Essential Knowledge for Telecom Professionals
The cabinet, a device specifically designed for housing computers and related control equipment, is typically constructed from cold-rolled steel or alloy materials. Not only do they provide physical protection for internal devices against environmental factors such as dust and moisture, but they also effectively shield against electromagnetic interference through their metal structure, ensuring stable signal transmission between devices. Moreover, the standardized mounting racks inside the cabinets allow for orderly arrangement of various devices, greatly facilitating their management and maintenance.
There is a wide variety of cabinets, which can be categorized into server cabinets, network cabinets, console cabinets, etc., according to different uses, to adapt to various complex application scenarios. They also combine safety, scalability, and aesthetics. The inclusion of security locks can effectively prevent unauthorized access, protecting the safety of the equipment; while the design of the cabinets fully considers scalability, allowing users to flexibly add or remove components based on technical needs. In pursuit of aesthetics, the design of the cabinets can also harmonize with the surrounding environment, enhancing the overall visual effect.
As an indispensable component of modern data centers, the application of cabinets not only improves the safety and stability of the equipment but also highlights the professionalism and tidiness of the data center.
With the rapid development of computer and network technology, cabinets have become an essential part of them. IT facilities such as servers and network communication equipment within data centers are gradually evolving towards miniaturization, networking, and rack-mounting, with cabinets playing a crucial role in this transformation.
Cabinets can be classified in various ways. By function, there are fireproof and anti-magnetic cabinets, power cabinets, monitoring cabinets, shielded cabinets, safety cabinets, waterproof cabinets, and safes; by scope of application, there are outdoor cabinets, indoor cabinets, communication cabinets, and industrial safety cabinets. Additionally, there are a series of extended classifications, such as control consoles, computer case cabinets, and stainless steel cases.
In terms of type and structural characteristics, common colors for cabinets include white, black, and gray, with further subdivisions such as orange peel and fine sand textures. Materials typically used for cabinets include aluminum profiles, 9-fold profiles, 16-fold profiles, cold-rolled steel plates, or hot-rolled steel plates, with stability determined by the steel plate material, coating material, and processing technology. In terms of size, common lengths are 600 and 800mm, widths are 600, 800, and 1000mm, and heights are commonly 42U, 36U, and 24U.
The basic structure of cabinets can be divided into profile and sheet metal types. Profile structure cabinets include steel profile cabinets and aluminum profile cabinets, the former composed of special-shaped seamless steel pipes as columns, offering excellent stiffness and strength, suitable for heavy equipment; the latter characterized by lightness and beauty, suitable for general or light equipment. On the other hand, sheet metal structure cabinets include whole-plate cabinets and bent-plate column cabinets, the former with side panels made of a single steel plate bent into shape, offering good stiffness and strength but inconvenient disassembly; the latter with columns made of bent steel plates, providing certain stiffness and strength. Additionally, cabinets are equipped with various accessories such as rails, locking devices, etc., to enhance their functionality.
Technical Requirements
Cabinets must possess excellent technical performance. Their structural design needs to comprehensively consider the electrical and mechanical characteristics of the equipment as well as the usage environment, optimizing through physical and chemical means to ensure the cabinets have excellent stiffness and strength, along with multiple functions such as electromagnetic shielding, grounding, noise control, and ventilation and heat dissipation. Moreover, cabinets need to have characteristics such as vibration resistance, impact resistance, corrosion resistance, dustproof, waterproof, and radiation protection, ensuring the equipment can operate stably and reliably.
At the same time, cabinet design also needs to consider usability and safety protection. It should be easy to operate, install, and maintain, always prioritizing the safety of the operator. During production, cabinets should be easy to assemble, debug, and package and transport. Additionally, the appearance of the cabinets should be aesthetically pleasing, with harmonious color matching, to adapt to various usage environments.
Functions and Uses
The cabinet, often seen by many as merely a box for loading IT equipment, is actually much more than that. For computers, the cabinet plays a crucial role, its auxiliary role no less important than that of a UPS power supply. A high-quality cabinet can ensure the computer operates stably in an ideal environment. It can be said that wherever there are computers, there will inevitably be cabinets.
Cabinets not only solve many problems in computer applications, such as high-density heat dissipation, cable management, and large-capacity power distribution, but also fully integrate with rack-mounted equipment from different manufacturers, enabling data centers to operate efficiently and stably. With the continuous development of the computer industry, the functions of cabinets have become increasingly indispensable, their presence ubiquitous in major computer rooms.
Moreover, server cabinets, as a type of cabinet, are designed for installing servers, displays, UPS, and other 19″ standard equipment and non-19″ standard equipment. They not only provide an overall installation box but also create a suitable working environment and safety protection for electronic equipment. Their technical performance requirements are strict, including physical design, chemical design, and multiple functional performances, ensuring the equipment can work stably and reliably. At the same time, server cabinets also consider usability and safety protection, being easy to operate, install, and maintain, always prioritizing the safety of the operator.
Server cabinets have strict requirements in terms of size, with clear standards for height, width, and depth. Common cabinet heights are 2.0 meters, 1.8 meters, and 1.6 meters, widths can be 800mm, 700mm, or 600mm, and depths are divided into 700mm, 800mm, and 900mm.
Additionally, server cabinets are equipped with a variety of accessories, such as dedicated fixed trays, dedicated sliding trays, power brackets, etc. These accessories are not only diverse in type but also varied in function, able to meet various complex installation needs. For example, fixed trays can be used to install various devices, with diverse sizes and strong load-bearing capacity; while sliding trays facilitate the quick installation and removal of keyboards and other devices.
At the same time, the design of the cabinet’s frame and door panels also considers ease of use. The main frame, front and rear doors, and left and right side doors can all be quickly disassembled and assembled, making maintenance and upgrades simple and efficient. Additionally, various specifications of cable management racks and rings are provided for cable management and optimization; L brackets are specifically designed for installing heavy 19″ standard equipment; and expansion beams offer flexible and diverse solutions for space expansion within the cabinet.
Installation nuts (square nuts) are universal accessories for the TOPER series cabinets, suitable for the installation of various equipment within the cabinet, including the fixation of most cabinet accessories.
The keyboard tray is specifically designed for standard computer keyboards, compatible with all specifications of keyboards on the market, and can be folded 90 degrees for ease of use. Please note, the keyboard tray needs to be used in conjunction with sliding trays.
The speed-regulating fan unit is installed at the top of the cabinet and can intelligently adjust the fan speed based on the environment and equipment temperature, effectively reducing the noise level in the computer room. Its speed regulation is manually and continuously adjustable.
Moreover, there is the rack-mounted fan unit, with a height of 1U, which can be flexibly installed at any position within a 19″ standard cabinet, providing support for heat dissipation in the computer room.
The full mesh front door design, using ?3 round holes, not only enhances the cabinet’s heat dissipation and shielding performance but also has high adaptability, compatible with cabinets of three heights: 2.0 meters, 1.8 meters, and 1.6 meters.
Network cabinets and server cabinets are similar, both used for the combined installation of various panels, plug-ins, subracks, and electronic components, forming an integrated installation box. Network cabinets are mainly used in wiring projects for storing routers, switches, displays, and other equipment. Their depth is usually less than or equal to 800mm, while server cabinets have a depth greater than or equal to 800mm. Additionally, network cabinets need to meet requirements for ease of production, assembly, debugging, and packaging and transportation, whereas server cabinets should pursue standardization, specification, and serialization, while also focusing on aesthetic appearance and color coordination.
Cabinet Accessories – Cabinet Cooling
The issue of local overheating in cabinets can be addressed in several ways. Adding a heat dissipation unit can increase the speed and volume of airflow, effectively reducing temperature. Simultaneously, installing refrigeration equipment within the cabinet or increasing the intake of cold air can also achieve cooling effects.
To more efficiently solve the problem of local overheating inside cabinets, we have introduced cabinet coolers. Utilizing vortex tube technology, they convert compressed air into cold and hot air streams. The hot air is expelled through an exhaust device at a slightly higher pressure, while the cold air is precisely directed into the heating components inside the chassis through a splitter, thereby reducing and stabilizing the internal temperature of the chassis, ensuring that outside air cannot enter.
Furthermore, the panel cabinet cooler maximizes the application of vortex tube cooling technology. With a low-cost, high-performance vortex tube cooler as its core component, it can lower the temperature of compressed air by 45 degrees. The cold air stream is precisely directed into the heating parts of the panel cabinet through a splitter, while creating positive pressure inside the cabinet to effectively prevent outside air from entering, achieving efficient cooling and purification of the panel cabinet.
In electronic control systems, variable speed drive systems, servo systems, and programmable logic control systems that are sensitive to heat and pollution, overheating can lead to failure of electronic and electrical components, misdisplay of digital display systems, drift of control systems, and system shutdowns under conditions below rated load. While fans and air conditioners can provide some cooling effect, fans often bring dirty, humid, and corrosive air from the environment into the cabinet, potentially causing damage to electrical equipment; air conditioners are bulky, difficult to install, and costly to maintain. In contrast, vortex coolers, with their no moving parts and internal vortex tubes efficiently converting compressed air into low-pressure cold air, offer efficient and reliable closed protection in a variety of applications from small computer control cabinets and touch screen control panels to large electronic panel cabinets.
The vortex tube converts compressed air into a vortex, which is then divided into hot and cold air streams. This conversion process is completed in a cylindrical vortex generator, which is larger in size than the hot tube that generates the swirling airflow. When compressed air enters the hot tube, forced by the swirling airflow, it rotates along the tube wall at speeds of up to 1,000,000 rpm and enters the tube. At the end of the tube, part of the air is expelled as hot air through a needle valve, while the remaining air returns at a lower speed through the center of the swirling airflow. This high-speed cold air stream then passes through the center of the generator and is expelled from the cold air outlet.
However, heat generation in industrial control electrical systems, along with the presence of dust, moisture, hazardous explosive or corrosive substances, can all lead to system failures. For example, overheating can cause production lines to trip frequently under rated load, while open heat dissipation can lead to dust accumulation and increased noise, violating OSHA standards. Additionally, blocked air filters require frequent cleaning or replacement, and overheating can also cause errors in readings of electronic measurement, weighing, counting, or recording instruments.
To address these issues, vortex coolers provide an efficient solution. They require no moving parts, and the internal vortex tube can efficiently convert compressed air into low-pressure cold air. This type of cooler offers efficient and reliable closed protection in a variety of applications from small computer control cabinets and touch screen control panels to large electronic panel cabinets.
By following the steps below, you will be able to select a cabinet that meets your installation needs (including safety, durability, compatibility, and ease of loading and unloading) without exceeding your budget. The primary consideration is safety. Placing mission-critical IT equipment in a lockable cabinet not only reassures network administrators but also limits the number of people who can open the cabinet.
In terms of specifications, you need to list all the devices to be installed in the cabinet and their detailed measurements, including height, length, width, and weight. The total height of these devices will determine the cabinet’s capacity. Clearly, taller cabinets can hold more devices while saving space.
Since the total weight of the equipment can be considerable, it is crucial to choose a cabinet that can withstand approximately 1000KG. This means you need to select a cabinet with a robust load-bearing structure. Additionally, internal cabinet choices, such as the type of sliding rack (standard or heavy-duty), and the selection of other accessories, will be influenced by the weight of the equipment.
Ensure that the selected cabinet is 100% compatible with all servers and meets or exceeds all OEM manufacturers’ Category III bracket specifications. If you need to install tower or desktop devices, sliding racks and mounting accessories will become essential.
Considering that the installation may include network cables, telecom cables, and power cables, it will be particularly important to purchase hook-and-loop straps or toothed straps to effectively secure the cables. If the cabinet is equipped with a cable management module, allowing cables to be directly fixed within the vertical installation rails, that would be even more ideal. In any case, the interior of the cabinet should have sufficient fixed rings on the upper and side walls to protect the cables, and bottom cabling can also be achieved by lifting the cabinet’s floor panel.
Finally, choosing server cabinets and wiring cabinets with reliable quality assurance is crucial. Any oversight can lead to significant losses, so users should primarily consider the quality of the product. Regardless of the brand, quality is the key factor determining success or failure.
Load-bearing capacity is crucial
As the density of equipment within cabinets increases, their load-bearing capacity has become a key indicator of cabinet performance. A high-quality cabinet must be able to withstand heavy loads, ensuring the equipment inside is well protected, thereby maintaining the stable operation of the entire system.
Temperature control is indispensable
The interior of the cabinet should be equipped with an effective temperature control system to prevent equipment from overheating or overcooling. This can be achieved by selecting a fully ventilated series of cabinets and equipping them with durable fans. In extreme environments, independent air conditioning or heating and insulation systems can also be installed to ensure the equipment always operates under optimal conditions.
Comprehensive cabinet functions
A comprehensive cabinet solution should offer multiple functions, such as dustproof, waterproof, and electronic shielding, to enhance anti-interference performance. At the same time, it should support various accessories and installation fittings, making wiring more convenient and efficient, saving time and effort.
Cable management is crucial
In large data centers, cable management has become an important consideration in cabinet performance. Cabinets must provide ample cable channels, supporting cable entry and exit from the top and bottom. Additionally, cable laying should be convenient and orderly, maintaining close proximity to equipment cable interfaces to optimize wiring distance and efficiency. At the same time, it should ensure that wiring does not cause interference during equipment installation, adjustment, or maintenance, and that heat dissipation airflow is not obstructed. In the event of a failure, the ability to quickly locate equipment wiring is also an important aspect of cable management.
Power distribution systems cannot be overlooked
The power distribution system of the cabinet is also an important component of its performance. A reliable power distribution system can ensure stable power supply to the equipment and support the normal operation and expansion needs of the equipment. Therefore, when selecting a cabinet, the performance and reliability of its power distribution system must be considered.
How do cabinets cope with increasing power density?
With the intensification of high-density installation trends for IT equipment, the power distribution system plays an increasingly important role in cabinet performance. Reasonable power distribution is not only related to the availability of the entire IT system but is also the foundation for the system to perform effectively. However, in the past, computer room managers often overlooked this issue.
As IT equipment becomes increasingly miniaturized, the installation density of equipment within cabinets continues to rise. Taking a 7U blade server as an example, each server requires about 3kVA of power distribution. In a 42U high cabinet, up to 8 such servers may be installed, with a total power distribution demand of up to 24kVA, which undoubtedly poses a severe challenge to the power distribution system within the cabinet.
At the same time, with the increase in input and output ports, the installation reliability of the power distribution system also faces higher requirements. Considering that most servers now require dual power supplies, power distribution within the cabinet has become more complex.
When designing a reasonable cabinet power distribution system, it is essential to focus on reliability, specifically designing for the characteristics of the cabinet system and fully coordinating and seamlessly integrating with the power distribution system. Additionally, ease of installation, intelligent management, high adaptability, and ease of operation and maintenance should be considered. By bringing the power closer to the load, reducing fault points in the power path, and gradually achieving local and remote monitoring of load current, as well as remote control of power distribution, the power distribution management can be incorporated into the overall intelligent management system of the computer room.
Furthermore, different types of cabinets have their specific uses and design requirements. For example, cabinets used for wiring typically house multiple terminal switches and therefore need to accommodate a large number of network cables, with a design focus on practicality; whereas cabinets used for housing servers need to protect valuable equipment, often equipped with security measures such as locks, and their internal layout is more precise.
