Many people still prefer to use this method, but it's effectiveness when combined with the latest servers and rack mount gear must be carefully monitored.

3. Forced Air Cooled: This method is normally used in special situations where the equipment inside the rack is very sensitive to temperature and humidity. In this case, the entire rack is sealed and outside air cannot enter. A cooling unit, either fans or air conditioner, is installed in the lower section of the rack and this pulls air from the outside. The hot air is usually exhausted out the top. This method also prevents any outside contaminants from entering the rack, as the air pressure generated by this system is positive, or greater than the air outside the rack.

To summarize this section: Once you have identified what goes inside the rack, where the rack(s) is located and the site environment, you can then configure the rack design. The dimensions of the rack, types of doors, necessity of side panels or not and if fan trays are required, will all come from this initial survey.

Remember also to always plan for expansion, and that most clients want to expand with the same product they started with.

5.Types of Rack Constructions

         Racks come in 2 basic construction forms. One is the welded frame and the other is the knock down method. One method is not necessarily better than the other; each has its reasons for the particular design.

1. Welded Frame: As the name implies, the frame of the rack is welded together. This will consist of the framework, but not the mounting channels, roof, side panels or doors. Any other accessories will also be not welded. The reason for welding the frame is to get a rigid structure in a fixed dimension. The strength is greater than a knock down rack, but only if the materials used are similar. It is not true that all welded frame racks are stronger than all knock down types, but if all things are equal, the welded frame is usually more stable. Other reasons for welded frame racks lie with economics. In many locations, the client does not have the ability, manpower or interest to assemble racks. The cost of labor may be too high in other locations. Therefore, the racks may be delivered fully assembled. In this case too, the manufacturer may find it more economical to produce welded frames rather than knock down types. In cases where strength is a serious concern, such as seismic testing, welded frames are preferred. These special racks have much heavier materials used in addition to the welding process and are able to withstand strong forces. Welded frames are also found frequently in industrial applications where the components going into the rack are already known and standardized.

2. Knock Down Racks: These racks are produced in component form and then assembled when needed. This type of design is very suitable for cost efficiency in shipping and storage. It is also advantageous for some sites where access to the site is restricted, doors, elevators etc, and the racks must be assembled on site. The knock down design allows for easy transportation to the site. The knock down design is not necessarily weaker than welded frames. The actual design, materials used, connection points of the components and hardware used in the assembly, all play an important role is determining the final strength of the rack. One other advantage of the knock down design is that the rack can be adjusted after assembly to ensure good alignment.

Accessories

        No rack is complete without accessories. Proper accessories can finish a rack and make it truly valuable to the user. A lack of accessories can be a major problem for the user as they struggle to install and more importantly, maintain their equipment. There are many types of accessories, and we can group them into 3 main categories.