Network communication or server racking systems are server cabinets or racks where the different hardware equipment and components of a network structure are placed and stored. Some examples of network hardware that are typically stored in a server or network cabinets are servers and routers. They can also be used to store switch circuits, storage devices such as UPS, hubs, network cables, and power cords.
The primary function of network or server racks is that they help keep the servers and other network infrastructure equipment firmly fixed in place. This enables network engineers and technicians to layout and put in place the entire network structure of physical hardware in a scientific and organized manner. You can check Dataworld and other similar sites if you want to know more information on the various server or network communication racking systems.
Uses And Benefits Of Server Racking Systems
Servers and other network racking equipment are essential to the operation and maintenance of physical data centers and network systems of businesses. To start, here are some of the basic and typical uses and benefits of utilizing network communication racks or server racking systems:
- Data Storage And Organizing Space
Physical servers perform a critical and essential function in meeting the data storage requirements of any business organization. And the purpose of network communication racks is to optimize how the space in data centers is allocated and used by dedicated servers. This helps the business organization or enterprise make the most of the space in their server rooms to meet their needs for data storage.
Network communication or server racking systems help not just in saving space but in doing things in a more tidy and organized way. This is essential because having an organized data center does a lot of things. It helps prevent accidents at work. It also helps in efficiently doing maintenance work. It also lessens the probability of potential damage to your servers.
- Remote Access And Management
An important benefit of using server or network communication racking systems is it would enable your network operations center (NOC) teams to remotely access and manage your servers. This can only be done when your servers are neatly stacked and arranged in server or network communication racking systems in an organized and scientific way.
This is done by managing the network using the KVM Switch Over IP. With remote access and management, they don’t have to go to the physical servers all the time.
- Ensuring Ease Of Maintenance
Using server or network communication racking systems is also very helpful in making it easier for your maintenance crew to do their work. Some racking systems are designed with rails to slide out the shelves. This makes it easier to pull out the physical servers and other network communication equipment from the shelves without unplugging the cables and ports.
This is highly useful in cleaning the racks and the servers. The maintenance and cleaning teams can go all around the racks and servers without spending too much effort and time. There are also racking systems that have wheels so they can be wheeled around.
- Enhance Cabling Management
Another important benefit of utilizing server or network racking systems is that they can help in enhancing cable management for your physical data center. The network or server racks are typically built with open and breathing gaps and usually with the laying of power and network cables in mind. These brackets help ensure that power and network cables are laid out in a neat, organized, and secure manner.
Moreover, they were built that way, with the principle that the power and network cables would have to be inserted into the ports at the back of the servers. This enables the layout and porting of network cables and ports without causing unnecessary curls, twirls, twists, folds, or bends to the cables and wires. This is essential since these twists could damage the cables and wires faster than their usual wear and tear.
In addition, the spaces and gaps in server or network racks also help network engineers and technicians to track down an issue in the network connectivity or porting of cables with ease. And with this, they can trace issues much easier when they can see the wires leading to the ports at the back of the servers. This makes them more effective in doing their work with less effort and time.
- Customizing Options And Improved Cooling Performance
Another reason why you should consider getting network communication or server racking systems is that most of these racking systems provide options to customize the racks that you can use for your servers. For example, you can take out empty shelves which aren’t being utilized when you opt to customize your server racking system.
Instead of empty shelves, you can fill the spaces they occupied with blanking panels. This is highly useful in keeping a balanced airflow in your data center. It also optimizes the performance and efficiency of your HVAC units that maintain the cooling of your data center.
- Enhance Physical Security
Server or network communication racking systems can also help improve the physical security of your servers. There are server or network racking systems that can be physically locked. This would help prevent unauthorized people from gaining physical access to your servers when no one is around.
There might be times when there are no people watching over your physical servers. With that in mind, you wouldn’t want any unwanted persons taking advantage of these lulls to go to your server rooms to get access to your data by physically inserting bus drives to your servers.
Final Thoughts
Network or server rack systems are essential in the installation, operation, management, and maintenance of a physical data center.
It enables network engineers to optimize the layout and install servers and other network equipment in an organized and scientific manner. This allows them to make the most of the data storage and available floor space and enhance maintenance and cabling management. And with customized options, they can also be used to optimize cooling performance and improve physical security with the use of cabinet locks and other security features.
With this article in mind, hopefully, you can be guided and be informed on how network communication racks can benefit your organization.