The Ultimate Guide to Self-Cooled Server Rack Cabinets

Anyone who works closely with server technology knows just how much heat this equipment can produce. Having the right cooling systems in place is essential for maintaining server performance and avoiding the dangers of overheating. 

Server rack cabinets are not just for keeping equipment tidy. You can also use them with air conditioning units to create the perfect environment for the technology inside. 

Learn more about self-cooled server rack cabinets with this guide. 

What Are Self-Cooled Server Rack Cabinets?

Today’s server technology is more compact and performs better than ever before. Despite great advancements, modern networking equipment still generates a lot of heat while in operation. 

The heat produced by server equipment can warm entire rooms. It can also cause damage to the server itself, which needs to stay cool to function properly. 

Hot air and overheating can cause the following issues for your server:

  • Node crashes
  • Hardware failures
  • Chronic downtime 
  • Shortened lifespan 

Server cabinets with cooling can help combat damaging heat. It is important to store networking equipment in rooms with good ventilation. Cooling the inside of the cabinets where you store your servers is even more crucial. 

Perfect for rugged environments or when a room temperature is simply not enough, self-cooled server rack cabinets provide adequate ventilation and air conditioning to keep your equipment at the temperature to function at its best. 

How Do Server Cabinets with Cooling Work?

A server cabinet with an in-rack cooling system works by placing equipment inside the enclosure and utilizing an air conditioning unit to create a closed-loop cooling system. This means the AC unit removes heat without allowing outside air into the enclosure, keeping equipment at the right temperatures. This process is an example of active convection cooling. 

Other systems utilize different types of convection cooling to keep equipment from overheating. 

Types of Convection Cooling for Server Cabinets

There are three primary convection cooling methods for keeping your server equipment from overheating, including:

  1. Active convection cooling: This type of convection cooling uses an air conditioner to create a closed-looped system that keeps the enclosure cool without letting in environmental factors like dust. Active convection cooling is the most effective way to keep servers cool. 
  2. Natural convection cooling: With this style of cooling, the heat produced by the equipment will radiate from the enclosure and escape into the cooler atmosphere around the cabinet, lowering the temperature inside. This is the simplest way of keeping your server from overheating, though it is inefficient. 
  3. Forced convection cooling: Like natural convection cooling, this kind also utilizes heat transfer from warmer areas to cooler ones. However, forced convection cooling includes using a blower or fan to minimize thermal resistance and lower the temperature inside the enclosure. 

Overall, active convection cooling is the most effective and powerful way to keep your equipment from getting too hot. Because a medium-sized data center can produce enough heat to warm an entire house, it is often necessary to supply adequate cooling that natural and forced convection may not provide for your server components. 

Applications for Self-Contained Server Racks with Cooling

A self-contained server rack has many applications beyond keeping your components cool. The following are four applications of the most beneficial ways to put your server rack to work:

  1. Server rooms without AC: In server rooms that don’t have air conditioning, whether it be from building limitations or economic limitations, an enclosed sever cabinet with cooling is the perfect solution.
  2. Rugged Environments: If servers are in environments with a lot of airborne particles, high temperatures or humidity, leaving them out in the open air could be harmful and have disastrous consequences. Having an enclosed server rack cabinet with cooling is the easiest way to ensure maximum protection and longevity for your mission-critical equipment. 
  3. Boosting security: Self-contained server racks offer some security benefits as well. Keep servers protected from unwanted visitors and other outside elements by utilizing an enclosed cabinet. Many have locks for an additional line of defense again tampering. 
  4. Organized storage: One of the greatest benefits of having server racks is keeping your equipment organized — no need to fight with tangled cords or piled supplies. When you utilize a server rack, everything stays neatly organized, and it can hold multiple pieces of equipment in one centralized location. 
  5. Maintaining your equipment: Combating heat is crucial for maintaining the integrity and functioning of your computer equipment. If not cooled properly, servers in rooms with air conditioning could be at risk for malfunction over time. Cooled rack cabinets ensure equipment is being cooled resulting in getting longer use from your data center’s technology.

Industries That Use Self-Cooled Server Rack Cabinets 

Any industry that utilizes server systems can benefit from using self-cooled server rack cabinets. Having the proper equipment is necessary for carrying out important operations. Businesses of all sizes and in all industries that use data equipment can put these structures to good use. With that said, these industries can especially benefit from self-cooled server rack cabinets:

Frequently Asked Questions About Server Cabinets with Cooling

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding server rack cabinets and the best practices for implementing them into a wiring closet or office location:

Are Self-Contained Server Cabinets Reliable?

A server rack cabinet with cooling capabilities is a reliable way to keep equipment at the right temperatures for optimal functioning. Having an effective cooling system is essential for removing heat from computer servers for data centers. 

Using a self-contained server cabinet can maintain your equipment while helping boost its performance and lifespan. These cabinets can also help your equipment function more reliably. 

Do You Need Server Cabinets With Cooling? 

Because servers generate so much heat when running, having an enclosed server cabinet with cooling is essential for fighting damaging temperatures in tough environments. 

You could use a self-cooling server cabinet if you use all or some of the following pieces of technical equipment:

  • Servers
  • Hubs
  • Switches
  • Routers

Data centers full of this equipment will not regulate their own temperatures, and the heat emitted from each piece will keep the atmosphere too warm for optimal functioning. For many companies and teams in circumstances that prevent having an entire cooled room or aisle, having a cooled server cabinet is a necessity. 

What Happens When Server Equipment Overheats? 

Server nodes can generate a lot of heat. If there is inadequate ventilation around the equipment, you can experience serious repercussions. When important components like the motherboard or power supply endure high temperatures, it can lead to system failures that interrupt your operations and lead to downtime. 

If your server shuts down due to overheating, you risk losing important data. The worst-case scenario is that the server experiences a physical meltdown or causes a fire. That being said, self-cooled cabinets greatly decrease the chance of meltdown or fire due to the effectiveness of the cooling process within. 

Trust Emcor as Your Self-Cooled Server Rack Manufacturer

Data centers working with server equipment should have systems in place to regulate temperatures and keep components from overheating. An enclosed server rack cabinet with cooling capabilities is the perfect way to preserve important equipment and keep your operations running smoothly. 

DEFENDER™ server cabinets from Emcor Enclosure offer the self-contained cooling system that your data center needs. Whether you are in the market for a pre-configured cabinet or if you need a custom solution, we are here to help. 

Interested in learning more about server cabinets from Emcor Enclosures? Contact us today!