APC by Schneider Electric AR3355B2 NetShelter SX Gen 2 45U Server Rack Enclosure
Overview
The AR3355B2 is a 45U, 750mm wide by 1200mm deep server rack enclosure from APC by Schneider Electric's NetShelter SX Gen 2 line — a workhorse cabinet built for data centers, server rooms, and distributed IT closets where dense equipment deployment demands a predictable, well-engineered physical foundation. At 161.32 kg unloaded, this is a heavy-gauge commercial-grade enclosure designed to house and protect production-weight server, storage, and networking loads. If you are deploying equipment that needs ordered cable management, consistent airflow pathing, and a chassis that won't flex under a full rack of blade servers or network video recorders, the AR3355B2 is a rational starting point in the NetShelter SX Gen 2 family.
The 750mm width and 1200mm depth dimensions are the core reason integrators reach for this SKU over narrower or shallower alternatives. The extra depth accommodates long-chassis servers, rear-mounted PDUs, and patch panels without forcing cable contortion at the back. The 750mm width — wider than a standard 600mm cab — provides meaningful side clearance for cable routing and makes high-density PoE switches and patch-heavy telecom builds more manageable. The black finish matches the Gen 2 aesthetic and integrates cleanly in modern data hall environments.
Key Features
- 45U of usable rack space: At 45U, this enclosure supports high-density builds — a full complement of 1U servers, 2U storage arrays, patch panels, and horizontal cable managers without forcing a second cabinet on day one. Plan your U-count carefully: 45U fills faster than expected once you account for blanking panels, cable managers, and PDU rails.
- 750mm interior width: The extra 150mm over a standard 600mm cabinet matters in cable-dense deployments. Side channels stay clear, side-access cable runs are practical, and wide-chassis equipment like some rack accessories and UPS units fits without modification.
- 1200mm depth: Deep-chassis gear — 1U/2U rack servers with rear cable connections, rear-mounted vertical PDUs, high-port-count patch panels — fits without the rear-cable pinch that plagues 900mm or 1000mm enclosures. The 1200mm depth is the primary spec to verify against your deepest equipment before ordering.
- 161.32 kg enclosure weight: The structural mass is a direct indicator of steel gauge and weld quality. A cabinet this heavy before loading is built to handle production-class server weight — not workgroup or AV gear. Factor the unloaded weight into your raised-floor load calculations and logistics planning; this cabinet requires proper material handling equipment to position.
- 19-inch rack standard: Universal 19-inch EIA-310 rail compatibility means every standard rackmount server, switch, storage unit, or appliance mounts without adapter rails in most configurations. No proprietary tooling required for standard equipment.
- Sides included (Black finish): The enclosure ships with side panels, providing a complete enclosure rather than an open-frame rack. Side panels contribute to airflow discipline (front-to-back cooling path) and reduce dust ingress in environments without CRAC-directed containment.
- Free-standing, non-rack-mountable deployment: The AR3355B2 is a floor-standing enclosure — it does not require a host rack or wall mounting. Position it directly on raised floor tiles or a concrete slab. This also means it is not suitable for wall-mount or overhead installations; verify your floor load rating before final placement.
Integration and Compatibility
The AR3355B2 is compatible with the APC NetShelter SX Gen 2 accessory ecosystem — including side panels, roof sections, blanking panels, PDU mounting hardware, and cabling accessories designed for the 750mm width and 1200mm depth format. Verify accessory part numbers explicitly against the Gen 2 750x1200 SKU family; not all NetShelter accessories are cross-compatible between depth and width variants. The 19-inch rail standard ensures compatibility with virtually all commercial rackmount equipment. For power distribution inside the enclosure, size your PDU to the 45U load and available feed circuits — the 1200mm depth supports both rear-mounted vertical PDUs and traditional horizontal PDU bars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the usable rack space in the AR3355B2?
A: The AR3355B2 provides 45U of rack space using standard 19-inch EIA-310 rails, suitable for servers, switches, storage arrays, patch panels, and other standard rackmount equipment.
Q: What are the external dimensions of the AR3355B2?
A: The enclosure is 750mm wide by 1200mm deep. The total height corresponds to a 45U frame, noted at 212.4 cm overall. Verify ceiling clearance and door swing space before installation.
Q: How much does the AR3355B2 weigh unloaded?
A: The unloaded enclosure weight is 161.32 kg (approximately 355 lbs). Plan for mechanical lifting equipment during delivery and positioning, and verify raised-floor or slab load ratings before placement.
Q: Does the AR3355B2 come with side panels?
A: Yes, the AR3355B2 ships with side panels included, providing a fully enclosed cabinet configuration out of the box.
Q: Is the AR3355B2 compatible with other NetShelter SX accessories?
A: The AR3355B2 is part of the NetShelter SX Gen 2 family and is compatible with accessories designed for the 750mm width and 1200mm depth format. Always verify accessory part numbers against the specific width and depth variant — NetShelter accessories are not universally cross-compatible across all cabinet sizes.
Q: Can the AR3355B2 be wall-mounted?
A: No. The AR3355B2 is a free-standing floor enclosure and is not designed or rated for wall or overhead mounting. It must be installed on a suitable load-bearing floor surface.
The AR3355B2 sits in the part of the NetShelter SX Gen 2 lineup that most serious data center builds gravitate toward — the 45U, 750x1200mm format that handles real server depth without compromise. At 161.32 kg unloaded, this is not a lightweight telecom cab; it is a structural enclosure built for production loading, and that mass tells you something about the steel involved before you even open the spec sheet.
Technical Highlights:
- 45U capacity at 750mm width: The combination of 45U height and 750mm width is where dense but organized builds live — enough vertical space for a full server stack plus top-of-rack switching, and enough side clearance to keep cable management from becoming a fire hazard.
- 1200mm depth: This is the differentiating spec against shallower cabs. Modern 2U storage servers and cable-dense patch fields consistently run 900-1100mm of equipment depth plus rear termination. The 1200mm interior eliminates rear-cable compression and lets you mount vertical PDUs without sacrificing usable U-space.
- 161.32 kg unloaded weight: That figure reflects heavy-gauge steel construction. It also means you need to plan logistics — a pallet jack or team lift is required, and raised-floor panels need point-load verification before positioning.
Deployment Considerations:
- The 212.4 cm overall height means standard 9-foot (274 cm) ceilings clear, but verify door frame clearance during delivery — this cabinet does not negotiate with low doorways or freight elevators with tight ceiling limits.
- The enclosure is free-standing and non-rack-mountable; it must sit on a floor surface rated for its loaded weight. Do not attempt to anchor it to drywall or non-structural walls.
The AR3355B2 is the right call for enterprise server room builds, colocation deployments, and edge data closets where equipment depth runs long and you need a cabinet that handles the load without flexing — not for lightweight AV or workgroup installs where a shallower, lighter cab would suffice.
