As an IT professional, you spend your days ensuring all your servers, switches and other important equipment are up and running smoothly. This can be a challenge when everything is crammed into a small office space or wiring closet. Having all your gear organized neatly in server racks is a game changer. Not only does it make maintenance and troubleshooting easier, but server racks provide some hidden perks you may not have considered. 

As you'll learn from the following overview of key server rack perks, small changes can make a big difference in better enabling your work and improving your quality of life as an IT admin.

Let's look at 10 server rack perks that will make IT life easier.

1. Convenient Cable Management

One of the hardest parts of dealing with servers is keeping all the cables organized. Without proper cable management, things can quickly become a tangled, frustrating mess. Look for a server rack with adjustable cable hooks, clips, straps, or channels built right in for neatly routing everything. Having cables tucked away out of sight helps reduce clutter and makes adding or swapping components a breeze. Good cable management also improves airflow, so your equipment runs cooler.

2. Easy Access and Adjustability

The ideal server rack allows you to smoothly glide shelves or rails in and out with just one hand. Smooth-rolling parts let you access gear with ease, whether you need to install a new hard drive or diagnose a blinking light. Adjustable shelf heights are also a massive time saver. With the ability to finely tune the spacing between 1U and deeper equipment, odd-sized gear fits with no wasted space.

3. Built-In Power Distribution

Having to shuttle bulky power strips in and out of tight spaces is no fun. Look for a rack that includes one or more integrated power distribution units (PDUs) for routing electrical directly to shelves. In-rack PDUs free up valuable desk or floor space while keeping things tidy inside the rack. Automatic switching PDUs with integrated outlets or breakers provide reliable power with built-in safety features.

4. Sturdy, Secure Construction

The rack is literally supporting hundreds or thousands of dollars' worth of equipment. It needs to be beautifully engineered to withstand potential earthquakes, falls, or other mishaps. Server racks stamped with heavy-gauge steel or reinforced with braces provide peace of mind. Also check for lockable front and rear doors, plus securing points to bolt the rack to the floor. You want to know that even in the worst-case scenario, gear will stay protected and in place.

5. Easy Equipment Installation

Don't forget about ergonomics when choosing a rack. Look for features that make common tasks less strenuous. Slide rail kits let you push entire servers fully into place from outside the rack without wrestling in tight quarters. Toolless installation of rails and other accessories means no more fumbling for tiny screws. Things like half-rack-width shelves make one-person installation of smaller appliances very doable.

6. Space for Future Growth

As systems age out and need change, the server footprint usually expands rather than contracts. A server rack with extra vertical U space (without wasting too much depth) allows growing headroom for new gear. Modular components let you rearrange shelves, cables, and airflow as application needs evolve over time. The flexibility to scale up without having to completely replace the rack means budget dollars stretch further in the long run.

7. Improved Cooling Controls

With the potential heat output of today's packed racks, active cooling is an absolute must. Intelligent rack cooling solutions distribute conditioned air precisely where it's needed to keep temperatures ideal. Look for features such as adjustable fan speeds, inlet filters, temperature monitoring, and rear chamber separation for isolated hot and cold airflows. Positive pressure helps prevent dust accumulation too. Proper ventilation is key for equipment longevity and uptime reliability.

8. Ease of Mobility

While server gear keeps expanding, available data center real estate does not. Rack-level casters provide the option to fully extend equipment out for maintenance, then smoothly roll it back into tight spaces on demand. Lift handles built right into the rack structure make relocating within facilities safe and controlled. The ability to nimbly position or reposition entire server configurations saves legwork.

9. Remote Monitoring Capabilities

Many modern server racks now include built-in sensors and network ports to facilitate remote monitoring of temperature, humidity, access, power usage and more. SNMP cards integrated into the rack controller allow you to receive alerts on your phone if any environmental conditions go out of whack, like a fan failure causing temperatures to spike. Over 200 miles away on a weekend, you'll know about issues immediately instead of walking into a datacenter crisis on Monday.

Remote Power Cycling

Intelligent PDUs with outlet-level switching also enable remote power cycling of stuck devices to save on-site visits. Most PDU management systems let you set custom thresholds and receive customized alerts based on your SLA needs. For example, you could get an SMS if a critical load drops below 98% capacity while at the movies with your family.

Easy Controls

Beyond simple alerts, some server rack controllers allow full remote desktop-style control over environmental settings. Need to do a quick test by ramping up the cooling fans to 100%? No problem; you can trigger it from the couch. Or want to verify humidity sensors are reading correctly? Log in remotely and watch real-time sensor graphs without using any PTO.

Integrated Surveillance

Integrated security cameras are another bonus, letting you keep visual tabs on your server room or closet without burning through gas money for drive-bys. Depending on your comfort level and IT policies, video may even be accessible via a mobile app. With the right integrated systems, you have transparent remote hands and eyes right in your pocket at all times.

10. Aesthetic Polishing

Admit it, even dedicated server rack closets look nicer with some visual refinement. Small touches like glass doors, edge lighting, and finished end panels add a final polished sheen. More importantly, well-crafted rack exteriors protect internal components from accidental bumps or scrapes. Just the simple satisfaction of a good-looking install can boost your mood on even the most hectic of days.

Conclusion

With so many helpful rack innovations, there's no excuse to keep struggling with outdated gear any longer. Upgrading to a feature-rich server solution designed with your daily workflow in mind will streamline processes both large and small. Make your IT life easier by choosing a rack focused on optimization, access, growth, efficiency and overall job satisfaction. The time savings will pay for themselves in no time at all.