19" Data Rack

What is a 19" Data Rack for?

A 19-inch rack is a standardized frame or enclosure for mounting multiple equipment modules. Each module has a front panel that is 19 inches (482.6 mm) wide, including edges or ears that protrude on each side which permit the module to be fastened to the rack frame with screws. 19-inch racks are often used to house professional audio and video equipment, including amplifiers, effects units, interfaces, headphone amplifiers, and even tiny scale audio mixers. They are also widely used for computer server equipment, allowing for dense hardware configurations without occupying excessive floorspace or requiring shelving. A third common use for rack-mounted equipment is industrial power, control, and automation hardware. Computer servers designed for rack-mounting can include a number of extra features to make the server easy to use in the rack:

The server itself might have locking pins on the sides that just drop into slots on the extended rail assembly, in a manner similar to a removable kitchen drawer. This permits a very easy server installation and removal since there is no need for the server to be held in midair while someone fastens each rail to the sides of the server with screws.
Some manufacturers of rack-mount hardware include a folding cable tray behind the server, so that the cables are held into a neat and tidy folded channel when inside the rack, but can unfold out into a long strip when pulled out of the rack, allowing the server to continue to be plugged in and operating normally even while fully extended and hanging in midair in front of the rack. This piece of equipment thus simplifies maintenance, but at the cost of providing a restriction to airflow. (ConnectZone offers rack mounted Cable Management tools for this very set up)
A handle may be provided at the rear of the server rails, to help pull or push the server without having to pull on the cables.

Four-and two-post racks

Racks are available with either four or two vertical posts. Four-post racks allow for mounting rails to support the equipment at the front and rear. These racks may be open in construction (similar to the traditional open-style two-post racks), or may be enclosed by front and/or rear doors, side panels, or tops.Two-post racks provide just two vertical posts; a piece of equipment can be mounted either via its front panel holes, or close to its center of gravity (to minimize load on its front panel), depending on the design of the rack. Two-post racks are most often used for telecommunication installations.

Specifications

The formal standards for a 19-inch (482.6 mm) rack are available from the following:

Electronic Industries Alliance EIA-310-D, Cabinets, Racks, Panels, and Associated Equipment, dated September 1992. (Latest Standard Now REV E 1996)
Consumer Electronics Association CEA-310-E design requirements for Cabinets, Panels, Racks and Subracks., dated December 14, 2005
International Electrotechnical Commission Multiple documents in available in French and English versions.
- IEC 60297 Mechanical structures for electronic equipment - Dimensions of mechanical structures of the 482,6 mm (19 in) series
  - IEC 60297-1 Replaced by IEC 60297-3-100
  - IEC 60297-2 Replaced by IEC 60297-3-100
  - IEC 60297-3-100 Part 3-100: Basic dimensions of front panels, subracks, chassis, racks and cabinets
  - IEC 60297-3-101 Part 3-101: Subracks and associated plug-in units
  - IEC 60297-3-102 Part 3-102: Injector/extractor handle
  - IEC 60297-3-102 Part 3-103: Keying and alignment pin
  - IEC 60297-3-104 Part 3-104: Connector dependent interface dimensions of subracks and plug-in units
  - IEC 60297-3-105 Part 3-105: Dimensions and design aspects for 1U chassis
  - IEC 60297-4 Replaced by IEC 60297-3-102
  - IEC 60297-5 Multiple documents, -100, 101, 102, ... 107, replaced by IEC 60297-3-101
Deutsches Institut für Normung DIN 41494 - Multiple documents in German but some documents are available in English.
- DIN 41494 Equipment practices for electronic equipment; mechanical structures of the 482,6 mm (19 inch) series
  - DIN 41494-7 Dimensions of cabinets and suites of racks.
  - DIN 41494-8 Components on front panels; mounting conditions, dimensions
  - DIN IEC 60297-3-100 (see above in IEC section)

Where does Cisco buy cables?

Where To Buy

ConnectZone is a direct supplier of 19" Data Racks (as well as data shelves, cable management, and rackmount kits), located just North of Seattle it's a quick ship to anywhere on the West coast, and they also ship worldwide.