11/1/2017 IBM Knowledge Center - Planning for space, rack positioning, and other physical requirements

Scale Out Network Attached Storage    Products 

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Planning for space, rack positioning, and other


physical requirements
Plan the physical configuration, software licensing, delivery requirements, site requirements, data migration, and how to order
features.

About this task

Professional movers or riggers must transport the IBM Scale Out Network Attached Storage (IBM SONAS) cabinet into the installation
room because of its weight.

An IBM® service support representative must install the racks.

The IBM authorized service provider performs minimal frame repositioning within the computer room, as required.

The delivery bundle for the extender panels for a rack is a two-pallet-long bundle. Use either a pallet jack on each end or a long pallet
jack to move the bundle.

The installation might require more space than the following normal clearances. For example, the disk drive packages can require a
significant amount of space.
Table 1. Door or panel required clearance

Door or panel Required clearance

Front 762 mm (30 in.)

Back 762 mm (30 in.)

Side Depends on the floor load rating. Units can be bolted together with side panels on the base rack and
the last rack bolted to the line, if the floor can support such a load.
Provide 481 mm (18.9 in.) to remove the side panel from a rack, if necessary.

Physical characteristics of the racks are:

Table 2. Physical characteristics of the rack with 483 mm (19 inch) extender panels

Rack Height Width Depth

Base Rack (2851-RXA) 2015 mm (79.3 in) 646 mm (25.4 in.) 1608 mm (63.3 in.)

Storage Expansion Rack (2851-RXB)

Interface Expansion Rack (2851-RXC)

Feature code 0103 is an optional 203 mm (8 inch) rack depth extender. It is required for any IBM SONAS rack that has the 2851-DR1
or DE1 storage. All other racks that do not have a DR1 or DE1 do not require the FC 0103. The FC 0103 rack extender is also required
for your rack if you desire the interface node patch panel.

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11/1/2017 IBM Knowledge Center - Planning for space, rack positioning, and other physical requirements
Table 3. Physical characteristics of the rack with 203 mm (8 inch) extender panels

Rack Height Width Depth

Base Rack (2851-RXA) 2015 mm (79.3 in) 646 mm (25.4 in.) 1329 mm (53.3 in.)

Storage Expansion Rack (2851-RXB)

Interface Expansion Rack (2851-RXC)

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Figure 1. An IBM SONAS rack with extender

Prepare your environment with planning assistance from an IBM Installation Planning Representative (IPR) or an IBM authorized
service provider. Prepare the site in advance so that professional movers or riggers can transport the equipment to the final site within
the computer room.

• EIA units: 42 EIA units

• Required service clearances:

Front: 762 mm (30 in.)

Rear: 762 mm (30 in.)

Sides: 0 mm (0 in.) required but this measurement varies based on the rack feature (which determines its weight) and the
floor loading rating. 481 mm (18.9 in.) is required for side panel removal.
Feature code 9005 requires 6.1 in. on each side when the floor loading rating is 488 kg per m2 or 100 lbs per ft2.

The storage expansion rack requires 313 mm (12.3 in.) on each side when the floor loading rating is 488 kg per m2 or 100 lbs
f2
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11/1/2017 IBM Knowledge Center - Planning for space, rack positioning, and other physical requirements
per ft2 .

Rack spacing example:

To account for the weight distribution area of individual frames when installing multiple frames in the same row, add their required
clearances. In other words, the space between adjoining frames is cumulative, with each frame contributing to the required clearance.


Each cumulative clearance requirement is the total of the required clearances of adjoining frames and reflects the accumulated
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weight distribution areas of the adjoining frames.

See Meeting floor load requirements for more information.

Dimensions of rack door features

Table 4. Rack door dimensions

Door feature Description Dimension

FC 6070 Standard front and rear doors Front door: 57.15 mm (2.25 inches)
Rear door: 22.86 mm (0.9 inches)

FC 6249 Acoustic doors Each door: 198.12 mm (7.8 inches)

FC 6858 Rear door heat exchanger Front door: 57.15 mm (2.25 inches)
Rear door: 147.32 mm (5.8 inches)

• Planning for floor and space requirements

You must ensure that the location of your IBM Scale Out Network Attached Storage (IBM SONAS) system meets space and floor
requirements.

• Installing on raised or nonraised floors

Install the IBM Scale Out Network Attached Storage (IBM SONAS) system on a raised or a non-raised floor.

• Accommodating cables
Plan for either raised-floor or top-down cabling. Plan the location and dimensions of the cable cutouts at the installation location,
when using raised-floor cabling. Or plan to remove the top plate in the expansion unit of the rack to accommodate top-down
cabling.

• Meeting floor load requirements

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