together in a complex hinge. Once it’s installed it works very well, but it requires a
moderate degree of mechanical aptitude as well as careful reading of the instructions.

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Figure 15. HP Cable Management Assembly

The Cable Management Arm itself is a very innovative design. It’s taller than other
Manufactures Cable Management Arms, but not nearly as deep (Figure 16). The Cable
Management Arm will rarely cause a problem with rear door of most server racks. The
cables are routed through a set of wire hangers and can be secured with standard methods
such as: nylon tie straps or Velcro tape.

Figure 16. HP Cable Management Assembly Top View

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IBM Cable Management
The IBM CMA is simple in their design and function. IBM uses a basket design similar
to Dell however the cables are secured with Velcro straps. In some of the IBM slide rail
kits, the attachment of the assembly to the slide rail kit uses a simple clevis pin and hinge.
The CMA is not as deep as other manufacturers but could still cause some installation
issues with the rear door on some shallow server racks.

RackSolutions Cable Management

RackSolutions provides a generic CMA that can be attached to most types of equipment
by the use of an industrial adhesive or a nylon lanyard (Figure 17). One of the innovative
features of this product is the adjustment in depth. This Cable Management Arm is
compatible with equipment that requires slide rail extension from 28.5” to 33”. The
cables are secured to the arm with standard methods such as: nylon zip ties or Velcro
tape.

Figure 17. RackSolutions Cable Management Assembly

One of the design requirements of the CMA was to take up as little space as physically
possible at the rear of the Server Rack. This CMA will only occupy 0.75” of rear space
(Figure 18). This product is manufactured from solid steel and can be used in the most
rugged and demanding environments. This product was originally designed to be
installed in shock isolated transport cases.

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Figure 18. RackSolutions Cable Management Assembly Top View

Adapter Brackets
The EIA does not specify the depth of a server rack. This allows for a wide range of
installation depths that can cause issues with some servers and electronics. Dell server
racks will be set at the manufacturer to 28.875”, HP and IBM server racks will be set at
29.125”. This is only a 0.25” difference between the Big 3 manufacturers. This small
difference in installation depth does not cause an issue if the Big 3’s equipment is being
installed into each other’s racks. The installation issues arise when the installation depth
of the server rack is outside the adjustment range of the slide rail kit. The product that
will solve this installation issue uses a set of adapter brackets (Figure 19).

Figure 19. 2U Adapter Bracket Kit

Adapter brackets will extend or reduce the installation depth of the server rack to meet
the installation depth range of the slide rail kits (Figures 20, 21). The adapter brackets
also serve an additional function by providing a method to bypass an obstruction caused
by the server rack upright shape. The current trend in slide rail technology is being
compatible with both square and round hole server racks. This has not always been the
case. Slide Rail Kits that have hooks on the mounting flange can only be installed into a

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square hole server rack. Adapter kits will convert a round hole into a square hole and
provide a method of attachment for slide rail kits that have hooks on the mounting flange.

Figure 20. Adapter brackets installed in a shallow rack.

Figure 21. Adapter brackets installed in a deep rack.

Fixed Rails
Telescopic sliding rail kits provide the functionality of a drawer, more or less. The server
can be pulled out of the rack and serviced without disconnecting all the cables. This
functionality is very useful, however sometimes the slide rails just won’t fit in the rack.
In these circumstances the product that will provide a solution is a fixed rail (Figure 22).
A fixed rail is a long L shaped bracket that supports the edge of the equipment. The fixed
rail is a Catch-All type of product, if nothing else will work this product will provide the
solution. The fixed rail has a cabling crossbar in the rear to dress out any cables present.
The fixed rail requires the servers and equipment to be fully removed from the server
rack for service. The Big 3 are constantly evolving their sliding rail kits by improving on
existing designs. This can prevent slide rail kits from being backwards compatible with

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previous generation servers and equipment. The fixed rail is compatible with most
generation servers and equipment.

Figure 22. 3U Fixed Rail

Rack Shelves
There is some equipment like tower chassis server that was never designed to be installed
in a server rack. In these circumstances a rack shelf is a viable solution to the problem
(Figure 23). There are two requirements that must be known before purchasing a rack
shelf. The weight of the equipment must be known in order to select the rack shelf with
the proper weight capacity. The second requirement is whether the equipment needs to
slide out of the server rack as if it were on telescopic slide rails. There are two types of
rack shelves; sliding and fixed. The sliding rack shelves will provide the same feature
that telescopic slide rail kits provide. The servers and electronics can slide out like a
drawer from the server rack for service. All the rack shelves come with complete CMA
on the rear. A fixed rack shelf does not slide out of the server rack. There are two
advantages that a fixed rack shelf has over a sliding rack shelf. The fixed rack shelf is
more economical due to the lack of telescopic slide rails. The fixed rack Shelf can
support more weight than a sliding rack shelf. The heavy duty fixed rack shelf can easily
support 500lbs of equipment. The highest weight capacity of a sliding rack shelf is only
235lbs.

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Figure 23. Sliding Rack Shelf

Server Racks
Server Racks allow for the installation of rackmount server's and electronic equipment.
The rackmount cabinets must meet the EIA standards for mounting rackmount server's
and electronic equipment. This standard specifies that the opening of the rack mount
cabinet will be 17.75" wide with a center to center hole spacing of 18.3". The mounting
holes in the rack cabinet are spaced in groups of three with 0.5" - 0.625" - 0.625" - 0.5"
increments. This three group spacing is referred to as a Rack Unit which is 1.75". The
older style rackmount cabinets had a round hole. Typically the holes were tapped with a
12-24 or 10-32 thread. Older IBM rack mount cabinets had round non-tapped holes and
to be IBM compatible numerous rack mount cabinet manufacturers produced these types
of rack cabinets. The rackmount cabinets today have a 0.375" square hole. This square
hole allows for a tool-less installation and is more versatile than just a tapped threaded
hole. The square hole accommodates the Dell Rapid Rails which have a square hook.
The HP Quick Rails which have a self locking cone, and the IBM Bullet Pegs which use
a complicated spring mechanism for attachment. If a tapped hole is required in the rack
mount cabinet then cage nuts can be used to provide that means of attachment.

Rack Cabinets
There are three basic styles of rack cabinets: fully enclosed, open frame, and a relay
rack. Each of these rackmount cabinets has its advantages and disadvantages. The fully
enclosed rack mount cabinet is the most expensive of the three styles (Figure 24). This
rack cabinet typically has front and rear doors that are perforated or solid. The perforated
doors allow for proper ventilation of the electronics in the rackmount cabinet. The
current standard for ventilation is a minimum of 63% perforated on both the front and
rear doors of the rack mount cabinet. If the rack cabinet has a solid door then additional
equipment must be installed in the rack to provide adequate ventilation. The fully
enclosed rackmount cabinet provides the highest level of security for the equipment.
Typically the front and rear doors have a lock to prevent unauthorized access to the
equipment. The side panels of the rack mount cabinet can be easily removed in most

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models which allows access to cabling or power distribution units which are sometimes
installed in the Zero-U space in the sides of rack cabinets.

Figure 24. Rack Cabinet

Open Frame Server Rack

Open Frame Server Racks do not have doors or side panels (Figure 25). Environments
that require equipment to be secured will have to use other means when using an open
frame server rack. The benefits of using an open frame server rack are largely
economical. The cost is typically less than half the cost of a fully enclosed rackmount
cabinet. This server rack provides easy access to cabling or PDUs. Optimal ventilation
is achieved due to unrestricted airflow too and from the servers and electronics. The
server rack can be quickly assembled using only a 3/4" wrench. The server rack is
available in numerous sizes or can be manufactured to any reasonable size required. The
server rack can be coupled or joined together without any additional coupling kits. The
cable management on an open frame server rack is very simple. A CMA is included that

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provides an innovative and simple means of routing any type of cables. The optional
LAN and Power Assemblies provide the cleanest and most versatile cable management
solution available for any server rack.

Figure 25. Open Frame Server Rack

Portable Server Rack

There are some circumstances when a full size rack mount cabinet is not required or
physically will not fit in the space provided. The portable server rack provides 12U of
space that is completely compatible with Dell, HP, and IBM servers and equipment
(Figure 26). The portable server rack is loaded with features that a full size rack mount
cabinet has. The installation depth of the rack cabinet is adjustable from 19" to 29" in 1"
increments. This allows for a variety of equipment to be easily installed. Cable
Management is provided on the back of the server rack as well as underneath the rack.
This bottom cable management feature is very innovative and provides a clean and neat
appearance. The portable server rack was specifically designed to roll under most desks
and tables. The overall height of the portable server rack is only 25". Peripherals such as

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printers can be placed on top of the portable server rack for ease of use. Casters are a
standard feature of the portable server rack and support up to 540lbs of servers and
equipment.

Figure 26. Portable Server Rack

Transport Rack
If there is a requirement to transport servers and equipment then the transport rack
provides the ideal solution (Figure 27). The outer shell of the transport rack is
manufactured by SKB Cases. This outer shell is extremely tough and is unconditionally
guaranteed forever. There are no other manufacturer's that offer this type of warranty.
The internal frame of the transport rack is suspended with eight HM-245 elastomeric
shock isolators. The internal frame is a rugged aluminum assembly built to withstand the
loads of a transport environment. The transport rack provides a full 29" of installation
depth. The mounting surface has EIA standard square holes that are compatible with
tool-less rail kits from Dell, HP, and IBM. The removable doors have stainless steel
latches and are lockable. The optional 4" casters can quickly be removed with the push
of a button. The transport rack is available in two standard sizes: 6U and 8U. The
transport rack can be stacked on top of each other.

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Figure 27. Transport Rack

Wallmount Rack
When space is at a premium the wallmount rack provides the solution (Figure 28). The
wallmount rack is available in two different models and two different sizes. This
versatile rack can be installed vertically or horizontally. The wallmount rack can be
installed on any flat surface. Put the rack on the back of a door or under a desk, wherever
the equipment needs to be placed. The wallmount rack is completely compatible with
Dell, HP, and IBM servers and equipment. The installation depth is adjustable from 10"
to 30". Each wallmount rack comes standard with a cover that protects the equipment.
The secure wallmount rack has a lockable cover and the equipment is completely
enclosed. Available sizes are 1U and 2U for the standard wallmount rack and 2U for the
secure wallmount rack.

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Figure 28. Wallmount Rack

Wallmount Brackets
The wallmount brackets take a minimalist approach to rackmount installations. There are
three sizes available that provide EIA standard mounting for Dell, HP, and IBM servers
and equipment (Figure 29). Wallmount Brackets can be installed on any flat surface.
The servers and equipment can hang vertically on a wall or door. The versatile
wallmount brackets can be installed in pairs to provide a rear attachment point for the
equipment. This allows the equipment to be installed horizontally under a desk or table.
Patch Panels, Network Switches and Routers, and Powerstrips can be installed quickly
and easily without purchasing rack cabinets. The installation depth of the wallmount
brackets range from 0" to as far apart as you can install the rear wallmount brackets.
Rackmount Shelves can be installed with the wallmount brackets to provide installation
of non-rackmountable equipment where ever the equipment needs to be put. The
wallmount brackets support equipment ranging from 35lbs to 105lbs.

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Figure 29. Wallmount Brackets

Relay Racks
Relay Racks are the least expensive of the server racks. The relay racks only have two
uprights to support the equipment instead of the four uprights that other rackmount
cabinets have (Figure 30). Relay Racks must be bolted down to the floor or have some
type of structural support. Servers and electronics can be installed in a centermount or a
flushmount configuration in the relay racks. Most network and telephony equipment is
designed to be installed in a relay racks. The installation of servers however will require
the purchase of special rackmount installation kits or conversion kits. The cost of the
structural support and additional conversion kits should be considered when purchasing
relay racks. The added cost can make the use of relay racks more expensive than using a
fully enclosed rackmount cabinet. relay racks provide optimal ventilation due to
unrestricted airflow too and from the servers and electronics. The access to the
equipment and cabling is easy using relay racks. When purchasing relay racks an
important feature to look for is the manufacturing process. The higher quality relay racks

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are made using an extrusion process. This means that the aluminum upright is formed
and not bent into shape.

Figure 30. Relay Rack

Relay Rack Conversion Kits

Installing servers and electronics into relay racks requires the use of specialized 2 Post
slide rail kits. There are some manufactures that support this type of installation and
some that rely on products such as RackSolutions Relay Rack Conversion Kits to allow
their equipment to be properly installed in a 2 Post Relay Rack (Figure 31). These
conversion kits provide the corner attachments needed by 4 Post Slide Rail Kits. The use
of these conversion kits is limited to slide rail kits that do not have any additional
mechanisms or assemblies along the outside surface of the rail that would cause an
obstruction with the upright of the relay rack. Therefore these conversion kits are not
compatible with every type of slide rail kit. There is a flush mount conversion kits that is
available as well if the installation requires the equipment to be flushmounted to the relay
rack.

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Figure 31. Relay Rack Conversion kit

Relay Rack Shelves

The most economical shelving method available uses relay rack shelves. The basic shelf
installs on the front of the relay rack using a cantilever design (Figure 32). This type of
cantilever shelf will support shallow depth equipment as long as the equipment does not
exceed the depth of the shelf by a significant amount.

Figure 32. Relay Rack Shelf – Cantilever Design

The relay rack shelves are also available in a centermount design (Figure 33). This type
of shelf will support equipment that is too deep to be supported by the cantilever design.
Non-rackmountable equipment such as: tower chassis computers and small peripheral
devices will work well on the relay rack shelves. The use of relay rack shelves should be

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limited to these types of non-rackmountable equipment or in cases where no other
method has been found to be acceptable.

Figure 33. Relay Rack Shelf - Centermount Design

Conclusion
The Electronic Industry Alliance has established a set of dimensions for 19” server racks.
These standards are established so that equipment and rack manufacturers will produce
products that are compatible with each other. However this does not always happen. The
EIA cannot set dimensional standards for everything; therefore the allowable variation in
designs can cause significant installation problems. In most circumstances there is an
alternative solution available. This solution can be a set of brackets that allow the OEM
slide rail kit to be properly installed into the server rack or the solution can be a simple
shelf. The electronic manufactures are continually improving the design of their
installation kits to make them more versatile and easier to install. These improvements
cannot be tested on every type of rack available to ensure that the kits are compatible. It
is not realistic for the electronic manufactures to do this. The server rack manufactures
lag behind the electronic manufactures in improving the design of their products. This is
probably due to server racks being viewed as having a much longer life span than the
electronics that are installed in them. The EIA has no standard depth for server racks
therefore as rackmount servers get deeper the older server racks will be less likely able to
support the deeper equipment. There are numerous issues that must be considered when
purchasing a rack cabinet. The budget for the project is always at the top of the list.
Each of the different styles of rackmount cabinets has their unique advantages as well as

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disadvantages. Important factors that will help to determine what rack mount cabinet is
the best for a particular installation are: What type of equipment will be used and does the
manufacturer provide rackmount installation kits that are compatible with a given rack
cabinet? Will there be adequate cooling and power provided by the facility? Does the
equipment need to be secured in the rackmount cabinet? Does the facility have a raised
floor or overhead structure? RackSolutions has highly experienced staff that can help in
determining what type of rack cabinet will work best for a given environment.

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