Server cabinets, sometimes called data cabinets or server rack cabinets, are specialised storage enclosures designed for housing critical IT systems like rack-mount servers, hard disk drives, and cables. More than just boxes, these racks provide sufficient cooling for your systems, preventing overheating and extending your PC's lifespan.
At RS Australia, we supply a comprehensive range of high-quality server cabinets, network racks, and computer cabinets from industry-leading brands, including APC, Schneider Electric, StarTech.com, and our own reliable RS PRO range. Whether you need a compact IT server cabinet for a small office or a full-scale data rack cabinet for an enterprise facility, we provide the infrastructure to secure your IT investment. Buy server cabinets online in Australia today for professional-grade storage solutions.
Shop Types of Server Rack Cabinets & Data Cabinets Australia
Server rack cabinet units can be classified by mounting type, overall size, and capacity measured in rack units (from 6U to 42U). Buy server cabinets from trusted brands for secure storage in your data centre.
Floor Standing Server Cabinets & Server Rack Cabinets
These full-height server rack cabinets (ranging from 12U to 42U) are the standard for data centres and large IT rooms. They are engineered to hold high-capacity hardware and heavy network equipment. Most floor-standing units include castors for mobility during installation and levelling feet for permanent stability under high loads.
Wall-Mounted Server Cabinet & Network Rack
Space-saving wall mount server cabinets (typically 6U to 12U) are ideal for small offices, retail points, or housing telecommunications equipment. These units keep the cabinets off the floor, mounting easily to walls to save valuable square footage while keeping patch panels and switches accessible.
19-Inch Racking Server Cabinets & Computer Cabinets
The standard 19-inch rack-compatible data cabinet is the universal choice for IT professionals. These units feature standardised mounting rails that allow you to mix and match servers, power supplies, cable wires and shelf accessories from different manufacturers within a single rack cabinet.
Open Frame Rack Cabinet vs Closed Frame Server Cabinet
An open-frame rack cabinet offers the best possible ventilation and easy access to cabling from all sides, making it ideal for cooled rooms. In contrast, a closed server cabinet with lockable doors provides enhanced security, noise reduction, and protection against dust for sensitive equipment in high-traffic areas.
Key Uses & Benefits of Server Cabinets for Your Data Centre
Utilising a professional network cabinet or data rack cabinet provides several advantages for your infrastructure:
- Equipment Protection: Secure server rack cabinets protect valuable servers from physical damage, dust, and unauthorised access.
- Organisation: Data cabinets provide structured cable management and an organised layout for easier maintenance and troubleshooting.
- Cooling & Ventilation: Proper airflow within a computer server cabinet prevents overheating and extends equipment life.
- Security: Lockable doors and side panels on a rack-mount server cabinet protect sensitive hardware from tampering.
- Space Efficiency: Vertical rack designs maximise floor space in crowded data centres and server rooms.
- Scalability: Modular server rack cabinets allow for easy expansion as your IT infrastructure grows.
- Professional Appearance: A clean computer cabinet installation improves the aesthetics and professionalism of your facility.
How to Choose the Right Server Cabinet for Your Needs
Before you buy a data cabinet, consider these essential selection factors:
- Rack Units (U): Calculate the required height of your IT server cabinet. If you are managing a small office setup, choose a 6U-12U wall-mounted server cabinet, while 12U-42U units are better suited for comprehensive enterprise needs.
- Mounting Type: Wall-mounted server cabinets are perfect for space-saving in tight areas, while floor-standing server rack cabinets are designed for high-capacity, heavy-duty requirements in dedicated server rooms.
- Cabinet Frame: Consider whether your environment requires an open-frame rack cabinet or a closed server cabinet. Open frame rack cabinets provide maximum airflow for high-heat equipment, while closed server cabinets offer superior security and dust protection.
- Depth & Dimensions: Ensure the internal depth accommodates your deepest servers and cable storage accessories.
- Weight Capacity: Verify the load rating of the rack cabinet to ensure it can support the total weight of your hardware.
- Cooling Requirements: Consider built-in fans or ventilation slots for heat-generating high-density servers.
- Security Features: For public or shared spaces, choose a lockable computer network cabinet with reinforced doors.
Server Cabinet Sizes & Rack Unit Guide
A Rack Unit (U) is the standard measurement for the height of equipment intended for a rack cabinet. 1 rack unit is equivalent to 1.75 inches or 44.45 mm.
Individual server racks are typically 1U, 2U, 3U, or 4U high. Some units are supplied as "half racks," meaning they share the standard height but are half the width of a standard 19-inch unit.
- Small Server Cabinet (6U-12U) Wall Mounted Server Cabinet: Compact 6U, 9U, and 12U rack units are ideal for wall-mounted server cabinet installations. These are best for small offices, remote sites, or as a secondary network cabinet for localised cabling.
- Medium Server Cabinet (16U-25U) Server Rack Cabinets: Mid-range 16U, 20U, and 25U rack units are suitable for floor-standing server cabinets in mid-sized data centres. They offer a balance between storage capacity and height, fitting under many standard work surfaces.
- Large Server Cabinet (34U-42U) Data Centre Racks: Full-height 34U and 42U racks are the backbone of enterprise data centres. These server cabinet solutions provide maximum capacity for high-density server environments and large-scale networking.
Common Industry Applications
- Data Centres: Enterprise server cabinets house high-density servers, network switches, and storage arrays.
- Telecommunications: A wall-mounted server cabinet is often used for fibre optic patch panels and telecom switching equipment.
- IT Server Rooms: Floor-standing computer cabinets in IT server rooms support corporate network infrastructure and local servers.
- Broadcasting: Server rack cabinets are used to house audio/video server storage and broadcast processing gear.
- Medical Facilities: Secure data cabinets are essential for protecting medical records, servers and PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication Systems).
- Education: Network racks are utilised in schools and for campus-wide IT infrastructure management.
- Industrial Applications: Ruggedised server cabinet solutions house network equipment on manufacturing floors.
Your Trusted Server Cabinets Manufacturer & Supplier in Australia
RS Australia is a trusted supplier and distributor of a wide range of high-performance server cabinets and network racks. Choose from compact wall-mounts to enterprise-scale floor racks from leading brands such as APC, Schneider Electric, and our very own RS PRO. Benefit from expert technical support for selection and installation to ensure your data cabinet meets your specific requirements, and rely on us for efficient shipping across Australia for urgent B2B and IT infrastructure needs. For more information about our delivery services, please refer to our Delivery page.