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Sliding rack rails don't appear for work for my chassis. Any good suggestions for better ones? (self.homelab)

submitted 7 months ago by Dope to c/[email protected]

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I’m a new homelabber, recently bought a SilverStone RM41H08 4U Chassis

My rack is wall mounted and this server is heavy AF to get into place when I need to adjust something.

All the reviews for the branded sliding rails that “work” aka rarely, are terrible.

I’m interested in any ideas people have for maybe DIYing a sliding rail set, or like a better universal rack? Literally anything please hahaha.

I’d even try cabinet rails or something if there’s a good resource on DIYing.

Thanks!

Links for reference: https://www.amazon.com/SilverStone-Technology-Rackmount-Hot-Swappable-RM41-H08-x/dp/B0922FZQFW

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09B1KZMPN

https://www.amazon.com/ECHOGEAR-15U-Open-Frame-Rack/dp/B07YYJMCNV

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

a fully extended chassis on rails in a wall mount anything (frame or enclosure) is going to place an extreme amount of pull force on the wall attachment points.

I would personally not place anything but a static, fixed load into a wall mount.

equipment on rails is a lifesaver and, if you really want to do it, consider a freestanding enclosure thats designed to take deep servers, extended loads and has anti-tip features.

just my 0.02

[–] Dope 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I guess that’s a very valid point. The racks is bolted into concrete with 4x 5” lag bolts FWIW, so I just kind of assumed that’d be fine? But I supposed physics may not be kind to me, considering me hefting the machine into the place is already heavy…

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

lag bolts into shields into concrete may be secure if its done really carefully. it still leaves possible issues with the frame integrity - there are quite a few low quality frames and cabinets out there and mechanical stress on those vertical rails and all of the connection points in-between when equipment is extended on rails is no joke.

I am used to datacentre grade mounting gear (even in my home lab), so I am a bit spoiled. however... take a look at Rack Solutions for harder-to-find quality mounts, rails and adapters. a source for excellent quality steel open racks/frames and enclosures is x-mark (now owned by belden). thats the stuff I use for myself.

edit: as was mentioned in another comment, OEM rails are almost always your best bet, however high quality 4-post sliding shelves have saved my butt on ocassion. Rack Solutions also offers those.