Server Racks and Computer Server Rack Evolution

Interestingly words morph so quickly in the computer IT arena over the years. The term server rack for example morphed from being called the enclosure cabinet, to the data cabinet and then to the computer rack which was made to accomodate the computer hardware on 19" EIA rack rails.

Most of these type enclosure cabinets were shallow from 20" to 25" deep and were basically the same for many years. Changes started when blade entry level server became popular years ago and needed deeper cabinets. Until blade servers entered the market, most servers were towers or 15-20" deep that could be rack mounted in 4U-8U space.

Majority pf blade servers were engineered to occupy 1U-4U of space. This advancement allowed multiple servers to be accommodated in a single computer rack. Whenever blade servers were place in such a crammed “U” space problems occurred. Deeper and hotter servers evolved that were up to 42” deep. Heat disperse was addressed by pulling air from the front of the server and blowing it out the back.

These deeper hot running servers no longer worked well in a conventional enclosure cabinet or computer rack and a new style computer rack was developed. Deeper cabinets were designed to enable air to flow from the front and go out at the back. Evolution of the industry term server rack started.

The 10/32 tapped rack rails standard evolved into a punched square hole that hold a socket for a 6mm cage nut and screw. Dell, along with other manufactures, makes sliding rails that attach to the server rack with a special flange that fits into the square hole without the use rack screws.

Now there are many variations of racks. A number of companies came with the addition of plexi doors with vents fitting front door and rear door frame. Other server rack versions have a locking screen door in front and a double screen door in the back to save space as it opens into an aisle.

A skilled author Leslie Parker makes articles about PDUs, computer cabinets, wallmount portable rackmounts cases, server racks, businesses and almost everything about the matter. I have made many articles on Rackmount products too.