| It has been interesting over the years to see how | | | | server and blowing it out the back. |
| words morph so quickly in the computer IT arena. A | | | | These deeper hot running servers no longer worked |
| good example has been how the term server rack | | | | well in a conventional enclosure cabinet or computer |
| evolved from the phrases enclosure cabinet, data | | | | rack and a new style computer rack was developed. |
| cabinet and computer rack that was made to hold | | | | This cabinet had to be deeper and allow for airflow |
| computer hardware on 19" EIA rack rails. | | | | from the front to rear to keep the servers from |
| Most of these type enclosure cabinets were shallow | | | | burning up. The industry term began to morph to |
| from 20" to 25" deep and were basically the same | | | | server rack. |
| for many years. Things began to change when | | | | The rack rails of the server racks also changed from |
| deeper cabinets were needed as blade servers | | | | a long time standard of 10/32 tapped rack rails to a |
| became more popular several years ago. Until blade | | | | punched square hole that held an insert for a 6mm |
| servers entered the market, most servers were | | | | cage nut and screw. Dell, along with other |
| towers or 15-20" deep that could be rack mounted in | | | | manufactures, makes sliding rails that attach to the |
| 4U-8U space. | | | | server rack with a special flange that fits into the |
| Many popular blade servers were designed to only | | | | square hole without the use rack screws. |
| take up 1U-4U of space. This created the opportunity | | | | Currently, racks are made in many versions. Some |
| to put a lot more servers in a computer rack. An | | | | have a combination plexi door with special vents cut |
| interesting problem was created however when | | | | in the frame for the front door and a screen rear |
| blade servers were put in such a small "U" space. The | | | | door. Other server rack versions have a locking |
| servers became much deeper, up to 42" deep in | | | | screen door in front and a double screen door in the |
| some cases, and also ran much hotter. Heat disperse | | | | back to save space as it opens into an aisle. |
| was addressed by pulling air from the front of the | | | | |