Any server rack experts here? Need help.

[Fritz]

Have a Cisco switch in the rack that's long and heavy. Problem is the ass end of the switch sags badly. I went looking for a brace or bracket / support that will hold up the ass of the switch but to no avail. Ideally it needs to attach to the rack side to side and not front to back. There are a row of square holes along the sides of the rack that were obviously put there for a purpose. My needs in this case seems to be the perfect purpose for these holes. Problem is I can't find a bracket. Does one exist? I'd rather not have to fabricate one myself but will id necessary.

TIA

 

[cesmith9999]

which switch?

there are back end holders for long switches. If you do not see any on ebay, I would just get a L set of rails. and put the switch on that.

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as an example

Chris

 

[Babbage]

Not a rack expert but I've built a few.

How about a 1u shelf which telescopes in depth so you can bolt it to both the back and front of the rack.
No sag - but you may need longer cables for your device.

 

[Rand__]

Why not put a sturdy (metal) rod (screwed) in the square holes if they have the needed height?
Padded if you worry about scratches

 

[Fritz]

which switch?

there are back end holders for long switches. If you do not see any on ebay, I would just get a L set of rails. and put the switch on that.

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as an example

Chris

Ouch, those are pricey.

I'm not able to pull the switch out of the rack without a major hassle so a front to back solution isn't going to work. Guess I'll have to fabricate something. Seems strange that there isn't a solution to this problem already out there. Especially since the rack has square holes down each side. Wonder what they're supposed to be used for.

 

[Fritz]

Why not put a sturdy (metal) rod (screwed) in the square holes if they have the needed height?
Padded if you worry about scratches

I'd have to come down about an inch and a half but your idea is on the right track.

 

[Rand__]

Especially since the rack has square holes down each side. Wonder what they're supposed to be used for.

There are probably nuts for those available (sometimes these holes are wider then regular size so not entirely sure which fit) and you can then attach whatever you need (usually hooks or loops) to them.

I have them on my rack too, I've seen the wider nuts on some Rittal pages (they produce racks & other datacenter stuff in Germany), but In dont use them.

Rods (or even screws with nuts/locknuts and wooden boards) are my goto emergency rack bottom if I am am to cheap to get proper ones.

 

[Fritz]

There are probably nuts for those available (sometimes these holes are wider then regular size so not entirely sure which fit) and you can then attach whatever you need (usually hooks or loops) to them.

I have them on my rack too, I've seen the wider nuts on some Rittal pages (they produce racks & other datacenter stuff in Germany), but In dont use them.

Rods (or even screws with nuts/locknuts and wooden boards) are my goto emergency rack bottom if I am am to cheap to get proper ones.

Just checked, yea, they are wider.

 

[Sean Ho]

Many long switches came stock with their own 4-point brackets or even sliding rails like for a server. What model is your switch?

 

[Fritz]

It's an old WS-C3560G-48PS. It mainly runs my IP cams

 

[Sean Ho]

oh that doesn't count as long; I was thinking it was like a Mellanox SX6012 or something. It's designed to hang on its front rack ears; just support the back while you tighten the screws down.

 

[Dreece]

Cheapest reliable way to hold up gear is some steel stranded-wire with crimps (ebay cheap as chips), pull to the right length so it goes from rear of device to rear of rack, create a small loop at each end of wire for rack bolts and anything on the device to loop through and then crimp. Now your device won't sag. Doesn't get in the way whatsoever and simply works, though I wouldn't advise employing this method if the said device needs pulling out often.

 

[Fritz]

oh that doesn't count as long; I was thinking it was like a Mellanox SX6012 or something. It's designed to hang on its front rack ears; just support the back while you tighten the screws down.

Screws are tightened down and there's still a considerable sag in the back.

 

[Fritz]

Cheapest reliable way to hold up gear is some steel stranded-wire with crimps (ebay cheap as chips), pull to the right length so it goes from rear of device to rear of rack, create a small loop at each end of wire for rack bolts and anything on the device to loop through and then crimp. Now your device won't sag. Doesn't get in the way whatsoever and simply works, though I wouldn't advise employing this method if the said device needs pulling out often.

It hasn't been out of the rack in years so that wouldn't be a problem unless it decided to die on me. Being pressed for space the rack is in a corner and if I pull it out to gain access to the back I'll be blocking the door to the room and lose access to the front. Think I'm gonna rethink the whole mess and see if I can't rearrange / relocate the rack. Every time something like this comes up it stresses me out.

 

[Sean Ho]

All the best on your rack reorg! I used to use a 3560-48PS for cams; it sagged maybe a cm at the back, not enough to be of concern. Perhaps your ears are slightly bent? My ICX6610 also sags a bit (the brackets are beefier).

 

[Fritz]

All the best on your rack reorg! I used to use a 3560-48PS for cams; it sagged maybe a cm at the back, not enough to be of concern. Perhaps your ears are slightly bent? My ICX6610 also sags a bit (the brackets are beefier).

Thanks. I did notice that the ears that hold the rack nuts in might be contributing to the sag a bit. Tried tightening the screws to flatten the out a bit but to no avail. Think I'll just live with it for now. What are you using for cams now?

 

[Evan]

As mentioned by others 3560 is not a long heavy switch, used good rack and good cage nuts and bolts and it will stay reasonably straight. Not any rear brackets option, just out it above some other fixed device or a shelf if it worries you.

even on high end switch those cheap nasty rear brackets from Cisco annoy me, why can’t they at least have fixed rails that the switch ‘sits on’
Always a complaint with Cisco switching, it’s then not a one person job to mount

 

[Sean Ho]

What are you using for cams now?

Enterasys C3 series, $50 shipped. My old 3560 was only FE.

 

[Fritz]

As mentioned by others 3560 is not a long heavy switch, used good rack and good cage nuts and bolts and it will stay reasonably straight. Not any rear brackets option, just out it above some other fixed device or a shelf if it worries you.

even on high end switch those cheap nasty rear brackets from Cisco annoy me, why can’t they at least have fixed rails that the switch ‘sits on’
Always a complaint with Cisco switching, it’s then not a one person job to mount

Yea, think I'm being a little too picky. I did wedge a power cord end btween it and the PDU below it and it helped a little.

 

[Alfa147x]

I've used these for my rack to support heavy appliances which don't have rear support:

Lacing Bars Horizontal Cable - 2 inch - Rack Cable Management | Server Rack Accessories | StarTech.com

Horizontal Cable Lacing Bars with 2 in Offset for Racks - 10 Pack Route cables on these horizontal cable managers to reduce cable tension in your rack

www.startech.com

It's kinda janky but it works well in my home lab. I've mounted them in reverse so the cable lacing bar is supporting the weight of the appliance.