Rack Size and Strength

The router is designed for installation in a rack that complies with either of the following standards:

• A 19-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).
• A 600-mm rack as defined in the four-part Equipment Engineering (EE); European telecommunications standard for equipment practice (document numbers ETS 300 119-1 through 119-4) published by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (http://www.etsi.org).

  The horizontal spacing between the rails in a rack that complies with this standard is usually wider than the router's front support posts and center-mounting brackets, which measure 19 in. (48.3 cm) from outer edge to outer edge. Use approved wing devices to narrow the opening between the rails as required.

The rack rails must be spaced widely enough to accommodate the router chassis's external dimensions: 35 in. (89 cm) high, 29 in. (73.6 cm) deep, and 17.5 in. (44.5 cm) wide. The outer edges of the front support posts and center-mounting brackets extend the width to 19 in. (48.3 cm). The spacing of rails and adjacent racks must also allow for the clearances around the router and rack that are specified in Clearance Requirements for Airflow and Hardware Maintenance.

The router might not fit into an 800-mm-deep cabinet, even if you adjust the front-to-back position of the front mounting rails inside the cabinet. If you mount the router in a cabinet, be sure that ventilation is sufficient to prevent overheating.

In general, a center-mount rack is preferable to a front-mount rack because the more even distribution of weight in the center-mount rack provides greater stability. If a front-mount rack is used, we recommend supporting the back of the router with a shelf or other structure.

The chassis height of 35 in. (89 cm) is approximately 20 U. 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. You can stack eight M160 routers in a rack that has at least 40 U (70 in. or 1.78 m) of usable vertical space.

The rack must be strong enough to support the weight of the fully configured router, up to about 370.5 lb (168 kg). If you stack eight routers in one rack, it must be capable of supporting about 740 lb (336 kg).