Open Rack

Open Rack is an Open Compute Project standard^[1] for a new rack and power delivery architecture and an efficient, scalable alternative to the EIA-310 19-inch rack. It differs from the traditional EIA-310 rack in that it was designed specifically for large-scale cloud deployments. There are four key features that make this rack design more efficient to deploy, support, and operate. The power to all of the compute, storage, or network devices is supplied by a pair of bus bars located in the rear of the rack. The bus bars are supplied with 48 V DC by a shelf of power supplies which provides efficient conversion from the local (usually three-phase) AC mains supply. The IT equipment that fits into Open Rack is 21 inches or 533 millimetres wide. This is a 15% increase in frontal area that provides more airflow to the IT devices, enabling the data center to reduce cooling costs. The vertical spacing is also taller to accommodate better airflow and structurally better enclosures that do not sag and interfere with adjacent equipment. All of the cables and interconnects are made from the front of the rack and the IT equipment is hot-pluggable and serviceable from the front of the rack. Service personnel no longer access the rear of the rack or need to work in the hot aisle.

Open Rack rack units are called OpenU or just OU. An Open Rack consists of three modular zones: power, equipment, and cable.

Physically, OU cabinets maintain the same 24-inch (610 mm) external width as conventional server cabinets to maintain compatibility with existing server infrastructure. However, an OpenU is slightly taller, to improve airflow and cable management.

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2018)

An Equipment Bay is 21 inches or 533 millimetres wide. An equipment bay rests on support shelves and blind-mates with the power supply through bus bars.

• Reference specifications and designs.
• Rack & Power section of Open Compute Project website.