Upgrading Your Server Rack: When and How to Do It

They distinguish several essential parts of server furniture, namely, mounting rails and the main frame. In most cases, IT hardware is fastened directly to the frame using brackets. Rear uprights can be attached to allocate stress evenly and remove the load from the front side. Rear posts are usually adjustable in depth due to flexible constructions. Mounting rails are used for the installation and supporting servers and other heavy equipment. Rails are fastened to the body and allow devices to slide out of the cabinet for easy and convenient fastening.

Accessories are widely used to improve server system performance, attach additional equipment, secure devices, and improve the level of maintenance. Generally, network rack accessories help transform basic structural units of server furniture into highly functional infrastructures for data centers.

Signs of the Need to Upgrade Server Racks

Server furniture needs to upgrade from time to time. The need comes as a consequence of technological development and innovation introduction. Thus, it is a natural process that helps keep your network system safe and sound and ensures its healthy and smooth running. If you noticed the following signs, it means that the right time to upgrade cabinets has come:

• Outdated technology

The pace of software development in the modern world is high. Innovations, trends, techniques, and digital tools are released constantly. Thus, a timely upgrade means adding new technologies to your systems. They help cope with tasks quicker and easier.

Hardware also improves. Devices become more energy-effective due to the consumption of less power and providing faster operation. So, if you feel that your network system lags and can’t cope with the set volumes of information, think about upgrading software and equipment.

• Insufficient space

Another common reason for rack improvement is the lack of space. System administrators add new units to already functioning systems over time. New devices are added to simplify or enable some processes. Thus, telecommunications systems inevitably grow, which means that they require more space.

For this reason, skilled technicians suggest buying a more spacious rack at once. When you plan a future IT system layout, foresee this point and buy a bigger model where extra space will be left for further enlarging and network cabinet accessories’ accommodation.

• Inadequate ventilation

Cooling is the most essential point for a network system, since telecommunications equipment heats well. Thus, the rack design usually has slots for fan installation. The staff develops cooling strategies and leaves space for ventilation devices beforehand.With the rise of computing capacity, calculating tasks, and processing datum, the need for more intensive network rack cooling solutions appears. Thus, you’ll have to add new devices to maintain an optimal temperature inside racks and avoid overheating.

• Power limitations

When you arrange a network system, you should ensure sufficient feeding, since each device consumes a different amount of power. Thus, a PDU is chosen individually for the requirements of each particular system. The required power capacity is calculated first.

However, if you add new hardware, the need for power supply changes, resulting in insufficient feeding of all units. It leads to the necessity to replace the PDU or connect equipment to additional power sources.

Each of these hazards can boil down to significant malfunctions in system performance or downtime. Thus, it is better to prevent problems and eliminate weaknesses promptly.

Planning for an Upgrade

The upgrading process is not an easy task, since the staff should keep in mind multiple points and foresee different consequences of a new arrangement of the IT system. If you want to get your rack layout re-organized, pay due attention to the below-mentioned criteria:

• Assessment of current needs

Take time to make a thorough analysis of your business and point out the principal needs. Here, you should answer such questions as:

• What lacks in your system?
• What do you want to add?
• In what ways do you want to improve the existing system?

Analyze all aspects of the business, point out weak sides, and figure out ways to improve them. It is recommended to make a checklist not to forget some points.

• Budgeting for the upgrade

Based on the obtained information, you can make an estimate of the required hardware and server rack accessories. Allocate your budget for the upgrade. Find out the cost of the needed products and check whether it is enough to improve all units and buy the required tools.

• Future scalability considerations

Taking into account a high probability of system expansion, foresee spare space for more devices. In most cases, new devices are added with the increase in production needs and processing volumes. Thus, enough free space should be left after hardware installation.

• Selecting the right rack

When choosing the best rack model, wise space allocation is important. Making a layout will help scale hardware and select the needed rack size. When choosing racks and making a draft, consider the following points:

• what cooling tools will be installed and where;
• how many devices and data cabinet accessories are to be accommodated;
• where the cabinet will be installed (location – public places or closed rooms);
• room size and space ergonomics;
• the type of mounting (to the floor or wall).

Working through these criteria will help pick the most suitable solution and ensure secure and reliable fastening of equipment and its healthy functioning.

The Upgrading Process

The procedure does not require much effort. If you follow the guide correctly, you’ll succeed in the task and cope with the upgrade quickly and efficiently. The process comprises the following steps:

1. Disassembling the old rack. Put out all the components, unplug devices and free space for a new furniture piece.
2. Proper installation of the new rack. Assemble new furniture, install posts, fasten the body with crews and nuts, and install hardware. Use server cabinet accessories to customize furniture to your needs and simplify the task. For example, shelves allow for accommodating more devices. Removable panel kits secure hardware from unauthorized access and accidental damage.
3. Migration of equipment. It is possible to use sliding shelves or other movable tools to ensure free hardware migration, which simplifies maintenance.
4. Cable management. Here, diverse server rack cable management accessories are applied to arrange cords and prevent their tangling. These include vertical and horizontal organizers, arms, ties, hooks, and labels.
5. Testing and troubleshooting. The final stage implies checking units for proper functionality, setting configurations, and addressing any arising issues.

The accomplishment of this process leads to smoother and quicker system operation. Updates always cause a favorable impact on processing and computing tasks since systems start running more fluently. Thus, timely maintenance and improvements are the key steps for the arrangement of a stable and healthy system that easily copes with any task.