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Wall-Mounting 1U Devices Without a Rack?

Posted by Cliff on from the seeking-creative-solutions dept.

c640180 asks: "I need to figure out a way to mount a 1U enclosure in a small closet that doesn't have a relay rack or anything similar. Is there such a thing as a set of right angle brackets that would provide me with 19" wide screw holes so that I could mount the device vertically (so that the screws would be pointing down)? how do other folks who don't have real network closets mount real networking hardware?"

6 of 48 comments (clear)

  1. Beware of Fire Hazards!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Think long and hard before you start running an electrical device 24X7 in a wooden closet that hasn't been fire-proofed.

    That said, DataTel/MiddleAtlantic has a nice, affordable series of wall mount racks [the "WM" series]:

    http://www.middleatlantic.com/specs/96_291.pdf
    [PDF FILE]
    Syndat, out of Oklahoma, is a retailer who will mail them to you [the "WM" series isn't listed on their website, but they do carry it - ask a salesman]:
    http://www.syndat.com
  2. Consider convection. by chrestomanci · · Score: 5, Informative

    Rack mounted equipment will be designed to work horizontally, and often on the limits of heat dissipation (because everything is packed in tight).

    If you turn things sideways, the convection currents that the manufacturer allowed for in the design will flow the wrong way and may not provide enough cooling.

    For most things you can probably fix this by adding another fan or three, but if you have a CPU that is cooled by a heat pipe setup, it will not work at all. Heat pipes must be the correct way round to work at all, otherwise you will kill your expensive server CPU quite quickly.

    Also, consider things like tray loading CD-ROM drives, which may be inconvenient to use the wrong way round, though you probably don't plan on using it very much.

    Hope this helps.

  3. Sideways Panel Mount by Rope_a_Dope · · Score: 3, Informative
    A Sideways Panel Mount is what you're looking for.

    Just search Google, and you'll find a ton. I've used both an SPM2 (2U Sideways Panel Mount), and an SPM4 (4U).

    You can use them to mount facing up or sideways, but I prefer sideways, as it's usually easier to read the displays.

    Here are a few:

    http://www.rackmountsolutions.net/WM_SPM.asp
    http://www.middleatlantic.com/dcm/wall/spm.htm

  4. Dexion! by Bazman · · Score: 4, Informative
    Fantastic stuff. Meccano for grown ups. People have built entire staircases out of it. We just built ten little shelves to fit behind desks in our new lab to hide the little Wyse Xterms we bought. I'm very tempted to build a mini-rack out of it for some of our other gear.

    A Howto Here

  5. Look at the included mounting hardware by red_dragon · · Score: 3, Informative

    Take a look at the mounting brackets included with your kit, if any, along with the screwholes on the sides of the case. Sometimes, 1U-size devices are designed so that all you have to do is change where you place the brackets relative to the enclosure. E.g., Cisco 1U-size routers like the 2500 and 2600 series include mounting brackets that can also be used as wall-mounting straps, and is well documented in the installation manuals. Also, as noted above, you should note the ventilation characteristics of your hardware; if it has a fan, make sure that the exhaust points up (also noted in Cisco's documentation).

    This might help.

    --
    In Soviet Russia, Jesus asks: "What Would You Do?"
  6. DIY - bare rack rails by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative
    rack rails

    Since music gear also uses standard 19" racks, a big music store will have all sorts of stuff you can probably adapt. If you search for "rack rails" on musician's friend's site above, there are all sorts of products. You can also find open frame rack kits, desktop rackmounts, etc. All you have to do is figure out how to mount them.