Network Cabinets - How Deep

[FN-GM]

Hello,

 

It's been a long time since I have needed to purchase network cabinets. I am needing to replace some very shallow cabinets. I am wondering how deep the ones you have recently purchased are please? They just hosting switches and not servers.

 

Thanks

[Steve21]

I mean generally it depends what you're likely to put in them (More like amount etc) as obviously they need room to cable up/power blocks/fibre etc that don't always like to sit flush etc.

 

Also the type of switches you use, as brands seem to differ a fair bit sometimes, even from the official sizes to what you actually need by the time you have non-bendy power cables et

 

But normally I'm a fan of 60cm if possible, as gives that bit of extra space for when something stupid likes to happen (Yes I know some will say it's overboard, but the amount of times small ones end up crushing cables in etc)

 

Steve

[Michael]

I'd agree, 600mm where possible. Even modern PoE switches are deep.

[Chaniel]

Personally 600mm if I can, even better if it's a swing out one for easy access to the rear if necessary (like this, ones like this are also fine)

 

The deep racks give you plenty of room for cabling, large PoE switches etc. The worst thing is when you go to a site and they've had to put a switch in diagonally or all the cabling is crushed against the glass front because the cab they put in is too small... Just put a deep rack in the first time and never need to replace it!

[localzuk]

I standardised on 600mm ones years ago due to the old HP Procurve 2650 switches being so long. Stuck with it now.

[Chris_Cook]

Unless is very small, I'd go for 500mm minimum, preferably 600mm. The swingout ones are great.

 

One thing to bear in mind is the wall strength. If the cab sticks out further is more load on your fixings.

 

These things tend to grow far beyond expectations with Phones, CCTV, Higher density WiFi, BMS, Doors, digital signage etc all been added to ours in the last 10-15 years. I'm certain more things will be added in future. Replacing a cab is not something you want to do twice.

 

Be glad they put a cab in though. Not just balanced a switch on some shelf brackets on some shoddy wall you can't get to without rearranging a whole room. Grumble...

[Sylv3r]

We went with 600mm too. We moved to meraki swtiches and struggled to get them in most of our cabs especially the bundles of data cables coiled up behind.

 

I think the PoE switches seem to be deeper than standard, so even if you aren't PoE currently it will future proof you.

[XiJ]

I’ve been going 550mm minimum so the 600mm mentioned seems sensible. When we started putting in PoE switches we found some of them are quite deep and need cramming in the older cabs

 

And we’ve started with some rackmount servers but are often hindered with depth. That said, the latest server I’m putting in is ~300mm depth. Amazing.

[FN-GM]

Brill thanks.

 

Its hard to judge how deep we need them for the future!

 

Its going to great a lot of work so going to be a fun project!

 

Thanks again.