Server racks, cabinets, and enclosures are the backbone of any IT, communications, or industrial installation. They hold and protect switches, servers, UPS systems, and network hardware, manage airflow and cabling, and control physical access to critical equipment. The right enclosure keeps hardware cool, organised, and secure, whether it sits in a data centre, a comms room, a factory floor, or an exposed outdoor site.
Server Rack and Cabinet Types
The right style of enclosure depends on where it is installed and what it protects.
- Open-frame racks: two-post and four-post frames for high-density cabling and patching in secure rooms.
- Server cabinets: fully enclosed cabinets with lockable doors and side panels for servers, storage, and network hardware.
- Wall-mount racks: compact enclosures for small comms rooms and edge sites with limited floor space.
- Outdoor and IP-rated enclosures: sealed housings that protect equipment from dust, water, and temperature on exposed sites.
- Seismic-rated cabinets: reinforced enclosures certified to stay standing and keep equipment secure during earthquakes.
Sizing and Key Specifications
Racks are measured in rack units (U), where one U is 44.45 mm of vertical mounting height. Sizes run from small 6U to 12U wall-mount and comms enclosures up to full-height 42U to 48U server cabinets. Standard equipment mounts to 19-inch rails, and cabinets are commonly 600 mm or 800 mm wide and 600 mm to 1200 mm deep. When specifying a rack, match the U height to your current and future equipment, the width and depth to your hardware and cabling, and the load rating to the combined weight it will carry.
Choosing the Right Rack or Enclosure
Beyond size, a few factors decide whether an enclosure performs over its life:
- Airflow and cooling: perforated doors, blanking panels, and hot and cold aisle planning keep equipment within its temperature range. For high-density loads, pair racks with precision cooling.
- Power and protection: size the rack for its UPS and power distribution, and leave room for batteries and cabling.
- Monitoring: environmental and access monitoring protects equipment and gives early warning of problems.
- Security and environment: lockable doors and access control guard against tampering, while dusty, outdoor, or exposed sites call for IP-rated enclosures and, for critical sites, seismic-rated cabinets.
Racks and Enclosures by Brand
NPS supplies enclosures from the leading manufacturers and can advise which suits your application:
- APC by Schneider Electric: the NetShelter SX range of server and networking enclosures.
- Vertiv: rack and integrated cabinet systems for IT and edge sites.
- Rittal: server and network enclosures, IT and industrial racks, and climate control accessories.
Racks and Enclosures for Every Industry
Different sites place different demands on an enclosure, and NPS supplies to them all:
- Government and healthcare sites that need secure, compliant enclosures for sensitive systems.
- Communications and edge sites that need compact, well-cooled comms cabinets.
- Manufacturing and mining operations that need IP-rated, outdoor, and seismic-rated enclosures for harsh and remote environments.
Rack and Cabinet Services from NPS
NPS does more than supply enclosures off the shelf. With over 30 years supporting Australian sites, NPS specifies, customises, and fits out racks and cabinets to suit your equipment and environment, including reinforced seismic-rated cabinets, IP-rated and outdoor enclosures, and speciality housings for unusual locations. NPS can pre-fit power, cooling, and monitoring so a cabinet arrives ready to install.
Why Choose NPS for Racks and Enclosures
- Over 30 years supplying power, cooling, and enclosure solutions across Australia.
- Leading brands including APC, Vertiv, and Rittal.
- Customisation for outdoor, IP-rated, and speciality requirements.
- End to end supply, fit-out, and installation, with power, cooling, and monitoring integrated.
Racks and Cabinets FAQ
What is the difference between a rack, a cabinet, and an enclosure?
A rack is an open frame that equipment mounts to. A cabinet is an enclosed rack with lockable doors and side panels. An enclosure is any housing that protects equipment, from an indoor cabinet through to a sealed outdoor or IP-rated unit.
What size server rack do I need?
Racks are measured in rack units (U). Add up the U height of your equipment, allow room to grow, then check that the width and depth suit your hardware and cabling. Wall-mount enclosures are common at 6U to 12U, and full server cabinets at 42U to 48U.
What is a seismic-rated rack or cabinet?
A seismic-rated cabinet is reinforced and certified to keep equipment secure and stay standing during an earthquake. NPS supplies and customises reinforced cabinets for critical and code-regulated sites.
Can racks and enclosures be used outdoors?
Yes. Outdoor and IP-rated enclosures seal equipment against dust, water, and temperature, so it can be installed on exposed or remote sites.
How do I keep equipment in a rack cool?
Use perforated doors, blanking panels, and good cable management, and match the cooling to the load. For high-density racks, add precision cooling.
Does NPS customise racks and enclosures?
Yes. NPS customises racks and cabinets for reinforced, IP-rated, outdoor, and speciality requirements, and can pre-fit power, cooling, and monitoring before delivery.
