The following sub-topics cover different variations of Equipment visualization as a 3D model, also called the Elevation View.
Rack Elevation
Equipment Elevation
Row Elevation
A rack elevation view is a graphical representation of a server rack or equipment rack that displays the arrangement and layout of various hardware components within the rack. This view is commonly used in the field of data centers, IT infrastructure management, and networking. The rack elevation view provides a visual representation of how servers, switches, power distribution units (PDUs), and other equipment are organized within the rack.
It helps with organization, troubleshooting, documentation, capacity planning, cable management, security, and asset management in IT environments.
Rack units and rack spaces
A rack unit, also known as U or RU, is a unit of measurement for the equipment racks in data center and server rooms. This is used for measuring the height (vertical distance) that rack-mounted equipment like servers, networking devices and other electronic instruments take up within the rack.
The height of a standard rack unit is 1.75 inches or 44.45 mm. The overall height of a standard equipment rack is determined in terms known as rack units, ensuring compatibility with differently sized equipment. Another example is a device which occupies two rack units and thus its height is equal to 2 x 1.75 inches or 3.5 inches. We write this simply as 2 U or 2 RU.
In IRM, a Rack Space is a coordinate system that acts as a kind of container for equipment that is mounted within some particular part of the rack. Each rack space has some characteristics that determine how equipment can be mounted within the space. There are two general types of Rack Spaces in IRM:
2-dimensional spaces that are the primary mounting places for equipment. These include the front and rear spaces.
1-dimensional spaces along the vertical or horizontal rails onto which equipment can be zip-tied or mounted using some kind of special fastener
Rack spaces serve in planning and also organizing data center infrastructure since it assists in knowing what type of equipment goes into these racks. However, standard rack sizes range from the conventional 42U or 45 U to the more contemporary dimensions. This implies that you need to assess the amount of rack space available as rack mounted equipment will only fit properly where it can get some allowable clearance for airflow.
IRM rack model
This model consists of the rack framework which includes the rails (vertical and horizontal) and rack spaces.
Rack Space Value
Description
top
places the equipment in the top rack space
bottom
places the equipment into the bottom rack space
front
places the equipment into the front main mounting rack
rear
places the equipment into the rear main mounting rack
frRail
places the equipment into the front right-side mounting rail
flRail
places the equipment into the front left-side mounting rail
rrRail
places the equipment into the rear right-side mounting rail
rlRail
places the equipment into the rear left-side mounting rail
ltsRail
Places the equipment in the left top side rail
lmsRail
Places the equipment in the left middle side rail
lbsRail
Places the equipment in the left bottom side rail
rtsRail
Places the equipment in the right top side rail
rmsRail
Places the equipment in the right middle side rail
rbsRail
Places the equipment in the right bottom side rail
