A computer rack (commonly called a rack) is a metal frame used to hold various
hardware devices such as servers, hard disk drives, modems and other electronic
equipment. Some may refer to a rack as "LAN or network furniture" as
resembles a shelving structure where components can be attached vertically,
stacked on top of one another. A computer rack can also be called a relay rack
or open rack.
Generally the individual devices are screwed into
the front, which has tapped metal strips with spaced holes to accommodate the
height of the devices, usually 1.75 inches of space is
between each hole (measured in U).
While racks come
in many different shapes and sizes, the standard (traditional) size rack is 19-inches wide. Racks
are usually made of aluminum or stainless steel. The Electronics Industries
Association (EIA) establishes standards for cabinets and racks intended for use
with computers and other electronic equipment.
The terms rack and cabinet are often used interchangeably, which is
incorrect. The rack refers specifically to the frame that provides a means for
mounting electronic equipment, while a cabinet is fitted with doors and side
panels.
Electronics Industries Association Web Site The EIA promotes the market development and competitiveness of the U.S. high-tech industry through domestic and international policy efforts.
ServerWatch Article: Fujitsu Adds Opteron Blades, Rack Server Following the lead of its Fujitsu Siemens counterpart, the North American Fujitsu Computer Systems Tuesday announced its first Opteron endeavor. Dual-core AMD Opteron processors will power the Primergy BX630 blade server and the Primergy RX220 rack server.
Sun Microsystems Guide Site Planning Guide for Entry-Level Servers Version 1.4. This guide is designed to assist Sun Microsystems customers who have purchased Sun entry-level servers and who seek information about the proper way to house the servers in a data center. It provides information about the servers' environmental requirements, power consumption, cooling requirements, electrical specifications, and space requirements after the servers are mounted in Electronics Industries Association (EIA)-compliant cabinets or racks.
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