No more hiding in the server room
APC creates unobtrusive equipment racks that look like furniture.
This is basically a copy and paste from my own blog, but I wanted to get some targeted feedback from fellow admins on this topic.
Plenty of admins/consultants have to deal with small offices and branch offices that need a server or three, a firewall and maybe some switches. But where to put them? Usually those devices end up being bunkmates with mops and 5-gallon containers of Janitor in a Drum. However, APC has created their NetShelter CX series that looks like an unobtrusive pieces of office cabinetry.
I have two concerns however:
1.) What about airflow? At first glance, it doesn't look like it has very good space for air intake. I see that the back is a screen allowing for egress airflow but is there sufficient room on the front for intake? Being that it's produced by APC, I would give them the benefit of the doubt that they would take that into consideration.
2.) What about cooling? Does this thing trap heat more than a normal server rack would? That faux wood paneling must surely be more of a heat trap than the simple aluminum sides real server racks have. A subpoint of this issue is: Would it make people take the need for proper A/C flow on the unit even less seriously than people already do? Does making it look like a piece of furniture encourage equipment to be placed out in the open office where dust and heat roam unchecked??
These bring up some issues in my mind. What do others think?
Plenty of admins/consultants have to deal with small offices and branch offices that need a server or three, a firewall and maybe some switches. But where to put them? Usually those devices end up being bunkmates with mops and 5-gallon containers of Janitor in a Drum. However, APC has created their NetShelter CX series that looks like an unobtrusive pieces of office cabinetry.
I have two concerns however:
1.) What about airflow? At first glance, it doesn't look like it has very good space for air intake. I see that the back is a screen allowing for egress airflow but is there sufficient room on the front for intake? Being that it's produced by APC, I would give them the benefit of the doubt that they would take that into consideration.
2.) What about cooling? Does this thing trap heat more than a normal server rack would? That faux wood paneling must surely be more of a heat trap than the simple aluminum sides real server racks have. A subpoint of this issue is: Would it make people take the need for proper A/C flow on the unit even less seriously than people already do? Does making it look like a piece of furniture encourage equipment to be placed out in the open office where dust and heat roam unchecked??
These bring up some issues in my mind. What do others think?
Views: 41
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Comment by Robert Chipperfield on November 3, 2009 at 9:18am -
I can see where APC are coming from with these - in the past I've put a couple of servers into buildings where even getting a vent in the (literal) broom cupboard door was hard work, so anything that gets servers like these into something resembling proper accommodation has got to be an improvement.
As for cooling, I think that's a fair concern - but I suspect that one of those cabs in an open room is probably better than servers in a sealed cupboard, so maybe it's the lesser of two evils?
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Comment by Wesley "Nonapeptide" on November 3, 2009 at 4:33pm
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Very true. It all depends on the attitude that the company gives to their computer equipment. These could be a giant leap forward for many people. I do look forward to the possibility of suggesting one in the future.
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Comment by Isaac on November 5, 2009 at 4:33am -
I think you’re right about airflow and heat so I wouldn’t put anything too heavy duty in one of those. I see that advantages for small offices, branches, etc… and I’ve seen the computer in a supply closet thing too many times myself. One of my servers at work is stuffed in closet and it sucks.
The thing that I wonder about is sound. That server in a closet I have is also in a sound damping enclosure because of the fan noise. I would like something like this but I couldn’t use it unless it muffled the sound somewhat.
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Yeah, I don't think it would be wise to put a par of HP c7000s in the 38U model. Supposedly sound dampening was taken into consideration in the design of these things. Currently, in one small office, I have a server in a makeshift "server closet" (looks more like a coat closet) and a second server just sitting next to the director's desk (the only room that locks and stays reasonably cool).
Oh joy. =)
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