Why Are Server Racks So Expensive?

Have you wondered how much a server rack costs and how the prices for racks are formed? Below, we’ll explain this point and answer the question, “Why are server racks so expensive?”

Server racks are an important part of the passive network equipment used in data center organizations. Without them, it would be impossible to compactly, conveniently, and safely place an array of devices that make up a computer server.

Types of Racks

In general, server enclosures can be designed for floor-standing vertical installation (tower models) or horizontal mounting (rackmount products). The latter is currently the latest rackmount option and the most common due to its ease of use in server rooms.

Server furniture is made in the form of a rectangular box made of metal. The product design can be of three types:

– Open-frame: considered to be the least secure;

– Floor mounts: designed for public places, they provide a high degree of protection from external factors and are supplied with a reliable lock against unauthorized access.

– Wall-mounts: designed for areas with limited space, mounted directly on walls.

Reasons for High Server Rack Cost

Size & Dimensions

Due to the standardized enclosures, furniture has a standard 19-inch width to accommodate the appropriate mounting hardware. Special fasteners, called rails, are used to mount the server chassis inside a rack or network cabinet.

The height of a rack/cabinet chassis is measured in a special unit (U), which is 1.75 inches and is determined by the vertical spacing between the structure’s fasteners. The most common rack models are 6U, 18U, and 32U. Accordingly, a model with fewer units will take up fewer installation places and house less equipment.

Among other important external characteristics of the models are depth and usable depth. The difference between them is that when installing a rack case, you need to take into account free space for access to its operating devices and convenient cable entry. If the actual depth refers directly to the dimensions of the case, then the usable or installation depth considers such space.

Material

The manufacturing material is another important criterion that significantly affects the final price, especially when choosing a low-cost server rack. Server racks carry highly precious equipment, so they must be durable and secure. Models are produced from sheet steel that is 1 mm thick. This construction is strong enough to carry heavy telecommunication equipment.

Here’s the answer: “Why are server post racks so expensive?” They house too expensive hardware and are responsible for its safe and convenient accommodation. This significantly affects the cost of a server rack.

To summarize, two main factors influence price formation: the size of the product and the material used. Bigger models cost more since they can accommodate mode devices, and more steel is spent on their production.