APC by Schneider Electric AR3200B2 NetShelter SX Colocation Rack Gen 2
Overview
The AR3200B2 is a second-generation 42U NetShelter SX colocation rack from APC by Schneider Electric designed for shared-tenancy data center environments where two parties need physically separated, lockable rack space within a single enclosure. The cabinet splits into two independent 20U zones — each manageable by a separate tenant — making it a practical choice for co-location facilities, shared server rooms, and multi-tenant enterprise deployments where cabinet-level access control matters.
At 800mm wide and 1200mm deep, the AR3200B2 accommodates deeper server and networking gear without forced cable compression at the rear. The 800mm width provides extra horizontal space for cable trays, patch panels, and side-by-side power distribution — a meaningful advantage over standard 600mm-wide frames in high-density environments. The white finish suits raised-floor data center aesthetics and aids visual identification of cabinet zones under fluorescent lighting.
Key Features
- Dual 20U Tenant Zones: The Gen 2 colocation split divides the 42U frame into two independent 20U sections, each with separate access control. This lets two tenants share a single rack footprint on the data center floor without sharing physical access — relevant for colo operators billing per half-rack.
- 800mm Width: Wider than the standard 600mm rack, providing clearance for horizontal cable managers, wider patch panels, and side-mounted PDUs without crowding the equipment bay.
- 1200mm Depth: Accommodates full-depth server chassis and high-port-count switches with rear cable slack — avoids the forced cable bends that plague 900mm and 1000mm cabinets in dense deployments.
- Integrated Cable Management: Factory-included cable management provisions keep structured cabling organized between tenant zones, reducing the risk of cross-tenant cable interference during moves, adds, or changes.
- RoHS Compliance: Meets RoHS directive requirements, relevant for deployments where environmental compliance is a procurement requirement or part of a corporate sustainability mandate.
- White Finish: Supports visual zone identification in multi-cabinet rows and aligns with data center color-coding standards where white cabinets denote specific functions or tenants.
Integration and Compatibility
The AR3200B2 is compatible with standard 19-inch rack-mount equipment. The network rack and enclosure category includes complementary accessories such as rack PDUs, blanking panels, and cable management arms. For full data center power planning, pair with APC's rack-mount UPS and power conditioning line. Consult the APC accessories matrix for rail kit compatibility before ordering — not all rail kits fit the Gen 2 frame dimensions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the usable rack space in each tenant zone of the AR3200B2?
A: Each of the two colocation zones provides 20U of usable rack space, for a total of 40U within the 42U frame.
Q: What are the external dimensions of the AR3200B2?
A: Based on available specification data, the AR3200B2 is 800mm wide and 1200mm deep. The height is 1991mm (42U frame).
Q: Is the AR3200B2 RoHS compliant?
A: Yes, the AR3200B2 carries RoHS compliance certification, meeting EU directives on restriction of hazardous substances.
Q: Does the AR3200B2 include cable management?
A: Yes, cable management provisions are included with the AR3200B2.
Q: What color is the AR3200B2?
A: The AR3200B2 ships in white finish, consistent with APC's colocation rack line.
The AR3200B2 is the kind of cabinet you spec when the conversation with your data center tenant starts with 'we need our own lock.' The dual 20U zone split is the defining feature here — not the depth, not the width, not the color — and it's what separates this from a standard NetShelter SX of similar dimensions.
Technical Highlights:
- Dual Tenant Zoning: Two independent 20U zones with separate access control means two tenants share floor space and power infrastructure without sharing physical access — critical for colo billing and SLA enforcement at the cabinet level.
- 1200mm Depth: Deep enough for full-length GPU servers, high-density switch chassis, and rear cable management without rear-door interference — a spec that matters once you're spec'ing anything deeper than a 1U spine switch.
- 800mm Width: The extra 200mm over a standard 600mm frame gives you room for horizontal cable managers on both tenant sides without eating into the equipment bay — a real-world differentiator in high-patch-count deployments.
Deployment Considerations:
- Verify rail kit compatibility against the Gen 2 frame before ordering server slide rails — APC's Gen 1 and Gen 2 colocation frames are not always interchangeable with third-party rail kits.
- The 1200mm depth requires adequate aisle clearance per your data center's hot/cold aisle design — confirm rear-door clearance before placing this in a tight row.
Best fit for colocation operators deploying shared half-rack offerings, or enterprise IT teams partitioning a server room for two business units with distinct security requirements.
