RM471 BLACK BOX, RM471 Datasheet - Page 5

• Manufacturer Part Number: RM471
• Description: 19" SLIDING ADJUSTABLE TOWER S
• Manufacturer: BLACK BOX

3/3/2011
#24208
724-746-5500
blackbox.com
technically Speaking (Continued)
wide. But height and depth may vary from rack to rack. Common
rack heights range from 39" (99.1 cm) to 87" (221 cm).
One rack unit, abbreviated as U, equals 1.75" (4.4 cm). A rack that is
20U, for example, has 20 rack spaces for equipment, or is 35" high
(88.9 cm).
rails with mounting holes to which you attach your equipment or
shelves. When you consider the width or height of the rack, clarify
whether they are inside or outside dimensions.
the rails. The most common size is 19 inches with hole-to-hole
centers measuring 18.3 inches. But there are also 23-inch and
24-inch cabinets and racks. Most rackmount equipment is made to
fit 19-inch rails but can be adapted to fit wider rails.
of rack units, abbreviated “U.” It’s a measurement of vertical space
available on the rails. Because the width is standard, the amount of
vertical space is what determines how much equipment you can
actually install. Remember that this measurement of usable vertical
space is smaller than the external height of the cabinet or rack.
example, a rackmount device that’s 2U high will take up 3.5 inches
of rack space. A rack that’s 20U high will have 35 inches of usable
space.
measured in rack units, it’s easy to figure out how much equipment
you can fit in a given cabinet or rack.
equipment in it can generate a lot of heat. You may want to consider
adding a fan to help keep your equipment from overheating. It’s
especially important to have adequate ventilation in an enclosed
cabinet.
need one or more power strips. Some cabinets come with power
Understanding cabinet and rack measurements.
Do you need a fan?
Getting power to your equipment.
Most racks are designed to hold equipment that’s 19" (48.3 cm)
Another measurement you should know about is the rack unit.
The main component of a cabinet or rack is a set of vertical
The first measurement you need to know is the width between
After the width, the most important specification is the number
One rack unit (1U) is 1.75 inches of usable vertical space. So, for
Because both racks and the equipment that fit in them are usually
Even if your cabinet or rack is in a climate-controlled room, the
Unless you want to live in a forest of extension cords, you’ll
best for your installation. Rackmount power strips come in versions
that mount either vertically or horizontally. Some have outlets
that are spaced widely to accommodate transformer blocks—a useful
feature if your equipment uses bulky power transformers.
have built-in surge protection; some don’t. With all the money you
have invested in rackmount equipment, you’ll certainly want to make
sure it’s protected.
uninterruptible power supply (UPS). A UPS keeps your equipment
from crashing during a brief blackout or brownout and gives you
enough time to shut down everything properly in an extended power
outage. You can choose a rackmount UPS for the most critical
equipment, or you can plug the whole rack into a standalone UPS.
cabinet. But you still have an opportunity to make a mess once
you start connecting it all. Unless you’re very careful with your cables,
you can create a rat’s nest you’ll never be able to sort out.
cable organization. We have Cable Management Guides, Rackmount
Cable Raceways, Horizontal Covered Organizers, Vertical Cable
Organizers, Horizontal Wire Ring Panels, and Cable Manager
Hangers—all designed to help you manage your cables more easily.
to organize the cables. Knowing where the connectors are on your
equipment tells you where it’s most efficient to run cables
horizontally and where it’s better to run them vertically.
are in the cabling, so if you let your cables get away from you now,
you’re sure to pay for it down the road.
different factors to consider. Black Box Tech Support is always happy
to help you figure out what you need and how to put it together.
For cabinet and rack solutions, call our Connectivity Group at 724-
746-5500, press 1, 2, 2.
strips built in.
Managing the cables.
Asking for help.
If you need to order a power strip, consider which kind will be
Surge protection is another important issue. Some power strips
Any mission-critical equipment should also be connected to an
Your equipment may look very tidy when it’s neatly stacked in a
There are many cabinet and rack accessories that can simplify
Plotting your connections in advance helps you to decide how
The important thing is to have a plan. Most network problems
When you’re setting up a cabinet or rack, you have a lot of
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