Study Finds IT Enclosure Dimensions To Grow in Future
Increasing server depths, more cabling within cabinets, the need for airflow management, and the desire to maximize floor space within data centers are driving larger racks, and enclosures. Heights of enclosures are rapidly growing, with shipments of 48U racks forecast to grow an average of 15 percent annually over the next five years, compared to a projected average growth rate of 5 percent for the standard size of 42U, according to a new study from IMS Research, recently acquired by IHS.
The movement to taller enclosures is driven by customer desire to maximize floor space to limit the need for data center build outs. Currently, 42U (1U = 1.75 inches) height cabinets account for nearly two-thirds of all enclosure shipments globally, but this share will decline as shipments of taller racks increase.