By Susan Wynne, Account Manager, Rackmount Solutions, Inc.

Taking expensive and sensitive electronic equipment on the road can be a chancy and expensive endeavor.  Especially when that equipment gets dropped or collides with other baggage in a cargo hold.

But sometimes electronic equipment – and golf clubs – aren’t secure, even when they’re “safely” at home.  When a landslide took out this house, the homeowner was relieved to find at least one of his important possessions survived.  His golf clubs!

Landslide takes out home

SKB Case Saves the Clubs!

Protected by his SKB Golf Travel Case, this golfer’s clubs survived the landslide.  And, because the case was indeed damaged (although the clubs were not!), SKB even replaced the case at no cost to the owner.

Need to take expensive electronics with you when you’re on the road?  Check out our complete line of SKB rack mount utility cases.  Starting at only $84.99, they’re an inexpensive way to ensure that they’ll survive every trip – even if they happen to get caught in a “landslide” of baggage!

Need some help finding the SKB rack mount utility case best suited to your needs?  Send us an email or give us a call at 800 352-6631.  We’ll be happy to help!

 By John Rateau, Account Manager, Rackmount Solutions, Inc.

One of the most popular SKB heavy duty transport cases is the 8u Roto Rack.  It’s tough, it has built-in TSA accepted and recognized latches (so you can lock them and still enable airline security personnel to inspect the contents), it has heavy duty, built-in wheels (or optional quick release 4” casters with mounting plates and hardware), an easy to use built-in pull handle, and industrial grade steel threaded rack rails (for non-destructive screw mount installation and removal).  And, for easy access to contents, the SKB  8u Roto Rack also includes full access rear lids.  But although this case from SKB is very popular (and has prevented damage to millions of dollars of network, computing, audio, and video equipment), many purchasers aren’t aware of why the case is called a “Roto” Rack.  (And no, it’s not because the case has wheels that roto…, er rotate!)

The name “Roto” Rack comes from the process SKB uses to mold the LLDEP/LMDE (Linear Low Density Polyethylene/Linear Medium Density Polyethylene) plastic into the case’s shape.   In Roto molding, aluminum molds hold powdered plastic that is heated in a large oven.  The molds are rotated on two axis so that the plastic melts and is distributed evenly.  This ensures that the case will have an even density and strong corners.

SKB Roto Rack Transport Case

The Roto process is just one of the reasons why SKB can warrant their cases against defects in materials and craftsmanship for the life of the case.  (SKB will repair or replace it at no cost to you for as long as you own the case.)  It’s their “Million Mile Guarantee”!

So if you’re looking for a great way to protect and transport expensive electronics, SKB’s  8u Roto Rack’s is a great way to do it (and now their name for it makes sense too!)

You can find more information on the 8u Roto Rack and other great products from SKB, at:  http://www.rackmountsolutions.net/SKB_Shock_Mount_Case_Rack_Entry.asp.  Or give us a call at:  800-352-6631, we’ll be happy to recommend a case that will meet your specific requirements.

Other articles by John Rateau:

Traveling Techs Need This Case!

Unused Hardware?  Don’t let it sit around collecting dust.  Recycle it!

 By Deborah Petty, CEO, Rackmount Solutions, Inc.

At Rackmount Solutions we believe that our commitment to the growth and success of our people provides outstanding value to our customers as well.  That’s why we:

• Encourage and fund ongoing educational opportunities for all of our personnel.
• Provide some of the most advanced hardware and software systems.  We don’t want our people wasting their – or our customers’ – time bogged down with manual processes.
• Promote business stability by making investments in new and growing opportunities like cloud computing and green data center technologies.  Our commitment to new technologies has resulted in a growth rate of more than 30 percent over the past five years – and an environment where our people know that they don’t have to worry about staff reductions.
• Encourage open communication.  If it’s wrong, we want to fix it.   We insist that our people “do the right thing” for our customers and our business.
• Constantly look for ways to improve.  Business doesn’t stand still – and we don’t either!  We are always on the look for new products and new ways to do things that will enhance what we sell and how we sell it.
• Foster an environment that values family – and having fun!  We believe that productive, happy people are not only more efficient, they also provide unsurpassed customer service.  That’s good for our people, our business, and our customers.

Taking care of our people is just another way of ensuring that our customers aren’t just satisfied – they’re delighted – with our products and services.  That’s why at Rackmount Solutions, our people make the difference – because they can focus on U.

For more information about Rackmount Solutions check out our web site at http://www.rackmountsolutions.net or our LinkedIn profile at: http://www.linkedin.com/company/2303117?goback=%2Enmp_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1&trk=NUS-body-company-name

 By Laura Viars, Account Manager, Rackmount Solutions, Inc.

Is poor lighting causing errors in your data center?

When data center managers and designers look for new ways to conserve energy, lighting is definitely on the list.  However, energy savings aren’t the only reason why lighting is important in a data center.

Inadequate lighting can also contribute to human error. Technicians that can’t see patch panel labels clearly or wire colors are prone to making mistakes.  Mistakes that result in extended down time and unhappy users.

Innovations such as LED lighting are beginning to help change this trend.  They provide improved lighting and energy savings.  But there’s another, more insidious contributor to poor data center lighting.  It’s the traditional flat black server and network racks and enclosures that don’t reflect light into the aisles.  LED fixtures are usually mounted above.  If no light is reflected by the server and network racks and enclosures, there will be limited light where it is needed most – in and around the equipment and cabling.

At Rackmount Solutions, Our Cruxial™ series cabinets come in traditional black, dark gray and blue – but more importantly in pure white, pearl white, medium and light gray.  We know how important it is for technicians to have the light they need to do their jobs – error free!

Looking to “light up” your data center?  LED lighting will brighten things up – and provide energy savings as well.  But remember that the color of your server and network racks and enclosures is important too.  Maybe it’s time for our high quality, customizable Cruxial™ cabinets in pure white, pearl white or light gray. ns to have the light they need to do their jobs – error free!

For more information on our Cruxial™ line or any of our server and network racks, cabinets, and accessories:

Email us at:  sales@rackmountsolutions.net

Click:  http://www.rackmountsolutions.net

Call:  1-800-352-6631

 By Deborah Petty, CEO, Rackmount Solutions, Inc.

Back in December we promised that we’d deliver new products in 2013 – and we’re delivering already!  Available NOW, is a new cabinet line designed specifically for Cisco’s® side-venting switches, the:

• Nexus™ 7010 and 7018
• Multilayer Director™ 9506, 9509 and 9513
• Catalyst™ 6506, 6509 and 6513

The new cabinet line – Cruxial Switch™ – will include 42u and 45u models and meet or exceed Cisco’s® specifications for chassis clearance and airflow.  More importantly, unlike our competitors’ cabinets, the Cruxial Switch™ line meets Cisco’s® specifications without the need for additional ducts and internal baffles.  (However, we will offer add-on intake and exhaust ducts for transfer of cool air in from cold aisles and hot air out to hot aisles.)  And, it includes – standard – a top panel with six openings and brushes to handle all of the cabling that connects to the switches.

Cruxial Switch line, designed for Cisco side-vented switches

As with all of our cabinet offerings, Cruxial Switch™ will be easy to customize to meet the unique requirements of your data center.  Accessories for the cabinets will include:

• A number of cable management options
  • Horizontal tool-less cable bracket
  • Fiber spool
  • Vertical cable channels with and without covers
  • Filler panels with cable rings
  • Cable management rings
  • Fiber rings
  • Wireway top panels
• Cable access options
• • Top panel with brush cable access cutouts
  • Cable entry ports with or without cable troughs
• Door and door security options
  • Standard extruded aluminum front door or optional steel door
  • Security locks (Kaba and Emka swing handle electronic latches)
• Solid/split and perforated/solid side panels
• Dual exhaust ducts
• Rack your switch with cables facing the front or the rear – there’s an exhaust duct on each side!
• Standard adjustable mounting rails with square holes (adjustable front to rear and side to side) and optional
  • Rails with .281 round holes
  • Rails with tapped 10-32 holes
  • Rails with tapped 12-24 holes
  • Internal and external joining kits
• Grounding options
  • Ground stud on base
  • Ground stud on base, ground straps on door
  • Ground stud on base, ground straps on doors tops, and sides
  • Ground stud on base, ground straps on door, tops and sides; rails plated and grounded to the frame

With solid construction, lots of flexibility and a design that will keep the switches safe, secure, and cool – our new Cruxial Switch ™cabinet will be a great addition to your data center.

If you’d like to learn more about our new cabinet – email us at:    sales@rackmountsolutions.net or call 800-352-6631.  We’ll be glad to get you the information you need!