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ITGlossary · UPS technology
Rack-Mount UPS
A UPS designed to fit a standard 19-inch rack, with its height measured in rack units (U).
Technical level:Basic
Unlike tower UPS units, which stand on the floor or a desk, rack-mount models are 19 inches wide and are fixed into a rack cabinet with rails or mounting ears. Many are convertible rack/tower units, so they can be installed either way.
They are the natural choice for server rooms and network cabinets, because they save space, keep cabling tidy and sit right next to the equipment they protect. When choosing one, check its height in U, its depth relative to the cabinet, the option to add external battery modules, and whether it has a network card for remote monitoring.
A common mistake is fixing a heavy UPS by its front ears alone. Always use rails or a shelf that also supports the rear.
Related terms
- Offline (Standby) UPSA UPS that leaves the load on the mains and switches to battery only when the mains fails, with a short transfer time; the simplest and cheapest topology.
- Rack Unit (U)A standard height unit for equipment in 19-inch racks, where 1U equals 44.45 mm.
- Capacity SystemParallel UPS units that share the load with no spare unit (N configuration), so the failure of one unit overloads the rest.
- DC EfficiencyMeasures how effectively a UPS converts battery power into output power during battery mode.
- IEC C19/C20 ConnectorsPair of connectors rated up to 16 A under IEC 60320, used on higher-power UPS units, rack PDUs and servers or switches with high-consumption power supplies.
- Line Interactive UPSA UPS that corrects voltage sags and swells with an automatic voltage regulator and switches to battery only when the voltage is lost or out of range.