[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":600},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide:server-rack-accessories":3},{"guide":4},{"title":5,"description":6,"slug":7,"pillar":8,"order":9,"datePublished":10,"dateModified":10,"body":11},"Server rack accessories: what else do you need to buy?","What to buy besides a server rack, what decides each item, and how many rack units it takes. Shelves, rail kits, cage nuts, PDUs and cable management.","server-rack-accessories","rest",1,"2026-10-13",[12,16,25,29,34,37,42,89,93,150,154,188,191,194,198,201,204,213,216,224,231,235,238,246,253,256,260,263,270,273,277,280,287,295,308,312,325,328,336,340,343,356,369,372,380,384,398,446,549,552,555,558,568,572,575,593],[13,14,15],"p",{},"Besides the rack, an order can need a shelf, a rail kit, cage nuts, a power strip (PDU) and cable management. Rack ears are the brackets that bolt equipment to the rack's rails. Equipment without them goes on a shelf.",[13,17,18,19,24],{},"A rail kit holds equipment at the front and the back, so the rack needs rails at both. 41 of our 96 racks have front rails only. Most of what you buy takes rack units (U) of 1.75 inches each. In the example below, a 1U switch and a desktop NAS (network storage) fill all 9U of a ",[20,21,23],"a",{"href":22},"\u002Fproducts\u002Fnavepoint-9u-swing-gate-wallmount-rack","NavePoint 9U wall rack",". The shelf, PDU, patch panel and cable manager they need take the rest.",[26,27,28],"blockquote",{},"Count the U that the shelf, the PDU and the cable management take before you choose the rack's height.",[30,31,33],"h2",{"id":32},"what-to-buy-besides-the-rack","What to buy besides the rack",[13,35,36],{},"Listings call these \"accessories\". They are equipment like everything else in the rack: most take U, each adds weight, and some draw power. Each row below says what decides whether you need it. A link opens the products of that kind we have figures for. We have no figures for rail kits, cage nuts or screws yet, so those rows have no link.",[38,39,41],"h3",{"id":40},"what-to-buy-besides-the-rack-to-hold-your-equipment","To hold your equipment",[43,44,45,58],"table",{},[46,47,48],"thead",{},[49,50,51,55],"tr",{},[52,53,54],"th",{},"Item",[52,56,57],{},"You need it when",[59,60,61,73,81],"tbody",{},[49,62,63,70],{},[64,65,66],"td",{},[20,67,69],{"href":68},"\u002Fcategory\u002Fshelves","Shelf",[64,71,72],{},"A piece of equipment has no rack ears",[49,74,75,78],{},[64,76,77],{},"Rail kit",[64,79,80],{},"Equipment has to be held at the front and the back, and came without a kit",[49,82,83,86],{},[64,84,85],{},"Screws and cage nuts",[64,87,88],{},"You mount anything on the rails",[38,90,92],{"id":91},"what-to-buy-besides-the-rack-to-power-and-connect-it","To power and connect it",[43,94,95,103],{},[46,96,97],{},[49,98,99,101],{},[52,100,54],{},[52,102,57],{},[59,104,105,116,128,139],{},[49,106,107,113],{},[64,108,109],{},[20,110,112],{"href":111},"\u002Fcategory\u002Fpdus","PDU",[64,114,115],{},"The rack holds equipment that draws power",[49,117,118,125],{},[64,119,120,124],{},[20,121,123],{"href":122},"\u002Fcategory\u002Fups","UPS"," (battery backup)",[64,126,127],{},"Equipment has to keep running during a power outage",[49,129,130,136],{},[64,131,132],{},[20,133,135],{"href":134},"\u002Fcategory\u002Fpatch-panels","Patch panel",[64,137,138],{},"Network cables from other rooms end at the rack",[49,140,141,147],{},[64,142,143],{},[20,144,146],{"href":145},"\u002Fcategory\u002Fcable-management","Cable manager",[64,148,149],{},"Cables would otherwise hang across the equipment",[38,151,153],{"id":152},"what-to-buy-besides-the-rack-to-keep-air-moving-in-a-cabinet","To keep air moving in a cabinet",[43,155,156,164],{},[46,157,158],{},[49,159,160,162],{},[52,161,54],{},[52,163,57],{},[59,165,166,177],{},[49,167,168,174],{},[64,169,170],{},[20,171,173],{"href":172},"\u002Fcategory\u002Fblanking-panels","Blanking panels",[64,175,176],{},"The cabinet has empty U at the front",[49,178,179,185],{},[64,180,181],{},[20,182,184],{"href":183},"\u002Fcategory\u002Fcooling","Fan panel",[64,186,187],{},"The cabinet gets warm inside",[13,189,190],{},"This list leaves out tools, cable ties and labels, which take no rack space.",[13,192,193],{},"A KVM console (keyboard, video and mouse) or a drawer takes U like any other equipment, so count it the same way.",[30,195,197],{"id":196},"which-shelf-fits-your-rack","Which shelf fits your rack?",[13,199,200],{},"A shelf holds equipment that has no rack ears, such as a desktop NAS, a mini PC or a modem. In a cabinet, that equipment can also stand on the cabinet's floor.",[13,202,203],{},"Your rack's rails decide which shelf goes in. A cantilever shelf bolts to the front rails only and holds what rests on it out from them. So any rack's front rails can hold it, though its depth still has to fit the rack. A shelf that bolts to the front and rear rails needs a rack that has both.",[205,206,207,208,212],"guide-example",{},"The ",[20,209,211],{"href":210},"\u002Fproducts\u002Fstartech-adjshelf","StarTech 1U adjustable shelf"," bolts to the front and rear rails. Its rail span, the distance between front and rear rails that its brackets fit, is 19.5 to 38.3 inches (495 to 974 mm). A rack with front rails only gives it nothing to bolt to at the back.",[13,214,215],{},"The height of what stands on the shelf decides how much rack it uses. The shelf takes its own U, and the equipment on it blocks the U above. Divide the item's height by 1.75 inches and round up.",[205,217,218,219,223],{},"A ",[20,220,222],{"href":221},"\u002Fproducts\u002Fsynology-ds925-plus","Synology DS925+"," is 6.5 inches (166 mm) tall. On a shelf, it blocks 4U above it.",[13,225,226,227],{},"The shelf also has to be deep enough for what stands on it, and rated for its weight. For two shelves of the same size with different weight capacities, see ",[20,228,230],{"href":229},"\u002Fguides\u002Fserver-rack-weight-capacity","How much weight can a server rack hold?",[30,232,234],{"id":233},"does-your-equipment-need-a-rail-kit","Does your equipment need a rail kit?",[13,236,237],{},"A rail kit holds a long, heavy item, such as a server, from both ends. It bolts to the rack's rails at the front and at the back, so the rack needs both.",[13,239,240,241,245],{},"A rack's product page lists its Posts. A 2-post rack has front rails only. A 4-post rack has front and rear rails. Our ",[20,242,244],{"href":243},"\u002Fcategory\u002Fracks","rack listing"," filters by Posts.",[13,247,248,249],{},"The kit also has to reach from the front rail to the rear rail. It has to accept a rail span that the rack's rails can be set to. To read a rack's rail span, see ",[20,250,252],{"href":251},"\u002Fguides\u002Fserver-rack-depth","How deep a server rack do you need?",[13,254,255],{},"Before you buy a kit, check whether your equipment comes with one. A kit is sliding or fixed. A sliding kit lets the equipment pull out like a drawer, and a fixed kit holds it in place.",[30,257,259],{"id":258},"cage-nuts-or-threaded-holes","Cage nuts or threaded holes?",[13,261,262],{},"Cage nuts and screws hold equipment to the rails. A rail with square holes takes cage nuts: one clips into each hole, and the screw goes into the nut. A rail with threaded holes takes the screw directly.",[13,264,265,266,269],{},"On a listing, look for the line that names the rail holes. NavePoint lists its ",[20,267,268],{"href":22},"9U wall rack"," as \"Cage Nuts and 12-24 Threaded\". 12-24 is the screw size its threaded holes take. Its manual, linked from the rack's product page, calls the part that carries the rails the \"equipment mounting frame\". That part goes in with either the threaded holes or the square holes facing forward. So choose before you order. With the threaded holes forward you need 12-24 screws only. With the square holes forward you need a cage nut for every screw.",[13,271,272],{},"The same manual sends you to your equipment's documentation for how many cage nuts each item needs. Check that count against what comes in the box.",[30,274,276],{"id":275},"which-pdu-does-a-server-rack-need","Which PDU does a server rack need?",[13,278,279],{},"A PDU is a power strip for the rack. A PDU, or a UPS with outlets, is how your equipment connects to a wall outlet. Choose a PDU by its outlets and by its output capacity. It needs an outlet for every plug. Its output capacity has to cover your equipment's peak draw, the most power it draws at once.",[205,281,207,282,286],{},[20,283,285],{"href":284},"\u002Fproducts\u002Ftripp-lite-pdu1215","Tripp Lite PDU1215"," takes 1U. It has 13 outlets and an output capacity of 1800 W.",[13,288,289,290,294],{},"A vertical PDU attaches to the rack's frame instead of its rails, so it takes no U. It can need a tall rack, though. The ",[20,291,293],{"href":292},"\u002Fproducts\u002Fstartech-rkpw247015","StarTech 24-outlet vertical PDU"," needs a rack at least 42U tall.",[13,296,297,298,302,303,307],{},"A UPS can sit between the wall and the PDU. It keeps your equipment running during a power outage. It takes U and adds weight like any other equipment. The ",[20,299,301],{"href":300},"\u002Fproducts\u002Fcyberpower-or500lcdrm1u","CyberPower OR500LCDRM1U"," takes 1U, weighs 18.0 lb (8.16 kg) and has an output capacity of 300 W. ",[20,304,306],{"href":305},"\u002Fhow-it-works","How it works"," shows how the planner counts a UPS feeding a PDU as one power budget, worth the smaller of the two.",[30,309,311],{"id":310},"rack-cable-management-and-patch-panels","Rack cable management and patch panels",[13,313,314,315,319,320,324],{},"Rack cable management keeps cables from hanging across the front of your equipment. A horizontal cable manager mounts on the rails and takes U: the ",[20,316,318],{"href":317},"\u002Fproducts\u002Fstartech-cablmanagerh","StarTech horizontal cable manager"," takes 1U. A vertical cable manager that attaches to the rack's frame takes no U, but it can need a tall rack. The ",[20,321,323],{"href":322},"\u002Fproducts\u002Fstartech-cmver20uf","StarTech 20U vertical cable manager",", which StarTech calls an organizer, needs a rack at least 20U tall.",[13,326,327],{},"Where a vertical cable manager attaches depends on your rack. StarTech's datasheet for that one lists keyhole slots in the rack's frame and bars along the rack's side. For a rack with neither, it can bolt to the rack's rails. There it uses rail holes and space your equipment could otherwise use.",[13,329,330,331,335],{},"A patch panel is where network cables that run through your walls end. If every cable starts and ends inside the rack, you do not need one. The ",[20,332,334],{"href":333},"\u002Fproducts\u002Fstartech-c6panel24","StarTech 24-port Cat6 patch panel"," has 24 ports and takes 1U.",[30,337,339],{"id":338},"what-keeps-air-moving-in-a-cabinet","What keeps air moving in a cabinet?",[13,341,342],{},"Blanking panels and fan panels are for a cabinet, a rack with doors and side panels. Solid doors and sides hold warm air in, and perforated ones let it through. We don't have door and side panel details for our cabinets yet, so check the listing. An open frame has no doors or sides. The rack in the example below is one, so it needs neither.",[13,344,345,346,350,351,355],{},"A blanking panel closes an empty U at the front of a cabinet. Without it, warm air from the back of the cabinet can return to the front through the gap. Count your empty U, then cover them. Panels come in several heights, such as the ",[20,347,349],{"href":348},"\u002Fproducts\u002Fstartech-blankb1","StarTech 1U steel blanking panel"," and the ",[20,352,354],{"href":353},"\u002Fproducts\u002Fstartech-rkpnl4u","StarTech 4U blank panel",".",[13,357,358,359,363,364,368],{},"A fan panel moves air through a cabinet. The ",[20,360,362],{"href":361},"\u002Fproducts\u002Facinfinity-cloudplate-t7","AC Infinity CloudPlate T7"," is an exhaust fan, which pushes warm air out. The ",[20,365,367],{"href":366},"\u002Fproducts\u002Facinfinity-cloudplate-t7-n","CloudPlate T7-N"," is its intake version, which draws cooler air in. AC Infinity says the intake goes near the bottom of the rack.",[13,370,371],{},"A fan panel takes U and draws power like any other equipment. The T7 takes 2U and draws up to 10 W. Whether a cabinet needs one depends on the heat inside it.",[13,373,374,375,379],{},"A shelf can block air too. A vented shelf, such as the ",[20,376,378],{"href":377},"\u002Fproducts\u002Fstartech-cabshelfv1u","StarTech 1U vented cantilever shelf",", has slots that let air pass through it.",[30,381,383],{"id":382},"one-plan-worked-through","One plan, worked through",[13,385,386,387,391,392,394,395,397],{},"You own a ",[20,388,390],{"href":389},"\u002Fproducts\u002Funifi-usw-24","UniFi USW-24"," switch and a ",[20,393,222],{"href":221}," NAS. Network cables from two rooms end at the rack, so you want a patch panel and a cable manager. The rack is the ",[20,396,23],{"href":22},", an open frame with front rails only.",[399,400,401,409,415,426,432],"ol",{},[402,403,404,408],"li",{},[405,406,407],"strong",{},"Check how each item mounts."," The switch has rack ears and takes 1U. The NAS has none.",[402,410,411,414],{},[405,412,413],{},"Check the rack's rails."," Front rails only, so the NAS needs a cantilever shelf. The StarTech 1U adjustable shelf, which bolts front and rear, would not go in.",[402,416,417,420,421,425],{},[405,418,419],{},"Check the shelf's depth."," The ",[20,422,424],{"href":423},"\u002Fproducts\u002Fstartech-cabshelf1u10","StarTech 1U cantilever shelf"," is 9.8 inches (250 mm) deep. We don't have its clear area, so its outside depth is the figure to compare. The NAS is 8.8 inches (223 mm) deep, so it fits.",[402,427,428,431],{},[405,429,430],{},"Check the shelf's weight capacity."," The shelf is rated for 44.1 lb (20 kg). The NAS weighs 5.0 lb (2.26 kg).",[402,433,434,437,438,440,441,350,443,445],{},[405,435,436],{},"Add a PDU, a patch panel and a cable manager."," Here they are the ",[20,439,285],{"href":284},", the ",[20,442,334],{"href":333},[20,444,318],{"href":317},". Then add it all up.",[43,447,448,460],{},[46,449,450],{},[49,451,452,454,457],{},[52,453,54],{},[52,455,456],{},"U",[52,458,459],{},"Weight",[59,461,462,473,484,493,502,511,520,537],{},[49,463,464,467,470],{},[64,465,466],{},"Switch",[64,468,469],{},"1U",[64,471,472],{},"6.2 lb (2.8 kg)",[49,474,475,478,481],{},[64,476,477],{},"NAS",[64,479,480],{},"4U",[64,482,483],{},"5.0 lb (2.26 kg)",[49,485,486,488,490],{},[64,487,69],{},[64,489,469],{},[64,491,492],{},"4.4 lb (2 kg)",[49,494,495,497,499],{},[64,496,112],{},[64,498,469],{},[64,500,501],{},"4.9 lb (2.22 kg)",[49,503,504,506,508],{},[64,505,135],{},[64,507,469],{},[64,509,510],{},"1.3 lb (0.6 kg)",[49,512,513,515,517],{},[64,514,146],{},[64,516,469],{},[64,518,519],{},"0.7 lb (0.31 kg)",[49,521,522,527,532],{},[64,523,524],{},[405,525,526],{},"This plan",[64,528,529],{},[405,530,531],{},"9U",[64,533,534],{},[405,535,536],{},"22.5 lb (10.19 kg)",[49,538,539,544,546],{},[64,540,541],{},[405,542,543],{},"The limit",[64,545,531],{},[64,547,548],{},"55.1 lb (25 kg)",[13,550,551],{},"The NAS's 4U are the U it blocks above the shelf. The limits are the rack's height and its weight capacity. We don't know whether the NAS's published weight includes drives, so add yours if it doesn't.",[13,553,554],{},"Two items draw power: the switch up to 25 W and the NAS up to 38 W. Their peak draw together is 0.06 kW. The power budget is 1.80 kW, the PDU's output capacity of 1800 W.",[13,556,557],{},"It fits, with no U left over. Add one more 1U item and you need a taller rack.",[13,559,207,560,564,565,567],{},[20,561,563],{"href":562},"\u002Fplans\u002Fnew","Gearome planner"," does this sum for your own rack and equipment. It also checks each pick: the shelf against the rails, the NAS against the shelf, and the total weight against the rack. Equipment that is not in our catalog goes in as a custom item, with the figures you measured. ",[20,566,306],{"href":305}," lists each check.",[30,569,571],{"id":570},"what-the-planner-does-not-check","What the planner does not check",[13,573,574],{},"The planner checks fit, weight and power. Check these yourself:",[576,577,578,581,584,587,590],"ul",{},[402,579,580],{},"whether your PDU has an outlet for every plug, and whether the wall circuit can supply it;",[402,582,583],{},"which holes your rails have, and whether your cage nuts and screws match them;",[402,585,586],{},"where a vertical cable manager or PDU attaches, and which rail holes it uses;",[402,588,589],{},"airflow and heat inside a cabinet;",[402,591,592],{},"whether your wall and its fasteners can hold a wall-mount rack, and whether your cables are long enough to reach.",[13,594,595,596,599],{},"With those settled, ",[20,597,598],{"href":562},"plan the rest"," with your own rack and equipment.",1791922688947]