A Colocation Must

Space is a significant facet of a colocation facility. The specific size and condition of this physical area affects the performance of the server. There are two terms that refer to space in colocation. These are racks or Us and cabinets. 

The rack design has been officially made to have a measure of 19 inches. This has facilitated for standardized sizes of networking equipment especially computers and easy placement of these equipment inside the racks. The 19 inches here refer to the spacing of the horizontal mounting for each stand or cabinet present in the actual server site. 

The height of the machines and devices placed inside the rack used to have variations but then an official size was determined to arrive at a more universal height. The U or standard height unit entered the fray. Its measure is about 1.75 inches. The number of Us marked on a specific server component indicates its height. For example, majority of the present networking devices like switches are 2U while drive arrays are 4U.  

The number of Us needed to put up the hardware within the colocation facility is utilized to indicate the base price of the server. Large 2U systems can cost more than that of a single 1U server. Moreover, server costs are influenced by the cost and equipment required to fill up the space. Expansion cards located in desktops usually function better when they are housed inside a 4U server case. 

Cabinets are 47U racks that are commonly used for equipment mounting. Cabinets are tagged as closed or cage when a locking door panel is present. This increases the amount of security for the hardware placed inside the colocation site. These racks are the ones usually handpicked by larger companies that demand more space for added servers and storage arrays. 

There are cases when providers would suggest a ¼ cabinet when they think that a machine is not mountable in a rack. A ¼ cabinet which is around 12U is part of the variation called partial cabinet. There is also a ½ cabinet which has a measure of 24U. 

Providers do not only help customers via the space they have for rent. They also offer alternative power mechanisms that are systematically installed within the site. During unwanted power breakdowns backup power sources come to the rescue. In order for these sources to work in good condition the provider must have a clear picture of the system’s power usage. 

Amps enter the scenario and create a relationship with the amount of space needed to push through with the server setup. It is up to the provider to assign a specific number of amps. The usual ratio would come as one to two amps for every U that is part of the rental. 

Now that you have an understanding of the role space plays in colocation services it’s up to you to determine how you can effectively create a facility that will help boost up the performance of your hardware. Make sure that you pick the best offer from a company that is competent enough to maintain the very heart of your business. 
