PRIMERGY rack systems

Design guide

Issue

March 9, 2005

Product

Rack Systems

Pages

12

1 Introduction and highlights

Rack systems are based on what is called the 19-inch standard, according to which
rack cabinets, servers and other components, such as UPSs, hubs, routers, modems
and operating consoles, are manufactured. The term standard suggests a
specification and definition of all prevalent dimensions and construction requirements
relating to the mechanics and electrical equipment of these rack systems. In fact, only
a few dimensions and weights are truly specified in this quasi-standard: various
specifications can be interpreted too broadly, there is also a lack of tolerances in
some cases, and many a dimension is not even included in the 19-inch standard.
And if you decide to search for standardizations or tolerance specifications for these
racks, you wont have much luck.
The problems and incompatibilities in the installation dimensions of competitor products and components from third-party
vendors have always been taken into account in PRIMERGY rack systems. At the latest since the PRIMECENTER rack family,
there has been a universal and variable rack system in which the bulk of the 19-inch components on the market can be installed
without any problems. Unfortunately, however, there will always be cases where the inaccuracy of the 19-inch standard strikes,
namely when products from different vendors must be combined with each other.
The aim of this document is thus to facilitate integration of PRIMERGY systems in third-party racks and the installation of other
vendors systems in Fujitsu Siemens Computers racks by specifying the necessary installation conditions and dimensions.

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Contents
1
2

3
4

Introduction and highlights

Preconditions
2.1
Liability and warranty
2.2
Installation rules
2.3
Thermal qualification
Analyzed configurations
3.1
General suitability of PRIMERGY systems for installation
Installation of a PRIMERGY system in third-party racks
4.1
Rack dimensions table
4.2
Front plate dimensions
Mounting third-party products in PRIMERGY racks
5.1
Grid dimensions of PRIMECENTER racks
5.2
Basic design of PRIMECENTER racks
5.3
Dimensions of PRIMECENTER racks (940 mm)
5.4
Dimensions of PRIMECENTER racks (1000 mm)
Carrier systems
6.1
Telescopic rails
6.2
Sliding rails

1
3
3
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
7
7
8
9
10
11
11
12

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2 Preconditions
2.1

Liability and warranty

In principle, specific responsibilities must be observed in integrating components to create an overall system. They include
compliance with country-specific and international regulations and provisions, such as electrical and electromagnetic behavior,
safety regulations and operating conditions. The party integrating components from different vendors therefore bears
responsibility, and is consequently liable for and warrants the integration work that has been carried out.

2.2

Installation rules

A broad range of servers means a large variety of combinations in the rack and the requirement that every server be operated
within its thermal limits. So that not every possible configuration must be assessed separately, rules for installing servers and
components in the racks have been established:
1.

Every server is independent in its height unit(s) and respects the independence of neighboring servers.

2.

Every server must be able to function with the resources of its height unit(s) (cooling, cable management, maintenance
space, etc.).

These two rules restrict the creativity of developers of servers and rack-mounted systems to the height unit(s) required by the
server, yet permit different solutions to coexist.

2.3

Thermal qualification

A thermal assessment of a server in the rack must take into account the following PRIMERGY servers cooling concept:

A PRIMERGY server is cooled by an air current that is generated by fans within the server. Any emission of thermal energy
is regarded as negligible and consequently does not contribute to cooling the server. In the same way, any possible supply
of energy from thermal radiation is regarded as negligible and is ruled out.

The front 19 plane is defined as a climatic boundary between the intake air and exhaust air of the rack or the server.

The following thus applies to thermal qualification:

1.

Following mounting of the server in a rack, the intake air area is defined as being the boundaries of the height units it
occupies.

2.

The floor and cover surfaces of the server are designed as adiabatic surfaces, i.e. thermal energy is not exchanged via the
floor or ground surface. This prevents any influence from servers mounted above or below.

In cabling the server, the rack infrastructure is used optimally and the exhaust air area of the server is kept free to the maximum
possible extent.

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3 Analyzed configurations
As already indicated in the introduction, two cases are described in this document:
1.
2.

PRIMERGY servers or storage subsystems are to be integrated in racks from other manufacturers, possibly in coexistence
with servers or storage systems from different vendors.
Servers, subsystems or infrastructure components (USPs, switches, hubs) from third-party vendors are to be mounted in
PRIMECENTER and PRIMERGY DataCenter racks.

These two cases must be viewed separately, namely with respect to:

Installation dimensions of the systems, including cabling spaces and conditions relating to serviceability
Cabling conditions and requirements
Availability of mounting material and safety of mounting

This can result is a wide range of installation requirements. However, not all cases can be analyzed individually; the market in
the 19 segment is simply too large. We are consequently focusing on products from Fujitsu Siemens Computers and the
associated rack systems.

3.1

General suitability of PRIMERGY systems for installation

All PRIMERGY systems are developed on the basis of the same design principles. As a consequence, this analysis of
installation of a PRIMERGY component is reduced to the essentials.
As regards rack mounting, these design principles have been strictly geared to international standards. For example, FSC rails
generally have variable depths (usually 710 mm 815 mm), use mounting points in the 19 grid system and respect the height
grid of 19 systems. Strict observance of these design principles permits integration of PRIMERGY servers in over 95% of all
racks. PRIMERGY servers can also be combined with the cable management solutions of the racks without any problems.
Safety and climatic aspects must be taken into account when integrating PRIMERGY systems in third-party racks. Retaining
systems, restrictions to extraction, and cooling concepts must also be operable in third-party racks.

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4 Installation of a PRIMERGY system in third-party racks

4.1

Rack dimensions table

The figure below indicates what areas and dimensions must be provided for PRIMERGY systems in a third-party rack.
1
Rack front
2
Rack rear
D
Cabling space
F
Support system space l/r
a1/b1/a2/b2 Support uprights

A
B
E
P

Rack depth
C
Rack width
C1
Front plate design/
C2
air-conditioning
PRIMERGY installation depth

Installation plane clearance

Front installation plane
Rear installation plane

Product Facts Issue: March 9, 2005 Product: Rack Systems

4.2

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Front plate dimensions

The dimension that is guaranteed as a reliable quantity by all rack manufacturers is the installation width of 19 (Rw > 450 mm).
So that this dimension can be respected in all cases, the housing width Rw is limited to a maximum of 448 mm.
The height dimensions are guidelines for ensuring smooth installation or insertion. They are always relative to the start or the
end of a height unit U (1 U = 44.45 mm).
Assuming a space of one U, there are the dimensions:

Ht
Fw

Ft

Rw
Hw

Frontansicht / Frontal

Hh

Fh
HE/U

Fb

Rw :
Fw :
Fh :
Ft :
Fb :
Hw :
Hh :
Ht :
Hb :
HE/U:

Hb

Rack-Einbaubreite / rack width = 450.5mm + 1mm

Frontplattenbreite / front panel width = 482.6mm 0.4mm
Frontplatten-Hhe / front plate height = x HE/U 2 x 0.5mm
Frontplatten-Oberkante zur HE / distance between front plate upper edge to U = 0.5mm
Frontplatten-Unterkante zur HE / distance between front plate lower edge to U = 0.5mm
Gehusebreite / housing width = 448mm
Gehusehhe / housing height = x HE/U Ht Hb
Abstand Gehuse-Oberseite zur HE / distance between housing top side and U = 2.4mm
Abstand Gehuse-Unterseite zur HE / distance between housing bottom side and U = 2.4mm
Hheneinheit / unit = 44.45mm

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5 Mounting third-party products in PRIMERGY racks

Two families of rack systems are currently used at Fujitsu Siemens Computers: PRIMERGY DataCenter racks and
PRIMECENTER racks. In general, it can be said that PRIMECENTER racks represent a continued development of the
DataCenter racks from Fujitsu Siemens Computers and have many of their features. PRIMECENTER racks and PRIMERGY
DataCenter racks are compatible with each other as regards their basic design and dimensions. Naturally they comply with
international standards relating to EMC and safety as well as with the specifications of the 19 standard.

5.1

Grid dimensions of PRIMECENTER racks

Fujitsu Siemens
PRIMECENTER Rack
19"

HE/U 4

HE/U 3

HE/U 2

HE/U 1

Product Facts Issue: March 9, 2005 Product: Rack Systems

5.2

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Basic design of PRIMECENTER racks

Vertical support
cable management

Area for
cable management

19 vertical supports

Area for vertical

fittings

Product Facts Issue: March 9, 2005 Product: Rack Systems

5.3

Dimensions of PRIMECENTER racks (940 mm)

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Product Facts Issue: March 9, 2005 Product: Rack Systems

5.4

Dimensions of PRIMECENTER racks (1000 mm)

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6 Carrier systems
6.1

Telescopic rails

Two types of rail are used for installing systems: sliding rails and telescopic rails. Telescopic rails permit extraction of a system
to outside the rack system (double extraction). Servers or subsystems that contain hot-plug components that can be replaced
online, such as PCI cards or fans at the rear of the housing, must always be installed with telescopic rails so that the server can
be serviced completely during operation. Sliding rails are only adequate for systems that do not have to be opened during
operation or for systems where the extent of extraction with sliding rails permits access to hot-plug components. The loadbearing capacity of the rails must always be sufficient.

Single or double
extraction, inserted

Single extraction,
restricted

Single extraction,
withdrawn

Double extraction,
excess length > 105%

Functions:

Single extraction, restricted

Single extraction
Double extraction with excess length > 105%

The rails supplied by Fujitsu Siemens Computer for PRIMERGY systems have a length compensation so that, among other
things, no stresses occur in the rack construction in the case of thermal expansion. This length compensation also permits
adaptation to different housing dimensions.

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6.2

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Sliding rails

The following dimensions apply to sliding rails at Fujitsu Siemens Computers:

Seitliche Fhrung = Lateral guide

Gleitebene = Sliding plane

R D G B ild

All rights, including rights created by patent grant or registration of a utility model or design, are
reserved. Delivery subject to availability; right of technical modifications reserved.
All hardware and software names used are trade names or trademarks of their respective
manufacturers.

Published by department:
Enterprise Products
PRIMERGY Server

Copyright Fujitsu Siemens Computers, 03/2005

http://www.fujitsu-siemens.com/

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