[lug] CPU comparisons

[Hugh Brown]

karl horlen wrote:
> I always thought rails were rails. At least when it
> came to rack systems.  Racks are standardized.  The
> units that fit into them have to conform to
> standardized measurements.  I figured a generic set of
> rails could be purchased for 1u, 2u and similar
> systems from third parties for reasonable prices.
> 
> I guess not.  
> 
> Which means the outer part of every rail set that
> connects to the rack is probably virtually identical. 
> But hooligans like Dell and Sun drill different holes
> on their units to make the interface to the "inner"
> part of the rail different enough to warrant you
> purchase their rails.
> 
> Would that be true?  I haven't purchased enough rack
> servers to know the answer to this question.
> 
>>> Yeah, and then they will also sell you the special
>> Dell rackmount  rails for $250.00.
>>
>> Sun does the same crap.  LOL!
> 
> 


The racks I've dealt with have round holes or square holes.  Most of the 
recent racks have all had square holes.  Relay racks tend to have 
threaded holes and have different sized screw than the machine racks.

The nice rails clip into the square holes and the chassis of the machine 
has thumb screws that connect into the rail.

The not-nice rails don't clip in and you have to clip in a cage nut 
(image here 
http://www.rackmounts.com/asp/show_image.asp?pr=0&sku=DF3434).  You then 
can use the screw to anchor your rail/machine.

There is no standardization in how the rail attaches to the sides of the 
machine.

It's worth buying a machine that comes with its own rails.  Beige box 
rack cases mean buying third party rails generally and scratched up 
knuckles.  If you can afford it, it's even nicer to have the vendor rack 
the equipment for you.

They all overcharge for RAM too.

Hugh