CABLING & RACKS
21
Future-proof
By Clive Partridge, Product
Manager IT Infrastructure,
Rittal
Considerations for cable management
and rack developments as IT
infrastructure is expanded
www.rittal.com
There are a number of key areas for IT and data centre
managers to consider when it comes to planning future
rack developments. One of the most critical is deciding
the precise configuration of the internal components.
This typically underpins the success of the whole project,
especially when IT racks aren’t installed in a standardised
data centre environment.
Meanwhile, choosing which rack to install requires an
understanding of its purpose, the routing of cabling for
power supply and networks, and the ideal cooling solution.
Here’s a summary of some of the key questions to ask
to help ensure the success of any future installation and
commissioning of racks.
What will the rack be used for?
The number and type of components will have an impact
on the size of the rack. If it will simply be used to house
servers, then an IT rack 600mm wide will suffice. However,
if it’s primarily for network components, the rack should be
800mm wide to accommodate the cabling. But, increasingly,
enterprises are combining server and network components
within individual IT racks.
As IT takes on an increasingly significant role within
organisations, more and more components are packed in to
make best possible use of existing infrastructure. This means
the largest available racks should be selected in line with
space constraints. An IT rack that’s 42 units high, 800 mm
wide and 1,200 mm deep provides ample room for custom
configurations and future expansion.
What form of climate control is needed?
Will the rack be installed in a room that doesn’t have an
integrated cooling system? If so, then a suitable cooling
system needs to be considered from the outset. If just
a single IT rack is needed then cooling could simply be
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