13U, 2-Post Aluminum Open Frame Rack, Black, Slim, (12-24) Thread

Floor-mounted rack or wall-mounted rack? It’s a key consideration when you shop for a rack for your IT networking equipment. The obvious benefit of wall-mounted models is that they don’t take up floor space in small rooms. But space isn’t everything.

Below we list six solid advantages of floor-mounted racks, also known as free-standing racks. We conclude with a summary of ShowMeCables’ floor-mounted offerings.

Advantages of Floor-Mounted Racks

  • Increased Weight Capacity: Floor-mounted racks are typically designed to support heavier equipment and larger network setups. They can accommodate a higher weight capacity compared to wall-mounted racks, making them suitable for larger networks with multiple servers, switches, and other network devices.
  • Enhanced Stability: Floor-mounted racks are more stable and less prone to movement or vibrations compared to wall-mounted racks. This stability is especially important for delicate or sensitive equipment that may be affected by excessive movement.
  • Improved Accessibility: With a floor-mounted rack, you have easier access to the front and rear of the equipment. This facilitates equipment installation, maintenance, and cable management. You can easily reach the devices from all sides, making it more convenient to manage and troubleshoot the network infrastructure.
  • Greater Flexibility: Floor-mounted racks, especially those on caster wheels, offer more flexibility in terms of equipment placement and expansion. You have the freedom to position the rack wherever needed in the room, allowing for better utilization of space. Also, floor-mounted racks can be extended or modified to accommodate future growth and changing equipment requirements.
  • Enhanced Cable Management: Floor-mounted racks typically provide more space for cable management, which is essential for maintaining a tidy and organized network setup. They often come with additional cable management features such as cable trays, vertical cable organizers, and floor-level access points, making it easier to route and manage cables effectively.
  • Better Cooling and Ventilation: Floor-mounted racks generally have better cooling and ventilation options compared to wall-mounted racks. They can accommodate larger cooling systems, such as rack-mounted cooling units or raised flooring for improved airflow. This is particularly beneficial when dealing with high-density equipment or environments where heat dissipation is crucial.

It's worth noting that the choice between floor-mounted and wall-mounted racks depends on your specific network requirements, available space, and other considerations. Sometimes, a combination of both types may be used in a network setup to leverage their respective advantages.

SMC’s Floor-Mounted Racks

SMC’s floor-mounted racks are classified into three categories on our website: mobile racks and carts, relay racks, and free-standing racks.

Mobile Racks and Carts

SMC’s mobile racks and carts consist of two lines of wheeled, lockable, enclosed cabinets that hold standard, 19-inch rack equipment:

  • The line of larger AV rack cabinets holds from 18U to 42U. Some models have locking casters. Other features include adjustable feet along with the wheels; adjustable rack depth; reversible, tempered glass door; and removable back and side panels.
  • The line of smaller portable rolling racks holds from 14U to 27U and has from 23 to 26 inches of depth. These super-rugged racks have larger, 4-inch casters for smoother movement; beefed up, 16-gauge steel panels; recessed handles to prevent damage during transport; and more.

Relay Racks

Our relay racks are open-frame designs with high capacities and either two or four posts. All are 44U to 45U high and most can hold from 800 to 1500 pounds of equipment. Each has a different set of features that are useful in professional installations, such as:

Free-Standing Racks

SMC’s free-standing racks are offered in heights from 8U to 44U and depths from 20 to 42 inches. Models with adjustable mounting depths give you flexibility to easily change your configuration.

Some of their distinguishing features:

  • Floor or Desk: Most of our free-standing racks are made to stand on the floor, but a few are shorter and fit nicely on a desktop, such as this 12U backward-leaning model.
  • Support Posts: Free-standing racks come with either two or four posts. Two posts take up less floor space and are more affordable, but generally hold less weight and cannot support deep components that require rear support rails.
  • Base: Some two-post and four-post models come with caster wheels so you can rotate it for easier access to its rear cables. Some have a flat metal base with four holes for anchoring it to the floor.
  • ‘Gangable’ Room for Growth: Our line of gangable racks allows you to solidly fasten one rack atop another for future expansion without requiring more floor space.

The vast majority of ShowMeCables’ wide selection of floor-mounted racks and rack accessories are in stock and available for same-day shipping if ordered before 5 p.m. ET.

If you have any questions or need guidance on which floor-mounted rack is best for you, our U.S.-based customer service would love to hear from you at 1-888-519-9505. Or you can contact us via email or chat.