Rack cabinets are 19-inch enclosures for housing network switches, patch panels, servers, UPS units and storage, from small wall-mounted boxes to full-height floor-standing cabinets. They suit server rooms, offices, workshops and home labs. Our range has over 1,100 models from brands such as LANBERG, DIGITUS, INTELLINET, ROLINE and RITTAL.
How to choose a rack cabinet
Height in rack units. One rack unit (1U) is 44.45 mm of vertical mounting space. Count the units your equipment needs today, then add roughly a third for growth, patch panels and cable management. A small office network often fits in 6U to 12U, while servers and storage usually call for 20U or more.
Depth and width. The 19-inch mounting width is standard, but the outer width and depth vary. Common cabinet widths are 600 mm and 800 mm, and depths of 600, 800, 1000 mm or more are widely used. Check the depth of your deepest server or UPS and leave space behind it for power and network cables.
Wall-mounted or floor-standing. Wall-mounted cabinets save floor space and suit switches and patch panels in a hallway or comms cupboard. Floor-standing cabinets take heavier, deeper equipment and give easier access to the sides and rear. Check that the wall can carry the loaded weight before choosing a wall-mounted model.
Doors, ventilation and cooling. Perforated or mesh doors let air flow through servers, while glass doors show status lights but restrict airflow. Many cabinets have mounting points for fans or fan units, which matter if the cabinet stands in a closed room. Lockable doors and side panels are worth having where the cabinet is shared or open to visitors.
Load capacity and cable access. Heavy servers, batteries and UPS units need a cabinet with a stated load rating, so compare it with the combined weight of your equipment. Cable entries in the roof and base, plus cable management bars, keep power and data cabling tidy and make later changes easier.
Rack cabinet brands we carry
- LANBERG: a Polish maker of network and cabling products, with wall-mounted and free-standing cabinets for small networks.
- ROLINE: the own brand of the Swiss distributor Secomp, covering IT cabling and accessories alongside network cabinets.
- INTELLINET: a network brand known for patch panels, cabling and cabinets for structured cabling installations.
- DIGITUS: the brand of ASSMANN Electronic in Germany, known for network cabling and server and network racks.
- INTER-TECH: best known for PC cases, including 19-inch rackmount chassis for servers and storage.
- TRITON: a Polish manufacturer that specialises in rack cabinets and enclosures for network and server equipment.
- SCHROFF: a maker of electronics enclosures and 19-inch subracks, widely used in industrial and laboratory settings.
- STARTECH: known for connectivity products and a range of server rack accessories and open frame racks.
- RITTAL: a German enclosure specialist with industrial enclosures and data centre rack systems.
Also in our range: IT-BUDGET, DSIT and EFB-ELEKTRONIK.
Rack cabinet FAQ
How many rack units do I need?
Add up the height of every device in rack units, then add about 30 percent for expansion. Patch panels, cable management bars and power distribution units each take space too. A few switches and a patch panel fit in a small wall-mounted cabinet, while several servers need a floor-standing model.
What is the difference between a wall-mounted and a floor-standing rack?
A wall-mounted rack is a shallow cabinet fixed to a wall, mainly for network gear. A floor-standing rack stands on its own, is usually deeper and taller, and carries heavier equipment such as servers and UPS units. Floor-standing models also give better access to the rear for cabling.
What depth of rack cabinet do I need for a server?
Choose a cabinet deeper than the server itself, with room for cables and connectors behind it. Many rackmount servers are 600 mm deep or more, so cabinets of 800 mm to 1000 mm are common choices. Always check the depth in the server specification and the usable interior depth of the cabinet.
Does a rack cabinet need cooling?
A rack cabinet needs cooling if the equipment inside produces significant heat in a closed space. Perforated doors and fan units help air move through the cabinet. A few switches in a ventilated room may need little extra cooling, but servers and UPS units usually do.
