How to choose an IT cabinet that suits your needs?

When choosing an IT cabinet, you need to consider the equipment type, installation environment, scalability and budget. The equipment type determines the size and internal layout of the cabinet. For example, a large server may require a cabinet with greater depth and stronger load-bearing capacity, while a small network device requires relatively less cabinet space.

 

Different installation environments, such as indoors and outdoors, data centers, and office spaces, have different requirements for the cabinet's protection level and heat dissipation performance. In harsh outdoor environments, you need to choose a cabinet with a high protection level and good weather resistance.

 

Scalability is related to whether the cabinet can adapt to the needs of business growth and equipment upgrades in the future. Cabinets with flexible and adjustable components and sufficient redundant space can better meet the needs of long-term development. The budget considers the cost of the cabinet on the basis of meeting various functional and performance requirements. Reasonable budget planning can ensure that while obtaining high-quality cabinets, resources are not wasted and the cost-effectiveness is maximized.

 

1. Clarify usage scenarios and equipment requirements
2. Select core parameters
3. Other key considerations
4. Selection examples

 

 

1. Clarify usage scenarios and equipment requirements 

 

Application scenarios:
Data center/server room: Data centers and server rooms usually need to house a large number of servers, storage devices, etc. These devices will generate a lot of heat when running, and the stability and reliability of the cabinets are extremely high. Therefore, cabinets with high load capacity are required to support the weight of many devices, high-density heat dissipation systems are required to ensure that the equipment runs at a suitable temperature, and modular design facilitates the installation, removal and upgrading of equipment to adapt to changing business needs.

 

Office/network room:
In offices or network rooms, space is often relatively limited, so the focus is on space utilization, and the internal space of the cabinet needs to be reasonably planned to accommodate the required equipment. At the same time, aesthetics cannot be ignored, because it may be in an office area with a relatively dense population, and a cabinet with a neat and generous appearance is more in line with the requirements of the overall environment. In addition, basic protection is also necessary, such as preventing dust, water vapor, etc. from damaging the equipment.

 

Industrial/outdoor environment:
In industrial environments, cabinets may face various harsh conditions, such as high temperature, low temperature, humidity, sand and dust, chemical corrosion, etc. The same is true for outdoor environments, which may also be affected by wind, rain, and sun exposure. Therefore, a cabinet with a high waterproof and dustproof rating (IP65+), the ability to withstand extreme temperatures from -40°C to 60°C, and good corrosion resistance is required to ensure stable operation of the equipment in a complex environment.

 

Equipment type:
Standard 19-inch rack-mounted equipment (1U/2U, etc.) such as servers, switches, and routers: These standard rack-mounted equipment are common installation objects in IT cabinets. They have a unified size standard and are easy to install and arrange in the cabinet. According to the height of the equipment (in U), the space of the cabinet can be reasonably planned to ensure that there is enough spacing between the equipment to facilitate heat dissipation and maintenance.

 

Non-rack-mounted equipment (such as storage arrays, KVM consoles) requires additional shelves or customized brackets: For non-standard rack-mounted equipment, because their size and shape are not suitable for direct installation on the standard rack of the cabinet, additional shelves are required to place them, or customized special brackets are required to ensure that these devices can be firmly installed in the cabinet and are easy to operate and manage.

 

2. Select core parameters 

 

(1) Size and capacity
Height (U number):
Standard unit "U" = 44.45mm, common heights: 24U (1.2 meters), 42U (2 meters), 48U (2.4 meters). When selecting the height of the cabinet, you should fully consider the current number of existing equipment and the foreseeable equipment expansion needs in the future. It is recommended to reserve 20% redundant space, so as to avoid frequent replacement of cabinets due to business growth, which not only saves costs but also reduces the risks and inconveniences caused by equipment migration.

 

Width/Depth:
The width is fixed at 19 inches (48.26cm), and the depth is selected according to the size of the equipment:
600mm: For some shorter equipment, such as common switches, a cabinet with a depth of 600mm can usually meet its installation requirements and can be reasonably laid out in a limited space.
800mm~1200mm: When you need to install long servers or equipment with redundant power supplies, since these devices are long and require more space to accommodate, it is more appropriate to choose a cabinet with a depth of 800mm to 1200mm to ensure that the equipment can be installed smoothly and operate normally.

 

Load capacity:
Floor-standing cabinet: 500kg~2000kg (1000kg+ for high-density servers). The load capacity of a floor-standing cabinet is an important parameter, which is directly related to whether the cabinet can safely and stably support the weight of the internal equipment. For high-density servers, due to their high equipment density and heavy weight, it is necessary to choose a cabinet with a load capacity of more than 1000kg to ensure that the cabinet will not deform or collapse due to overload and other safety accidents.

 

 

 

(2) Heat dissipation design
Ventilation structure:
The perforation rate of the front door/rear door is ≥ 70% (such as honeycomb holes and mesh holes) to ensure airflow efficiency. The ventilation structure of the cabinet is crucial for heat dissipation. The front door and rear door with high perforation rates can make the air flow more smoothly and take away the heat generated by the equipment during operation. The common honeycomb hole and mesh hole design not only ensures the ventilation effect, but also has a certain protective performance to prevent dust and other debris from entering the cabinet.

 

Airflow management:
The hot and cold channel isolation design (such as closed cold channel cabinet) improves cooling efficiency. The cold and hot channel isolation design is an effective airflow management method. By separating the air inlet and outlet of the cabinet to form a cold channel and a hot channel, cold air directly enters the equipment and hot air is directly discharged, avoiding the mixing of cold and hot air, thereby improving cooling efficiency and reducing energy consumption.

 

 

(3) Security and protection
Physical security:
Double lock door (such as mechanical lock + electronic lock), anti-tampering screws, intrusion alarm sensor. In order to protect the safety of the equipment in the cabinet and prevent unauthorized access and damage, the cabinet can be equipped with a double lock door, such as a combination of mechanical lock and electronic lock, to increase security. Anti-tamper screws can prevent the cabinet from being easily disassembled, and intrusion alarm sensors can promptly sound an alarm when someone illegally enters the cabinet, reminding relevant personnel to take measures.

Optional tempered glass doors (anti-impact) or bulletproof doors (high-security scenarios). For some places with high security requirements, such as bank data centers, military facilities, etc., tempered glass doors or bulletproof doors can be selected. Tempered glass doors have good anti-impact performance and can withstand a certain degree of external force impact; bulletproof doors can provide higher security protection in extreme cases.

 

Environmental protection:
IP level: IP20~IP40 for indoor use, IP65~IP67 for outdoor/industrial environment. IP level is an important indicator to measure the protection performance of the cabinet, which indicates the cabinet's ability to protect against dust, water vapor, etc. In indoor environments, protection levels of IP20 to IP40 can usually meet the requirements; in outdoor or industrial environments, due to harsh environmental conditions, cabinets with IP65 to IP67 levels need to be selected to ensure that the equipment inside the cabinet is not affected by the external environment.

 

Dust filter, moisture-proof heater (suitable for humid environments). To further improve the environmental protection performance of the cabinet, a dust filter can be installed to prevent dust from entering the cabinet and affecting the normal operation of the equipment. In a humid environment, a moisture-proof heater can also be installed to reduce the humidity in the cabinet by heating to prevent the equipment from being damaged by moisture.

 

(4) Scalability and flexibility
Modular components:
Adjustable shelves, PDU brackets, cable management arms (support dynamic expansion). The modular component design of the cabinet can improve its scalability and flexibility. The adjustable shelves can be adjusted according to the height and size of the equipment, making it convenient to install different types of equipment. The PDU bracket can flexibly install and adjust the position of the power distribution unit to meet the power requirements of different equipment. The cable management arm can help organize and manage cables, making the cable layout more neat and easy to maintain and expand.

Support side door/top door removal to facilitate the installation of large equipment. When large equipment needs to be installed, a cabinet that supports side door or top door removal can provide a larger opening to facilitate the entry and exit of the equipment. This design improves the flexibility of the cabinet and makes it more convenient to install and maintain large equipment.

 

 

3. Other key considerations 

 

Certification and compliance:
Comply with industry standards , and pass UL, CE and other certifications. Choosing a cabinet that meets industry standards can ensure that its quality and performance meet relevant requirements. Standards such as EIA-310-D and IEC 60297 specify the requirements for cabinet size, structure, performance, etc. Passing UL, CE and other certifications indicates that the cabinet has been rigorously tested and evaluated and has high safety and reliability.

 

Seismic certification is suitable for areas with frequent earthquakes. In areas with frequent earthquakes, cabinets need to have a certain degree of earthquake resistance to ensure that the equipment will not be damaged when an earthquake occurs. Cabinets with seismic certification, such as cabinets that meet the NEBS GR-63-CORE standard, have undergone special earthquake resistance tests and can resist the impact of earthquakes to a certain extent to protect the safety of equipment.

 

4. Selection example 

 

Small office: For small offices, the number of equipment is relatively small, usually including some basic network equipment such as servers, switches and routers. Therefore, a medium-height 42U closed cabinet with a depth of about 800mm can be selected to meet the installation requirements of the equipment. In order to ensure the normal heat dissipation of the equipment, it is more appropriate to equip the cabinet with a fan module. At the same time, the basic PDU can provide a stable power supply for the equipment. The design of this cabinet can not only meet the space requirements of small offices, but also provide good protection and heat dissipation performance.

 

Edge computing node (outdoor): Outdoor edge computing nodes face complex environmental conditions such as wind and rain, high temperature and low temperature, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to select a cabinet with an IP66 protection grade with a high protection level. In order to adapt to the temperature changes in the outdoor environment, an integrated temperature control system is essential, which can keep the temperature inside the cabinet within a suitable range. In addition, considering that there may be inconvenient power supply outdoors, equipping with a solar power supply module can provide sustainable power support for the cabinet to ensure the stable operation of the edge computing node.

 

High-density data center: A high-density data center needs to house a large number of servers and storage devices, and has very high performance requirements for the cabinet. Choose a 48U cabinet with a depth of about 1200mm to provide enough space to install the equipment. The design that supports liquid cooling backplane can effectively solve the problem of a large amount of heat generated by high-density equipment and improve heat dissipation efficiency. Intelligent PDU can achieve precise management and monitoring of electricity and improve the reliability and stability of power supply. This cabinet can meet the strict requirements of high-density data centers for space, heat dissipation and power management.