Advantages of Sliding Shelf Rack

Data centers come as the heart of most modern infrastructures. Network systems stand behind every facility, business, and utility. Server cabinets are used to house IT systems that comprise hundreds of components. Servers, hard drives, routers, wires, and accessories are accommodated in racks. Shelves come as effective tools to improve mounting space and provide more place for hardware fastening. By installing shelves, it is possible to place more devices in racks. Thus, they are widely used for network hardware allocation.

Sliding rack shelves are the most comfortable products since they provide easier access to devices and enhanced movability. A rack-mount sliding shelf improves server room organization and functionality.

The Concept of Server Rack Shelf

Sliding shelves are movable surfaces on which IT equipment is mounted. Due to their construction and mounting to rails, they move freely, providing easy and convenient access to all components. The main purpose of rack shelves is to support hardware, providing secure and durable storage.

Surfaces are installed directly in racks using mounting rails, due to which movability is achieved. Standards 19” rack shelves are suitable for mounting in network, AV, and network racks.

Surfaces are suitable for mounting all types of active and passive hardware (servers, computers, monitors, routers, etc.), accessories, and cables. Besides ensuring safe and durable storage space, shelves guarantee ergonomic space allocation and keep space highly organized. Space ergonomics plays a crucial role in server rack arrangement since a neat layout ensures sufficient airflow and cooling, prevents cable tangling, and simplifies maintenance.

Advantages of Server Rack Shelves

The tech staff widely uses additional horizontal surfaces due to the following beneficial features:

• Easy access to equipment. Its sliding construction simplifies access to all devices, even those stored in the rear part of the rack. It is easy to slide a server rack sliding shelf from the rack.
• Effective and comfortable maintenance, replacement, and upgrade. The tech staff can get to any device dues to easily movable shelves. Thus, hardware replacement and maintenance do not cause a problem.
• Keeping space clutter-free and organized. Placing devices on shelves guarantees a neat layout, where each component has its place.
• The reduction of risk of equipment damage and accidents. The use of shelves for hardware installation guarantees reliable and durable fastening, which minimizes the risk of overturning and damage.
• Improved cable management. Attachment of organizers, arms, and hooks on surfaces simplifies cord routing, resulting in neat and arranged cable wiring. This allows for preventing tangling and achieving higher ergonomics.
• Ease of troubleshooting. Maintenance employees spend less time on problem identification and elimination due to quick and easy access.
• Prevention of dust accumulation. Putting devices on horizontal surfaces prevents debris settlement and pollution from the environment.

Sliding surfaces stand as one of the most popular and common accessories used for IT system settlement. Most system administrators tend to use them when housing devices in cabinets.

Kinds of Rack Shelves: Fixed VS Sliding Surfaces

Manufacturers offer two different types of surfaces. The comparative criterion is the ability to move. Thus, surfaces fall into fixed and sliding shelves. Fixed surfaces are suitable for heavy devices that require little monitoring and are rarely maintained. Fixed shelves are not as functional and comfortable as sliding ones since they are fixed in one position.

Sliding surfaces are more handy since it is possible to put them off and in the cabinet. A server rack pull-out shelf is used for holding equipment that needs frequent attention and examination.

Although sliding surfaces have an advantage due to their high movability, still, fixed models are also used for server enclosure organization. Plan what type of surfaces you need at the stage of visualizing the layout of a future server cabinet.

Weight Capacity Considerations

Note that shelves have different load capacities. Depending on the construction, the material of manufacturing, thickness, and purposes different models of surfaces are suitable. Shelves are designed to carry different weights. For instance, while some models can support 75 lbs, others can hold up to 500 lbs. Thus, when selecting suitable surfaces for your cabinets, determine what equipment will be stored on them and calculate their overall weight.

Manufacturers are aware of this feature and produce surfaces of different thicknesses and load capacities. For instance, the 1U Light Duty shelf is designed for carrying lightweight hardware, like a laptop or a monitor; its load capacity should not exceed 75 lbs. Still, the 2U Extreme Heavy shelf is capable of supporting equipment that weighs up to 500 lbs. Extreme heavy surfaces are needed for servers, big computers, and other devices that weigh a lot. Remember the rule of

Overloading rack shelves with excess hardware will lead to collapsing and damage since shelves won’t be able to hold devices and eventually break. When choosing surfaces, pay attention to their load capacity and do not exceed the weight limit. To make sure that the needed shelf can hold hardware, make a 3D layout and calculate the weight of all devices. It is recommended to leave extra lbs for further improvements.

Besides shelves, you may need some other accessories that will help fasten components more reliably. These include anti-slip mats, transport straps, and cable organizers (hooks, ties, etc.). Such tools guarantee better storage and neat arrangement in cabinets. As a result, it is easier for the tech staff to organize and maintain the required environment inside enclosures.

Shelves come as a universal solution for arranging devices in server racks and cabinets. They help place system components more compactly and ergonomically in enclosures, simplifying maintenance and operation. Two types of surfaces are offered on the market. The main thing is to pick an appropriate model that meets your weight requirements and fits a sliding equipment rack. 3D visualization helps cope with this task easier, quicker, and with minimum mistakes.