Rack Colocation

Place equipment in a data centre with power and interconnection.

A rack fits equipment housed in a defined cabinet. Start with rack units, power and connections; space alone does not include network services.

Validate the facility, power, space, cross-connects, physical security and remote hands.

Let’s talk
Racks and optical fibre in a data centre setting.

How it works

Place equipment where you need connectivity, with defined space and power.

Customer rack
Internal interconnection
Agreed cross-connect
Networks and services

From the rack to interconnection

The rack holds customer equipment. A cross-connect, or internal cable, connects it to the agreed handover; define who orders and maintains it.

Handover may be in an MMR (Meet-Me Room) or CEA (Common Equipment Area). Rack space, power and connectivity have distinct contractual scopes.

Customer rack
Internal interconnection
Power and cooling
Networks and services

Load is also measured in power

Validate expected power, feeds, socket distribution and site-specific cooling. Adding servers may reach an electrical or thermal limit before filling the rack.

Distinguish contracted power, consumption and contingency capacity. Agree monitoring, physical access and interventions with responsible staff.

Customer rack
Internal interconnection
Power feeds and paths
Networks and services

Correctly connected dual power

Resilient rack infrastructure requires suitable power supplies and connections distributed according to design. Two cables to the same origin do not prove independence.

Test access, notification and recovery without operating customer equipment outside scope. Building availability does not guarantee application availability.

Illustrative case: from situation to decision

Situation
Routers and servers need to sit close to an interconnection point.
Option
Size the cabinet, power and connections to the required carriers.
Check
Confirm usable space, power, operational access and each cross-connect’s demarcation.

Colocation houses equipment; it does not imply server administration or every connection is included.

Decisions for your project

Space and power
Dimensions, load, power feeds, connectors and cooling.
Interconnection
MMR/CEA, cross-connects, providers and demarcation.
Operations
Authorised people, maintenance, intervention and notifications.

From design to operation

Validate inventory and load, agree cabling and power, and accept handover using customer-equipment tests.

Complements, alternatives and variants

Product sources

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