11/1/2017 Planning for space, rack positioning, and other physical requirements

Planning for space, rack positioning, and

other physical requirements
Plan the physical configuration, software licensing, delivery requirements, site requirements, data
migration, and how to order features.

About this task

Professional movers or riggers must transport the IBM Scale Out Network Attached Storage (IBM
SONAS) cabinet into the installation room because of its weight.

An IBM® service support representative must install the racks.

The IBM authorized service provider performs minimal frame repositioning within the computer room,
as required.

The delivery bundle for the extender panels for a rack is a two-pallet-long bundle. Use either a pallet
jack on each end or a long pallet jack to move the bundle.

The installation might require more space than the following normal clearances. For example, the disk
drive packages can require a significant amount of space.
Table 1. Door or panel required clearance
Door or panel Required clearance

Front 762 mm (30 in.)

Back 762 mm (30 in.)

Side Depends on the floor load rating. Units can be bolted together with side
panels on the base rack and the last rack bolted to the line, if the floor can
support such a load.
Provide 481 mm (18.9 in.) to remove the side panel from a rack, if necessary.

Physical characteristics of the racks are:

Table 2. Physical characteristics of the rack with 483 mm (19 inch) extender panels
Rack Height Width Depth

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11/1/2017 Planning for space, rack positioning, and other physical requirements

Rack Height Width Depth

Base Rack (2851-RXA) 2015 mm (79.3 in) 646 mm (25.4 in.) 1608 mm (63.3 in.)

Storage Expansion Rack (2851-RXB)

Interface Expansion Rack (2851-RXC)

Feature code 0103 is an optional 203 mm (8 inch) rack depth extender. It is required for any IBM
SONAS rack that has the 2851-DR1 or DE1 storage. All other racks that do not have a DR1 or DE1 do
not require the FC 0103. The FC 0103 rack extender is also required for your rack if you desire the
interface node patch panel.

Table 3. Physical characteristics of the rack with 203 mm (8 inch) extender panels
Rack Height Width Depth

Base Rack (2851-RXA) 2015 mm (79.3 in) 646 mm (25.4 in.) 1329 mm (53.3 in.)

Storage Expansion Rack (2851-RXB)

Interface Expansion Rack (2851-RXC)

Figure 1. An IBM SONAS rack with extender

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11/1/2017 Planning for space, rack positioning, and other physical requirements

Prepare your environment with planning assistance from an IBM Installation Planning Representative
(IPR) or an IBM authorized service provider. Prepare the site in advance so that professional movers or
riggers can transport the equipment to the final site within the computer room.

• EIA units: 42 EIA units

• Required service clearances:

Front: 762 mm (30 in.)

Rear: 762 mm (30 in.)

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11/1/2017 Planning for space, rack positioning, and other physical requirements

Sides: 0 mm (0 in.) required but this measurement varies based on the rack feature (which
determines its weight) and the floor loading rating. 481 mm (18.9 in.) is required for side panel
removal.
Feature code 9005 requires 6.1 in. on each side when the floor loading rating is 488 kg per m2
or 100 lbs per ft2.

The storage expansion rack requires 313 mm (12.3 in.) on each side when the floor loading
rating is 488 kg per m2 or 100 lbs per ft2 .

Rack spacing example:

To account for the weight distribution area of individual frames when installing multiple frames in the
same row, add their required clearances. In other words, the space between adjoining frames is
cumulative, with each frame contributing to the required clearance.

Each cumulative clearance requirement is the total of the required clearances of adjoining frames and
reflects the accumulated weight distribution areas of the adjoining frames.

See Meeting floor load requirements for more information.

Dimensions of rack door features

Table 4. Rack door dimensions
Door feature Description Dimension

FC 6070 Standard front and rear doors Front door: 57.15 mm (2.25 inches)
Rear door: 22.86 mm (0.9 inches)

FC 6249 Acoustic doors Each door: 198.12 mm (7.8 inches)

FC 6858 Rear door heat exchanger Front door: 57.15 mm (2.25 inches)
Rear door: 147.32 mm (5.8 inches)

• Planning for floor and space requirements

You must ensure that the location of your IBM Scale Out Network Attached Storage (IBM SONAS)
system meets space and floor requirements.

• Installing on raised or nonraised floors

Install the IBM Scale Out Network Attached Storage (IBM SONAS) system on a raised or a non-

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11/1/2017 Planning for space, rack positioning, and other physical requirements

raised floor.

• Accommodating cables
Plan for either raised-floor or top-down cabling. Plan the location and dimensions of the cable
cutouts at the installation location, when using raised-floor cabling. Or plan to remove the top plate
in the expansion unit of the rack to accommodate top-down cabling.

• Meeting floor load requirements

It is very important to meet floor load requirements.

• Castor and leveler locations

The following diagram provides the caster and leveler locations for the 2851-RXA, 2851-RXB, and
2851-RXC racks.

• Calculating space requirements

Calculate the total amount of space required for the IBM Scale Out Network Attached Storage (IBM
SONAS) system.

• Service clearance requirements

The service clearance area around the IBM Scale Out Network Attached Storage (IBM SONAS)
system is required by IBM service providers.

Parent topic:
 Installation site requirements

Related concepts:
 Planning for environmental requirements

Related tasks:
 Planning for power requirements
 Planning for safety

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