To receive the latest news on our products, subscribe to our e-newsletter below:

Cabinet, IP Ratings & UPS Equipment

Cabinet FAQ's

Q) Why Use a RWS Range of Rack Cabinets and what are the benefits of a Rack Cabinet?

A) The IT function is becoming more and more important in business organisations worldwide. So it is necessary to keep servers and other IT hardware in a consolidated, systematic and secure manner.

Cabinets provide physical security and also prevent unauthorised access to critical IT equipment. In addition to significantly improving space utilisation and cable management, server cabinets enhance the:

• Security
• Manageability
• Serviceability and reliable functioning of servers and other important IT hardware.
• Server cabinets are a smart and worthwhile investment.

Q) How high is a RU (Rack Unit)?

A) The industry standard for 1RU is = 44.5mm.

Q) What is the dimension across the front of rack mounted equipment?

A) For 19" Equipment - 482.5mm face width.

B) For 23" Equipment - 650.0mm face width.

Q) What is the benefit of Extra Depth in a Cabinet, i.e./ 800 deep vs 900mm or deeper?

A) The 800 mm deep Rack Cabinets are still suitable for small applications such as networking, but are generally outdated for current rack mount servers on the market today. This also includes housing of rack mount raid and backup subsystems and other active IT hardware.

Tower Servers and rack-mountable servers in particular are becoming slimmer and deeper. The 800mm deep cabinets already do not meet the depth requirements of many rack mount servers, raid and UPS sub systems.

The greater overall depth of 900mm or more vs 800 mm or less in a server cabinet allows more space in front and rear for routing cables thus enhancing cable management.

Q) Why use front, rear & roof ventilation?

A) Heat dissipation is critical to the longevity of your IT equipment. Most rack mount servers suck air from the front and exhaust hot air from the rear. Heat also rises and therefore the correct ventilation is critical in all server type rack cabinet solutions.

To protect your investment it is highly advisable that you do not cut corners by NOT utilising the correct ventilation. When choosing a cabinet, ensure that your Rack Solution is able to remove any excess heat within a closed cabinet.

Premium server cabinets such as IBM, Compaq, Dell, APC and Rack World Systems Enterprise Solutions, utilise front, rear and roof ventilation.

Q) Are cabinets with ventilation from side panels ok?

A) Ventilation from side panels as provided by some cabinet manufacturers in place of front to back ventilation is inadequate and unsuitable for rack mount servers.

This type of ventilation is also not adaptable to multi configurations also known as baying of cabinets. This is where two or more server cabinets are coupled side by side. If you are planning on bridging a set of cabinets together, ensure you have the right type of ventilation for future expansion.

Q) Can I Custom build my Rack Cabinet with different Accessories?

A) Yes you can with our online configuration tools or assisted by a Rack World Systems sales representative, with a wide range of accessories available to meet your specific needs.

Accessories help to supplement the Rack Cabinet by enhancing its security, serviceability, manageability and reliability of mounted servers and other IT hardware.

Accessories such as our 1RU LCD monitors, Flat Panel monitors, KVM switches, shelves, telescopic draws, power distribution boards and many more, enable you to custom build your own solution. With this ease of flexibility, RWS can cater any type of configuration that will suit your specific requirements.

Note; Specifications and Information provided issubject to change without notice.

IP Rating FAQ's

Q) What is an IP Rating?

A) An IP Rating, also known as Ingress Protection Rating, is a 2 digit numerical rating that classifies the degrees of protection against dust, water and impact of electrical equipment and enclosures. It is based on an International Protection Rating system as shown in our graph below.

UPS FAQ's

Q) What size UPS is suitable for a typical desktop system?

A) A typical Pentium or Apple system with a 15” monitor generally measures between 200-500VA (VA=Volts x Amps).

As extra peripherals such as amplified multimedia speakers, external modems, scanners, and other equipment are added; this load can sometimes be between 400VA to 800VA. 17” monitors can also increase the load by an additional 50-80VA.

Therefore, while a 400VA UPS is sufficient for a basic system configuration, a more practical entry-level choice is a 500VA UPS. It is common practise to leave some room for expansion; and if in doubt, always go to the next size. There are numerous UPS Sizing Calculators that can assist in finding the right size UPS for your equipment.

Q) How do I determine which size UPS will support my equipment?

A) Look at the manufacturer's specifications plate attached to your equipment, and locate the power rating - usually indicated in VA or AMPS.

You Multiply Amps by 240 (as in 240 Volts) to find the VA rating. Once you have added together the VA rating of all equipment to be protected, select a UPS of a rating equal to or slightly higher than your total figure. For more information refer to our technical support department

Q) What is the advantage of UPS Monitoring and Shutdown Software?

A) During a utility power failure a UPS naturally has a limited battery capacity. Once the battery has expired, your system will be subjected to this secondary power failure and left open to possible data corruption and hardware damage - exactly what the UPS was installed to prevent!

Shutdown software makes it possible for your computer system to identify the power supply status of the UPS and perform an orderly, automated shutdown of your network or workstation operating system. Once power is restored, the UPS reboots your system back into operation. A UPS without shutdown software is only half of your power protection solution. Monitoring software has all of the features of shutdown software, and adds the ability to monitor input and output voltages, frequency, battery charge, UPS loading and many more useful features.

Q) What is the expected life of the UPS' internal batteries?

A) Battery life is influenced by site conditions and can vary between 18 months to 10 years.

On average, new UPS are expected to last 3-5 years before requiring new batteries. It is recommended that an authorised engineer or one of its representatives do the battery change and servicing. This service is highly recommended as calibration will deviate over time and correct operation of your UPS will be affected as a result.

Q) How long should my UPS last when the power has gone out and it is running on batteries?

A) There are several factors that determine how long your UPS will last when it is running on batteries.

The most important is the load (the amount of power being drawn through the UPS). Lets take a standard PC for an example with a load of 150 watts using a 500va UPS. This will give you approximately 15 minutes. If you were using a 2000va UPS you would expect approximately 52 minutes. Different computers draw different amount of power - a server can draw anywhere from 150 watts to over 1000 watts.

As the UPS gets older, the internal batteries will not hold the load for as long. When the batteries hold the load for less than half of the expected run time, it may be time to change the batteries.

Q) What is the difference between Standby, Line-Interactive and True On-Line UPS?

A) "Standby" UPS models are designed for standard computer equipment applications where battery support is the most important factor.

In standby units, electricity typically passes through the UPS until an electrical disturbance is detected. Once a power failure or other electrical disturbance is detected, internal switches immediately transfer the output load to the unit’s internal batteries. Standby UPS provide a quasi-sine wave output that is suitable for most switch-mode power supplies.

"Line Interactive" UPS models carry all the features of Standby UPS with many additional enhancements, including an enhanced level of surge and sag protection. Other features include providing a quasi-sine wave output and a unique microprocessor-controlled Intelligent Buck and Boost technology, which allows the unit to correct brownouts and overvoltage conditions without resorting to battery power reserves. This allows the unit to deal with a wider range of power disturbances and helps increase battery life. A Line Interactive UPS is ideal for high-end desktops and small to medium level network servers. The unit's True Sine Wave Output is especially suited to communications equipment and other network peripherals.

"True On-Line" UPS provide the highest possible level of UPS power protection. Internally different from Standby and Line Interactive UPS models, a True On-Line UPS continually breaks down, conditions and rebuilds the input power supply to strict voltage and frequency regulations.

Some features offer full Double Conversion UPS and Input/Output Isolation suitable for high-end network servers and mission-critical electronic equipment. True On-Line Double Conversion UPS models are fully compatible with generator power and the only UPS suitable for industrial locations and country areas with poor quality power.

Q) What parts of a Local Area Network should be protected with a UPS?

A) Network servers are the most obvious starting points when protecting a LAN from power disturbances.

A typical server will require a UPS rated at least 800VA, 1000VA for mid-range servers and up to 3KVA for larger mainframe units. When installing a UPS it is important to consider what other components are critical to the network. Look for hubs, routers, modems, backup drives, telephony equipment, and other computers performing server-like activities.

It is essential that ALL these devices be powered by the UPS for the network to remain stable. Also consider the requirements of network users and remote workstations performing mission-critical operations.

Q) Does a UPS require regular servicing or maintenance?

A) UPS are designed to be user friendly and maintenance-free.

Once the unit is correctly installed and switched on, it will continue to ensure the internal batteries are fully charged and ready for use - 24hrs a day, 365 days a year. UPS models perform regular self-diagnostics to ensure they are always in top condition. It is, however, recommended to perform a power failure trial two or three times per year to calculate the expected support time in the case of a genuine power failure. This test is also a good indication of the battery's life.

It is recommended a UPS be serviced once every 12-24 months. Units with a size of 5kva and above may require more regular servicing.

Note; Specifications and Information provided issubject to change without notice.