Rack Requirements for a TX Matrix Plus Router
Rack Size and Strength
The TX Matrix Plus router can be installed in many types of racks, including four-post (telco) racks and open-frame racks. An example of an open-frame rack appears in Figure 1.
The TX Matrix Plus router is designed for installation in a 23-in. rack as defined in Cabinets, Racks, Panels, and Associated Equipment (document number EIA-310-D) published by the Electronics Industry Association (http://www.eia.org).
The rack rails must be spaced widely enough to accommodate the TX Matrix Plus chassis's external dimensions: 52.0 in. (132.1 cm) high, 36.2 in. (91.9 cm) deep, and 21.4 in. (54.4 cm) wide.
The center-mounting brackets and front-mounting flanges extend the width to 23 in. (58.4 cm). The spacing of rails and adjacent racks must also allow for the clearance requirements around the TX Matrix Plus router and rack for airflow and maintenance.
The chassis height without the cable managment system is 52 in. (132 cm or approximately 29.7 U). The cable management system comb panel assembly that installs on top of the chassis adds 17 in. (43.2 cm or approximately 9.7 U) to the height.You can install a TX Matrix Plus router in a rack that has at least 39.4 U of usable vertical space.
The cable management system on the rear of the chassis adds 9 in. (22.86 cm) to the depth.
 | Note: A U is the standard rack unit defined in Cabinets, Racks, Panels, and Associated Equipment (document number EIA-310-D) published by the Electronics Industry Association. |
The holes in the center-mounting brackets and front-mounting flanges are spaced at 2 U (3.5 in. or 8.9 cm). The TX Matrix Plus router can be mounted in any rack that provides holes spaced at those distances.
The rack must be strong enough to support the weight of the fully configured TX Matrix Plus router, up to about 925 lb (420 kg).
Figure 1: Typical 23 in. Open-Frame Rack
Connection to Building Structure
Always secure the rack to the structure of the building. If your geographical area is subject to earthquakes, bolt the rack to the floor. For maximum stability, also secure the rack to ceiling brackets.
Rack-Mounting Considerations
If you are installing a TX Matrix Plus router, or a T1600 router that you intend to integrate into a routing matrix, consider these guidelines to facilitate the integration:
- For a fully configured centralized configuration (one TX Matrix Plus router and four T1600 routers), plan to use a minimum of three racks side by side.
- For a fully configured distributed configuration (one TX Matrix Plus router and four T1600 routers), plan to use one rack for the TX Matrix Plus router, and two through four racks for the T1600 routers (depending on whether you plan to install one or two T1600 routers in a single rack).
- If you are installing the T1600 router in the bottom of an empty rack, reserve the top of the rack for the future installation of another T1600 router.
- You must install the TX Matrix Plus router in its own dedicated rack. Consider the height and weight of the TX Matrix Plus router.
- Account for the total weight of the routing matrix. One TX Matrix Plus router weighs up to 925 lb (420 kg). Each T1600 routers weighs up to approximately 606 lb (275 kg). If you stack two fully configured T1600 routers in one rack, it must be capable of supporting about 1212 lb (550 kg).
