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ENCLOSURES AND RACKS
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During the past decade data centres have been affected by significant transformations , driven chiefly by the proliferation of new technological waves . Efficiency advancements across all areas have been at the core of any data centre strategy , and with that focus there has been a substantial shift towards the adoption of enclosed cabinets as opposed to legacy open frame racks .
While there is no true right or wrong decision when it comes to choosing an enclosed cabinet versus an open frame rack , it ' s worth considering the pros and cons of both . By doing so , it ’ s then possible to make a sound decision based on the specific requirements of each individual installation .
Despite the latest trend towards using enclosed cabinets , open frame racks still present a perfectly viable solution for many data centre deployments and can address a variety of applications ; from supporting active equipment ( switches and servers ) to simply providing a cable patching platform .
Choosing an open frame rack Cost is probably the most prominent reason for selecting an open frame rack versus an enclosed cabinet . A complete rack solution , inclusive of cable management accessories , can be as little as 1 / 2 or even 1 / 3 of the cost of an equivalent enclosed cabinet configuration .
Secondly , open frame racks are intrinsically designed to provide unobstructed airflow while at the same time granting easy access to the equipment or cabling sections . The fact that open frame racks don ’ t have side panels / walls makes hardware accessible from all angles , even when active equipment and cables have already been installed .
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