I need help building a 42U server rack and understanding chassis sizes equipment - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Lizzie_Jo_Computers_11
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2017, 08:29:38 pm
content: Mainly, if there is no good price ranges, helping me find an appropriate chassis for a 42U or 48U server rack, that is the main issue I am currently facing. I believe I posted a link to the 42U server rack. I think it would mainly have to do with the width of the rack, right? I need an E-ATX suitable chassis for a 19" width, 42U server rack, and a chassis suitable for a 26" width, 48U server rack, again for an E-ATX motherboard. I'm ignoring prices right now, and I'll probably be shopping online if anything.My other topic turned out to be more centered around the actual PC build, and though this isn't purely about electronics, it is an important part of my overall computer/server/music workstation.EDIT 1: There was a mistake in the title and description, I meant 48U, not 42U. Also, can someone help me figure out what kind of chassis will fit both this rack, and accommodate an ATX motherboard and large graphics card. I'm looking now, and I will be back in a little while.EDIT 2: I think the server rack size that I am looking for is 750mm/800mm x 1200mm, so I will start looking for a chassis to fit that and the computer.I've been looking for 48U sized server racks online, and maybe its because they are online, but they have had an over the top price tag of between $700-$1000. I don't remember this kind of thing being that expensive. In my last topic a few users told me I could find them a lot cheaper than that, so I was wondering if anyone could help me find somewhere nearby who sells them perhaps around $400?I'm looking for a 48U sized server rack/cabinet. That is about 7ft tall, and the depth sometimes varies, but it shouldn't make a big difference. It needs to have shelves, and if it is a cabinet enclosure, that is definitely a good bonus, but if it ups the price tag too high, then it isn't a must-have addition.Looking between the Philadelphia/New Jersey area would be the best place, as this is the absolute closest to my location, where they would have these kinds of stores?I am going to try and search more online and see if I can't find this myself, but someone else who may know better what to look out for, I would certainly appreciate. Thank you! ;- )

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2017, 04:54:36 pm
content: I think your only chance will be to find someone closing down shop and trying to sell off gear. There used to be a decent used market for racks and so forth in the area, but unless badly damaged the prices still weren't low. Plus a 48U rack is going to be less common than a 42U rack. I've been in places from the one I'm sitting at right now that has a single rack to places with full datacenters with multiple rows of racks and they'e ALL been 42U racks. I'm not sure I've ever seen a 48U in person now that I think about it.

author: Lizzie_Jo_Computers_11
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2017, 02:40:14 am
content: I've continued searching, and I believe you are right, I can't find a good price range, but I will just overlook that for now. In this case I only need to find suitable 42U/48U capable chassis' for E-ATX motherboards?I'll keep looking, but I'm confused on exactly the size I need, andwhat mounting equipment, and possibly additional shelves?

author: Lizzie_Jo_Computers_11
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2017, 06:51:39 am
content: Can I get any assistance with this...?I found this server rack...http://www.ebay.com/itm/42U-Open-Frame-Network-Server-Rack-1000MM-Deep-4-Post-1Pair-of-L-Rails-2-Shelf/151407178137?_trksid=p2045573.c100507.m3226&_trkparms=aid%3D555017%26algo%3DPL.CASSINI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20150817211758%26meid%3Dc8b2e44b11674e91ac68bbfb6989e010%26pid%3D100507%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26...and I found this server chassis?https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811148059&ignorebbr=1&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC-_-pla-_-Server+-+Chassis-_-N82E16811148059&gclid=CKzypveo7dECFZxLDQodhaMIGg&gclsrc=aw.dsI am trying to confirm that these two pieces will fit together appropriately, and also accommodate a regular (Non E-ATX) motherboard as well?If so, what additional equipment might I need to mount it? If I need additional rails (as I will be using those two shelves that come with the server rack), can someone point me in the right direction?I am also open to suggestions, and replacements for anything where I could do better if anything? Thank you so much eevblog community, you have been extremely helpful in solving my problems, and helping find the answers to my questions! ;- )

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2017, 07:57:01 am
content: Look at the pages for Hammond Manufacturing, and Bud Industries. They carry a wide range of racks and accessories.When you purchase a bare rack, it is just the two rails with structural members at the top and bottom. There is no "depth" because it is just the front rails. This is also called a "relay rack" and is the standard in telecom. The rack normally bolts to the floor so that it doesn't tip over, but there are other ways to keep it stable, like stabilizer legs. If you buy a cabinet, it has much more metal because it is a full chassis with front rails, rear rails, sides, usually front and rear doors, casters, vents, and cable trays. These are all removable and can be customized depending on requirements.The rack rails need to be compatible with the equipment you will mount to them. 19" wide is the industry standard, but some wider racks exist, usually 23". The mounting screws also must match the rack; if your equipment has captive screws this matters a great deal. The rails can be tapped for 10-32, 12-24, or M6 screws, or can have square slots to accept "cage nuts", which allow the screw type to be customized for every screw. A special tool is required to install cage nuts.The computer case itself can have rack ears (possibly a removable option) which mount to the rails, or else they must be put on rackmount shelves. Some shelves are retractable so equipment can move in and out as required. Shelves are always a separate purchase. I'm having trouble picturing any kind of "workstation" that requires 48U (!!): 12U to 24U would be more normal in a office, and a single computer is typically from 1U to 5U. 42U is the height often found in datacenters.Seehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19-inch_rack

author: onesixright
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2017, 08:10:59 am
content: @OP// I don really understand why you need to "scream"IMHO reading text (like this) is very uninviting to to read. If the font is to small, thereadercan crank-it-up

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2017, 08:11:16 am
content: Ask yourself if you really need 42U.A typical ATX style chassis will be 4U. You want two of those, and let's say another for a dedicated storage system (prebuilt or otherwise). That's 12U. Add a monster UPS, 6U. Now a switch, 1U. We're only at 19U.This then opens options like:http://www.ebay.com/itm/262637974617Beware that these, like the one you linked, are relatively flimsy. They rely on shelves and equipment rails to hold them together..Quote from: helius on February 02, 2017, 07:57:01 amYes, it's called a human hand. Seriously, they just pop in. Cage nuts are always preferable to tapped rails.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 02, 2017, 12:34:02 pm
content: I found one for my ham radio club that was fully enclosed with locking/removable sides and doors with the keys for the same price in almost perfect condition. This beast is heavy and was a bear to get it deployed to our repeater site. If you are in a time crunch, that's one thing, if not, keep looking. I found ours on CraigsList. I just checked our local CraigsList and found one with sides and 1 door for $250. You can get a better deal.

author: Lizzie_Jo_Computers_11
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2017, 06:29:35 pm
content: Firstly, thank you everyone, for your helpful replies.Helius:I was looking into relay server racks, I just thought that my equipment would probably tip it over. I will look into the retailer you suggested, however.onesixrightI'm not screaming...? O_0 I'm redirecting attention, in order for people to read what is "most important" in my post, giving them the opportunity to skip over the smaller (also less important text).Using different text sizes to redirect attention is actually a very common web designing method. What I did above isn't a perfect example, but I am a web designer, so things tend to come forward in my mind like that sometimes?Monkeh/Helius:Yes, I am absolutely sure, without a doubt. I might have forgot to type it up above, though, from my other topic I have explained, it isn't solely for just one computer, or only for compuuters at all. I will have at least two chassis' in the rack, and the shelves will be supporting musical equipment, like DACs/pre-amps/receivers, and routers/modems.Greywoolfe:Thank you for the information, I will check and see if I can find a good deal on craigslist! ;- )Also, if the one I posted is flimsy, how do I identify whether it is or isn't, for example?

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2017, 09:23:17 pm
content: Quote from: Lizzie_Jo_Computers_11 on February 02, 2017, 06:29:35 pmAll the cheap ones will be relying on bolted joints, many of them variable depth. This adds flex.The one you posted, specifically, has no top frame at all - it relies on the supplied shelves and rails to hold everything together.Are you able to collect a 7' tall rack which takes two or three people to lift?If you look on eBay there are currently some very nice looking 44U racks going for $300 in the Philly area. E: Also 42U, 45U, 48U, all on the same site.

author: onesixright
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2017, 09:35:51 pm
content: Quote from: Lizzie_Jo_Computers_11 on February 02, 2017, 06:29:35 pmGot ya, no hard feelingDid you read (saw) it on Safari? It looks, hmm, awful

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2017, 09:38:46 pm
content: And then there's this one:http://www.ebay.com/itm/42U-HP-Server-Cabinet-with-Complete-Sides-Doors-and-PDUs-/332111449324The damaged rail is easily repaired, comes with some PDUs (can't clearly see what sort though, looks like IEC.. but cables are cheap). That is averysturdy cabinet.

author: suicidaleggroll
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2017, 09:47:54 pm
content: This is what I have at work, it's quite nice:http://www.rackmountsolutions.net/4_Post_Server_Rack.aspAs for server chassis...what do you plan to do with it? Storage or processing? How much of each? What kind of interfaces? How many nodes per chassis? You typically don't just buy a "rack mount chassis", you buy a chassis that's designed to do what you need it to do, that happens to be rack mount.For example, I just built a new machine (yes it's mounted in that rack linked above) using this chassis:https://www.supermicro.com/products/chassis/4U/846/SC846BA-R1K28B24 hot-swap 3.5" bays, plus 2 2.5" hot-swap bays on the rear. I have 2 128G SSDs in RAID 1 for the OS in the rear bays, and 24x 10 TB drives in the front bays running a 200 TB RAID 60 on an Adaptec 72405. X11SSH-TF motherboard with a single Xeon E3 v5 in it, dual 10Gb ethernet. It includes rack rails that snap right into the rack, no tools, no fuss.I also have a few more storage machines and a few processing machines in that rack, running the appropriate 1U or 2U size chassis that are designed for each machine's role.

author: Lizzie_Jo_Computers_11
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2017, 09:47:47 am
content: Monkeh:Alright, thank you for explaining. It makes sense to me now!I was actually just looking at that one, but on craigslist. They have the listing up on both sites. I usually prefer eBay, though, so thank you for letting me know.No confidence in my physical strength? XD Yes, I could get my co-workers (in my business) to help me get it, or any within that area. Like I said before, I live in the Pennsylvania area, so anywhere around is alright, but I'm closer to those two cities, then anywhere else.onesixright:No problem! ;- ) No, I haven't seen it in safari. I generally use Internet Explorer 11 or Chrome. I would like to know how terrible it looks, it might be different from my usual browsers.suicidaleggroll:I intend to build a workstation/rendering machine into it. It doesn't have to be really complicated, but I will probably go for something with at least five drive bays for HDD storage configured in some kind of RAID. I'll keep adding on to it. It really is just supposed to be for a PC that will hold me over until my professional end builds (from my other topic) are built later this year. I'm still working on them with the other users here, but I need something to work with besides what I have now.I need a larger rack, mostly so I can store other equipment in there with the computer, and have everything neatly stored away there. Besides that, I want to ensure enough breathing room for my computer system/music production setup.Tomorrow I will post here again, hopefully with some improved finding, and if there are any other warnings, feel free to correct me wherever!

author: grifftech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2017, 09:55:56 pm
content: get 2 24U racks, easier to move.

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2017, 02:08:43 am
content: One thing to consider might be a 4 post rack, these are open and much cheaper, or 2 telecom relay racks. (make sure you get the 19" standard) The nice thing with these is that they are much cheaper to ship too.Then you can build around it to make it an enclosed rack with cable management etc. That's sorta what I did with my setup. Plywood, 2x4's and black paint can go a long way.After I recovered from my seizure caused by seeing the price of cable management finger ducts I decided to build my own on the back and front. It's just some pieces of wood to keep all the cables in.The second rack is an enclosed one though and was not originally part of the plan, but I got it for free. Can't say no to a free rack.