Employee headcount and budget size are not the only differences between small businesses and larger ones. Small businesses also have different needs concerning computer networking equipment – they often require networking solutions in small business server rooms that are more cost-effective, scalable, and easier to manage. This goes for not only computer and communications components but for the enclosures that organize and protect such equipment.

If you are in a small business, below are six considerations we recommend you make when shopping for networking cabinets, racks, and accessories. We conclude with a roundup of the NavePoint products that might appeal the most to small businesses like yours.

6 Essentials for Small-Business Server Rooms

• Size and Scalability: Small businesses may not require large cabinets initially, so a compact and scalable solution is ideal. Look for racks that can accommodate the current equipment but can also be expanded as the business grows. Many of NavePoint’s small-business customers have found cabinets and racks with 12U capacity to be an ideal size.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Affordability is crucial for small businesses. Finding cost-effective cabinets that still provide good quality and durability is essential. Consider both the upfront cost and long-term value.
• Ease of Installation: Small businesses may not have dedicated IT staff, so equipment that is easy to install is beneficial. Cabinets with simple assembly and cable management features can save time and resources.
• Ventilation and Cooling: Ensure that the cabinets provide adequate ventilation to prevent overheating of networking equipment. Some small businesses might not have dedicated server rooms, so cooling features become crucial.
• Security: Many small businesses don’t have a dedicated data center with restricted accessto keep their equipment in. Often, IT gear must be located in shared spaces. Thus, cabinets should have lockable doors to prevent unauthorized access.
• Cable Management: Effective cable management is essential for maintaining a clean and organized setup, especially in smaller rooms and IT closets. Look for cabinets with cable routing features to minimize clutter and make maintenance easier.

NavePoint Solutions for Small Business Server Rooms

Following are some of our essential computer network solutions for the small business server room:

Networking Cabinets

If you’re looking for a high-value networking cabinet, your search may be over. Our Consumer Series cabinets have welded-steel strength, security features, and a built-in fan – all at our most affordable prices. Most of them hold 12U or less. With a depth of 18 inches, they don’t hog wall space but can easily hold network and voice equipment in small LANs, retail units, and remote sites.

Key Features:

• Rugged − Welded frame with steel panels and 110-pound capacity
• Secure – Locking side panels and tempered-glass door
• Capacity Options – Five popular sizes from 6U to 18U
• Space-Efficient – Big enough for network gear but extends only 18 inches from wall
• Ventilation – No heat buildup with vents and built-in fan

Server Racks

Four challenges of having network equipment are being able to easily install and then access the enclosures, fit them in small rooms, and prevent heat buildup inside them. All four hurdles are cleared by our open-frame, wall-mount server racks. These rugged steel frames save you time by being easy to install and to access. They are well ventilated for heat dissipation. And they are wall-mountable to free up your floor space.

Key Features:

• Quick setup − Minimal parts are a cinch to assemble
• Accessible – Open frame allows easy access to gear from all sides
• Cool – Wide-open design promotes ventilation from all sides
• Space-efficient – Wall-mount maximizes floor space
• Your size – 10 of these racks are 12U or smaller
• Burly – Double-reinforced wall anchors hold up to 330 pounds

Vertical Wall Enclosures

NavePoint’s vertical wall enclosures can help you get the most use of your space. They will not only get your 19-inch rack-mount components up off the floor, but their vertical orientation also allows you to take advantage of unused wall space.

Key Features:

• Size options to fit your room, from 2U to 8U of width and 16 to 36 inches of depth
• Low-profile design is good for a back office, closet, retail location, etc.
• Secure your gear with 16-gauge steel cabinets and anti-theft locks
• Keep components cool with air vents on all models, two fan ports on 5U, 6U, and 8U vented panels for circulation
• Easy installation with pre-assembled cabinets and included mounting hardware

Swing-Gate Racks

Our line of swing-gate equipment racks solve two big challenges for small business server rooms. They’re wall-mount, so in small rooms they make more space by getting your components up off the floor. And unlike most wall racks, the front panel swings out like a door so you can instantly access the cables on the rear of your components!

Key Features:

• Versatile – 5 capacities from 6U-18U, depth options of 19 or 24 inches
• Efficient – Wall-mount design conserves your floor space
• Accessible – Dual-hinged doors open 180 degrees for instant access to rear cables
• No Heat Buildup – Open frame cools from all sides
• Strong – Cold-rolled steel frame holds 110 pounds of gear on deeper models

Cooling Fans

Fans are the best way to prevent heat buildup inside a cabinet, and NavePoint has pre-assembled models that are rack-mount or are easily fastened to cabinet panels that have fan ports. Your options:

• A single fan to install in any 4.7-inch-square port of a cabinet
• 1U rack-mount modules with either two fans or four fans
• A 3U rack-mount module with three fans
• A four-fan panel that fits the top panel of our 42U Commercial Series cabinets

Cable Management

In smaller IT spaces, failure to manage cable routing leads to tangled masses of wires, and cable maintenance and re-routing becomes a time-consuming chore. NavePoint offers three main types of products that will make your small business server room more efficient.

• Plastic Cable Ties and Hook-and-Loop Ties: Plastic cable ties, aka zip ties, are the most popular solution for bundling cables. They are inexpensive, resist loosening or breaking over time, and come in many lengths and strengths. Multiple color choices are useful in color coding your cable bundles. Velcro-style hook-and-loop ties are great for cable bundles that might be altered a lot, as they are easier to loosen and open than zip ties. Also, NavePoint’s hook-and-loop ties are available in bulk rolls so you can cut to the exact lengths you need.
• Wire Mesh Cable Trays: Wire mesh cable trays mount on walls, ceilings or under raised floors to support, route and protect cable. They come in many widths and heights to support dozens or even hundreds of cables. You can cut the wire mesh for custom lengths and bolt trays together for different configurations. The open mesh design keeps cables cool and the electro zinc plating resists weather and corrosion.
• Rack-Mount – Horizontal or Vertical: Our rack-mount cable management products are arrayed either horizontally across the width of the rack or vertically mounted down either side. A raceway is a housing that keeps cables tucked away as it directs their path. Cross bars, or lacing bars, mount horizontally and extend a few inches from the front or rear of a rack to provide stress relief for cable connections. D-rings, or distribution rings, direct cables away from the front of a rack, making it easier to monitor the components and adjust their controls.

Our small business network solutions are in stock now and available with FREE standard same-day shipping. If you have any product questions or need recommendations on what is the best solution for your small business server rooms, contact our U.S.-based team of experts at +1 (866) 312-5401 or email us at sales@navepoint.com.