APC by Schneider Electric AR3300B2 42U Server Rack Enclosure
Overview
The APC by Schneider Electric AR3300B2 is a NetShelter SX Gen 2 42U server rack enclosure designed for data centers, network closets, and equipment rooms where structured, high-density IT infrastructure deployment is the priority. At 600mm wide by 1200mm deep, it provides the cable management depth and internal clearance that 1U to 4U servers, patch panels, and power distribution units demand in production environments. At a shipping weight that reflects a 131.04 kg fully-loaded frame, this is a permanent installation piece — not a portable rack. If you're building out a dedicated server room or colocation cage, the AR3300B2 belongs in that conversation from the start.
The 42U height puts the AR3300B2 squarely in the full-rack category — enough vertical real estate for a complete server stack, top-of-rack switching, and structured cable management without compromising airflow or access. The 19-inch rail configuration is the industry standard, meaning virtually every enterprise server, switch, KVM, and UPS on the market drops straight in without adapter plates or rail gymnastics.
Key Features
- 42U Capacity: Forty-two rack units means you can stack a realistic production environment — multiple 2U servers, a top-of-rack switch, a 2U UPS, and patch panels — without hitting the ceiling or splitting workloads across multiple enclosures. Fewer enclosures means fewer power feeds, fewer cable runs, and a cleaner floor plan.
- 600mm x 1200mm Footprint: The 1200mm depth is specifically sized for modern 1U and 2U rackmount servers with rear cable egress. Shallow 900mm racks bind cabling and restrict rear airflow on deep servers; this enclosure gives you clearance for structured rear cable management without fighting the chassis.
- 19-Inch Rail Standard: Universal 19-inch EIA-310 rail spacing means no proprietary adapters. Every enterprise-grade server, switch, and accessory from every major vendor — Dell, HPE, Cisco, APC, Vertiv — rails directly into the AR3300B2 without modification.
- NetShelter SX Gen 2 Platform: APC's SX Gen 2 line is engineered around cable management channels, blanking panel compatibility, and consistent inter-enclosure airflow when deployed in rows. If you're already running SX enclosures, the AR3300B2 integrates directly into your existing row architecture without breaking airflow continuity.
- Black Finish: Standard data center black finish reduces glare under fluorescent and LED lighting, which matters during extended maintenance windows. It also blends into mixed-vendor rows without the visual inconsistency of silver or gray enclosures.
- Non-Rack-Mountable Design: This is a floor-standing enclosure, not a wall-mount or desktop chassis. That matters for load planning — 131.04 kg of enclosure before a single piece of equipment is installed means your raised floor or concrete slab needs to be rated for the combined load. Plan accordingly before you commit to a position on the floor.
- Sides Included: The AR3300B2 ships with side panels, giving you a fully enclosed cabinet out of the box. Enclosed sides improve containment airflow performance and reduce ambient dust ingress on production equipment — relevant in environments without positive-pressure CRAC control.
Integration & Compatibility
The AR3300B2 is compatible with the full APC NetShelter SX accessories ecosystem — including blanking panels, cable management arms, vertical power distribution units, and horizontal cable managers. The 19-inch rail standard ensures compatibility with equipment from every major server and networking vendor. When deployed alongside APC by Schneider Electric power distribution and UPS equipment, the SX Gen 2 frame provides a unified physical infrastructure layer from the floor up.
For larger deployments, this enclosure is designed to integrate into hot-aisle/cold-aisle containment configurations. The 1200mm depth supports rear cable management systems that keep hot exhaust separated from cold intake, which is the foundational requirement for any row-level server rack enclosure deployment above a handful of units.
If you're sourcing power protection alongside this enclosure, pair it with a compatible UPS system and a rack PDU sized for your load — the AR3300B2's internal width and depth accommodate APC's full lineup of rack-mount power distribution units without modification. For structured cabling in the same build, cable management accessories from the SX Gen 2 accessory family mount directly to the existing rail and panel points.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the rack unit capacity of the AR3300B2?
A: The AR3300B2 provides 42U of rack space — enough for a full production server stack including servers, top-of-rack switching, UPS, and patch management in a single enclosure.
Q: What are the internal dimensions of the AR3300B2?
A: The AR3300B2 is 600mm wide by 1200mm deep. The 1200mm depth is specifically suited to modern rackmount servers with rear cable egress and structured cable management requirements.
Q: Does the AR3300B2 ship with side panels?
A: Yes. The AR3300B2 includes side panels as part of the standard configuration, providing a fully enclosed cabinet for containment airflow and dust management out of the box.
Q: What rail standard does the AR3300B2 use?
A: The AR3300B2 uses the industry-standard 19-inch EIA-310 rail configuration, compatible with servers, switches, UPS units, and accessories from all major enterprise vendors without adapters.
Q: How heavy is the AR3300B2 enclosure itself?
A: The AR3300B2 weighs 131.04 kg unloaded. This is a floor-standing installation — verify that your raised floor or slab is rated for the combined enclosure and equipment load before positioning.
Q: Can the AR3300B2 be wall-mounted?
A: No. The AR3300B2 is a floor-standing enclosure and is not designed for wall mounting. It is intended for permanent floor installation in data centers, server rooms, or equipment rooms.
The AR3300B2's 1200mm depth is the spec I'd flag first for anyone doing a new server room build. That extra depth over a 1070mm or 900mm enclosure isn't cosmetic — it's what separates a clean rear cable management layout from a nightmare of bent cables and blocked exhaust ports on modern 2U servers. If you're dropping Dell PowerEdge or HPE ProLiant 2U sleds into this rack, the 1200mm gives you the clearance to run structured cable channels behind the equipment without choking airflow.
Technical Highlights:
- 42U Height: Maximizes density per floor tile — fitting servers, switching, power, and patch in one enclosure reduces the number of power feeds and cross-connects required compared to splitting the same load across two 24U or 27U enclosures.
- 131.04 kg Unloaded Weight: At this weight before a single server goes in, floor load planning is mandatory. A fully loaded 42U rack with dual-socket servers can easily exceed 700-900 kg total — verify your raised floor rating or pour a concrete equipment pad before finalizing position.
- 600mm Width with Side Panels: The enclosed 600mm frame with included sides supports hot-aisle/cold-aisle containment without additional side blanking — useful in rows where thermal management is engineered at the row level, not just the device level.
Deployment Considerations:
- Position the AR3300B2 before loading it — at 131.04 kg empty, repositioning a loaded rack on a raised floor is an injury and equipment risk. Use leveling feet and anchor to the floor per APC's seismic guidance if you're in a rated zone.
- The non-rack-mountable designation means this enclosure requires a clear floor footprint of at least 600mm x 1200mm plus service clearance on front and rear — budget 900mm front and 900mm rear service aisles minimum for cable pulls and hot-swap operations.
The AR3300B2 is the right call for a purpose-built server room or colocation cage where you're deploying a full production stack — not a wiring closet top-off. If you're consolidating distributed edge equipment into a centralized facility, or standing up a new row in an existing data center, the SX Gen 2 42U frame gives you the depth, height, and accessory ecosystem to build it right the first time.
