Suggestions for Short Rack Mount Case
I have a very short equipment rack installed in my server closet. It is only 16 inches deep, fine for most networking uses, but not great for most rack-mount server cases.
I am looking for case suggestions that would fit my rack, 16 inch depth maximum. Height isn't a problem, the rack has a ton of vertical space, over 15U, it's the depth that's an issue.
Thanks!
I've looked all over the Internet for <16" short-depth cases multiple times over the years, and I've learned the most important question is this: what do you want to put in it?
I'll tell you right now that some of the things I've wanted, like...
A 2U with hot-swap caddies all the way across the front (like this or this, but <16" deep at the cost of fitting only an ITX motherboard), or
A 4- or 5U chassis that can fit an EATX / SSI EEB (12"x13") motherboard and an ATX PSU at the same time, or
A chassis of any size that has both the motherboard/PCI I/O and the drive bays on the front (front drive bays are normal and you can get front access I/O, but not both at the same time)
...simply do not exist, as far as I can tell. I'm pretty sure all of these things are geometrically possible (I did the math), but apparently I'm the only one who wants such weird stuff.
You can get a basic-bitch whatever-U case that supports a mATX motherboard and hard-mounting a couple of internal drives, with sharp metal edges, a shitty plastic door, and a price double (or more) what similarly low quality would cost in a desktop form-factor all day long, though.
Yeah, seems like there isn't a big group of folks that are looking for this kind of solution.
I've thought about designing a case to my specs that could be 3D printed or maybe be built with some very basic steel sheet, but that's more DIY than I have time for right now.
Chenbro makes quite a few ATX shallow rack mount cases. I have one and have no complaints.
I'll check them, Ty!
I recently hunted for a rack mounted case for an ATX MB and PSU. The best I could find is 17.9" deep. Is your rack's rear end closed? Any way to remove the rear panel? There is a site that'll make you a custom rack mount case I came across. But it was mighty pricey.
Back end is open but wall-mounted. If there is a way to mount the case forward a few inches so it leaves a gap in the back, that would be fine with me.
I haven't found any brackets that seem to do that though.
How about mounting the rack a few inches off the wall?
Also an option I am considering. I prefer something a little more professional if possible, but not a bad option if I can't get something else to work.
I'll take a look at the 45 Drives case, thanks!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09227RQV2?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
This is my favorite rack mount chassis I've worked with ... and it coincidentally is in that ballpark.
Interesting design, I'll look at it, thanks!
Thanks for the link!
Sliger has a few rackmount chassis which are only 15 inches deep.
Oh nice, these might be exactly what I need, thanks!
I’ve not used them yet but was looking at https://www.plinkusa.net/
They have a variety of heights and depths, some of them being 15”
Great resource, I'll check them out.
https://g2digital.co.uk/
These guys do short depth PCs. I wish I knew where they got their cases from, because they are really nice!
But I haven't found anything decent in the wild (I eventually gave up and got a deeper rack so I can use old r730 servers)
Thanks for the link! Yeah, I'm starting to think I might just need to give up and get a deeper floor rack.
There are some good short chassis like the Silverstone RM-23-502-MINI, but the minimum length for the recommended rails is still 22 inches :(