I'm looking for effective ways to silence multiple 42U racks we've installed in various buildings. Many of these racks are vendors' leftover models, and while some are already insulated, they come with a hefty price tag—basically a rack covered in foam and encased in wood with fans for air circulation. I'm also considering the option of building a custom solution that integrates with the room's HVAC system for reduced noise and better temperature management. Any suggestions?
2 Answers
Have you checked out the 30" racks from APC? They provide much more space to manage cables and cooling, which might also help with noise levels if that’s a concern.
Honestly, in my experience, wearing hearing protection in the data center has been the norm. But if you're looking for noise suppression, you might want to invest in noise suppressing cabinets and insulation for the walls around them. Just keep in mind, if you’re planning the custom ducting, think about how your HVAC will handle it, especially when heating is involved in colder months. A good option could be just going with air-conditioned cabinets if noise is your main concern.
I hear you on that, but spending a fortune on every rack isn’t feasible. I mean, with a couple of hundred bucks on supplies, you could save a lot by building a dozen. And for winter, just disconnect the intake and pull in ambient air. Plus, there are electric dampers available that can help manage airflow.
But we get the standard racks practically for free and have tons of new ones lying around. We even tested putting cardboard in front of a Dell rack with some quiet fans below, and it made a huge difference without affecting server temperatures.