Rails, shelves, blanking panels and cable managers

Skills you'll practise

• Distinguish rail kits, fixed shelves, cable-management arms and vertical cable managers
• Explain why empty units need blanking panels
• Choose the right mounting hardware for a device

Course outline

1. 1.Rails, arms, cage nuts and blanking panelsVideo · 2 min
2. 2.Mounting and cable hardwareLesson · 12 min
3. 3.Installing rail kits and cage nutsLesson · 13 min
4. 4.Cable management that keeps air and access clearLesson · 12 min
5. 5.Rails, shelves, blanking panels and cable managers: knowledge checkKnowledge check · 19 questions
6. 6.Blanking panels missing after an installScenario
7. 7.Final exam5 questions · passing it completes the course, so people who already know the material can test out

Sources it draws on

The lessons and questions are written from these references, so learners can go back to the original.

• EIA/ECA-310-E: Cabinets, racks, panels and associated equipment (19-inch rack, 1U = 1.75 in)
• ASHRAE TC 9.9: Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environments
• Your equipment vendors' installation and service guides (rail kits, PSU and BMC documentation)
• Leviton installer guide: four-pair UTP bend radius guideline (4 x cable outside diameter; the cable's specified minimum governs)