How Rack Shelves Can Make Your Network Equipment More Flexible and Functional 

With the computer networking world continuing to evolve at warp speed, it is hard to predict what components will be in your equipment rack in the coming years. One thing is for sure: You will be making future upgrades and reconfigurations to your network, and such work is usually time-consuming. 

But there is a simpler way to build flexibility into your network and to shorten the time it takes to make such improvements: install rack shelves. Shelves provide a secure but easier-to-reconfigure home for your network gear. Below we describe how you can benefit from these cost-effective accessories, as well as four main types of rack shelves. 

Key Takeaways 

• Rack shelves bridge the gap between rackmount and non-rackmount devices. 

• Cantilever, 4-post and cabinet shelves enhance flexibility, strength and airflow in network racks. 

• Cold-rolled steel construction ensures durability and supports up to 242 pounds. 

• Vented shelf designs promote better cooling and equipment performance. 

Rack Shelf Benefits 

Benefits of rack shelves include: 

• Versatility: They can hold just about anything—servers, routers, switches, power distribution units (PDUs), AV equipment, uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) and more. 

• Small-device friendliness: Rack shelves are great for components that might be too small to attach with rack screws, like laptop computers, keyboards, DVD players, cables, adapters, etc. 

• Ability to make quick changes: Shelves let you change out components in seconds without having to bother with rack screws. Just unplug and remove. 

• Strength and capacity: Our rack shelves, all made of steel, support up to 242 pounds. And they provide a lot of surface area for storage, such as our 38-inch-deep cantilever rack shelf. 

• Ventilation: The vast majority of NavePoint shelves are covered with slots to promote airflow inside rack cabinets. 

 

4 Types of Rack Shelves 

This blog post highlights four types of rack shelves that can help make your network gear more flexible for easier upcoming changes: cantilever rack shelves, 4-post rack shelves, rack cabinet shelves and server rack rails. Some of the types are available in both the standard 19-inch width and the larger 23-inch width.  

1. Cantilever Rack Shelves 

Cantilever rack shelves fasten to a rack on only one end—the front or the rear. You might think this limits their weight capacities, but NavePoint’s cantilever shelves hold up to 132 pounds. For your larger, heavier components, our 2U cantilever center-weighted shelves come in two pieces, one mounting from the front of the rack and the other from the rear. The combined surface area on one of our models creates a 38-inch-deep shelf that holds 132 pounds. 

Other benefits of cantilever rack shelves: 

• Size variety: Our 19-inch-wide cantilever shelves come in 10 depths, from 6 inches to 38 inches. This can handle most of your components – routers, modems, monitors and more. 

• Accessibility: Cantilever rack shelves have an open front, which makes it easy to access items they hold. Just slide components in or out. 

• Durability: Cantilever rack shelves such as NavePoint’s are made of heavy-duty, cold-rolled steel, which is ideal for storing weighty, bulky items. 

1. 4-Post Rack Shelves 

If you want to get more out of your 4-post rack, NavePoint offers a line that combines rock-solid strength with flexible features. Here are four benefits of our 4-post rack shelves: 

• Strength: With four attachment points, 4-post rack shelves have impressive weight capacities. NavePoint’s models can hold from 44 to 242 pounds.  

• Size variety: We probably have whatever shelf depth you need, with a choice of 14 depths, from 8 inches up to 32 inches. 

• Flexibility: Not all 4-post racks have the same depth, so we offer four shelves that can adjust to different rail depths: 14 to 16 inches, 17-20 inches, 22-24 inches or 30-33 inches. 

• Smart functionality: Some of these 4-post shelves are drawer-style, able to slide forward for easier access to components.  

1. Rack Cabinet Shelves 

Due to the popularity of NavePoint’s Professional Series, Performance Series and Swing-Gate Series cabinets, we now offer rack cabinet shelves specifically sized for those series. They include fixed shelves with depths of from 10 to 17 inches, and a14-inch-deep adjustable shelf. 

Each cabinet shelf is made of cold-rolled steel, holds up to 55 pounds, and is perforated to generate air flow within the cabinet. 

1. Server Rack Rails 

Another type of rack shelf is a pair of server rack rails that mount horizontally on the front and back of a rack. The rails form secure ledges to hold a computer server without having to mount the server directly with screws to the vertical rack rails. 

Our shelf rails have several useful features. First, they are made of cold-rolled steel and hold up to 110 pounds. Second, the rails have an adjustable width, from 16 inches to 33.25 inches, to fit on your rack whether it is 19, 23 or 30 inches wide. And third, of the two models, one has a standard rail that is 2.5 inches wide and the other has a full depth rail that is 2.75 inches wide for a bit more support. 

 

FAQs About Rack Shelves 

Q1: Can rack shelves fit into any rack? 
A: Most shelves are designed for standard 19-inch racks. But always confirm dimensions before buying. 

Q2: Are shelves necessary if I only use rackmount gear? 
A: Not always—but shelves add flexibility for accessories, tools and unexpected equipment needs. 

Q3: Do shelves affect airflow in a rack? 
A: Solid shelves may restrict airflow slightly, while vented shelves help maintain proper circulation. 

NavePoint’s new cantilever shelves, 4-post rack shelves, cabinet shelves and server rack rails are in-stock and available with FREE standard same-day shipping. Questions? Need recommendations? Contact our U.S.-based team of experts at 1-866-312-5401 or email us at sales@navepoint.com.