Space Requirements for the Rack

OnSite Series Getting Started Guide	3 • Installation Overview

Mechanical Recommendations for the Rack

The following information will help you plan your equipment rack conﬁguration:

•Use a rack made of steel or aluminum.

•Install equipment in the lower half of the rack ﬁrst to avoid making the rack top heavy.

•The rack should be able to support the full weight of the ﬁnal installed chassis.

•Enclosed racks must have adequate ventilation. Ensure that the rack is not overly congested because each unit generates heat. An enclosed rack should have louvered sides and a fan to provide cooling air.

•When mounting a chassis in an open rack, ensure that the rack frame does not block the cooling holes. If the chassis is installed on slides, check the position of the chassis when it is seated all the way into the rack.

•In an enclosed rack with a ventilation fan in the top, excessive heat generated by equipment near the bot- tom of the rack can be drawn upward and into the intake ports of the equipment above it in the rack. In addition, ensure that you provide adequate ventilation for equipment at the bottom of the rack.

•Bafﬂes can help isolate exhaust air from intake air, which also helps draw cooling air through the chassis. The best placement of the bafﬂes depends on the airﬂow patterns in the rack, which can be found by exper- imenting with different arrangements.

Protective Grounding for the Rack and Chassis

Use a rack grounding kit and a ground conductor that is carried back to earth or another suitable building ground. The OS-10 chassis is designed with mounting brackets that provide solid metal-to-metal connection to the rack. If you do not use equipment racks, you can attach a wiring terminal directly to the chassis at the position indicated for appropriate grounding. Figure 9 shows the location of the grounding terminal location for the OS-10 chassis.

Figure 9. Grounding Terminal Location for the OS-10 System Chassis

Note Because building codes vary worldwide, OnSite Systems strongly rec- ommends that you consult an electrical contractor to ensure that proper equipment grounding is in place for your speciﬁc installation.

Provide enough space in front of and behind the OS-10 system chassis so that you can service it easily. Typi- cally, allow a minimum of 122 cm (48 inches) in front of the rack and 61 cm (24 inches) behind the rack.

Securing the Rack

The rack should be attached to the equipment room ﬂoor with 9.5-mm (3/8-inch) lag screws or equivalent hardware. The ﬂoor under the rack should be level within 5 mm (3/16 inch). Use a ﬂoor-leveling cement com- pound if necessary or bolt the racks to the ﬂoor.

Planning Your Site