APC by Schneider Electric AR3300B2X617 42U Open-Frame Server Rack Enclosure
Overview
The APC by Schneider Electric AR3300B2X617 is a NetShelter SX Gen 2 open-access server rack designed for data center and IT room deployments where dense equipment loading, structured cable management, and deliberate airflow planning are non-negotiable. Measuring 1991mm tall x 600mm wide x 1200mm deep, this 42U enclosure ships without side panels — a deliberate choice for integrators who need unfettered lateral access during installation phases or who are building out hot-aisle/cold-aisle containment systems where panel omission is part of the airflow design. Explore more in the APC by Schneider Electric catalog for complementary power and infrastructure options.
At 42U of usable rack space, the AR3300B2X617 accommodates full-depth servers, high-density switching, patch infrastructure, and UPS units within a single enclosure — without the capacity compromises that come with shallower or narrower frames. The 1200mm depth is the key spec here: it comfortably houses modern 2-socket servers and GPU compute nodes that routinely reach 900–1000mm in chassis length, leaving room for rear cable dressing without crushing bend radii.
Key Features
- 42U Capacity (1991mm height): Forty-two rack units of usable space lets you consolidate compute, switching, and power distribution in a single frame — reducing floor footprint in environments where square footage costs money.
- 600mm Interior Width: The 600mm width is the standard for 19-inch rack equipment. Nearly all server, switch, and UPS vendors design to this width, so you won't encounter the compatibility friction that narrower frames create with cable managers or blanking panels.
- 1200mm Depth: Full-depth 1U and 2U rack servers — including many dual-socket platforms with rear I/O cabling — fit without forcing compromises on cable routing. 1200mm is the depth that accommodates real production hardware, not just network gear.
- Ships Without Side Panels: Side-panel-free configuration speeds up initial rack builds and simplifies access when populating the enclosure. If your containment strategy calls for panels post-deployment, APC offers side panel kits separately — buy what you need, when you need it, rather than paying for panels that come off immediately on the floor.
- NetShelter SX Gen 2 Platform: The SX line is APC's commercial-grade data center enclosure family, engineered for compatibility with APC's own power distribution, cable management, and blanking panel accessories. Standardizing on one enclosure platform across a build simplifies procurement and spare parts.
- Structured for Containment Architectures: The open-side configuration pairs naturally with hot-aisle containment kits and blanking panels to direct airflow through — rather than around — installed equipment. If you're building a contained row, the AR3300B2X617 is designed to integrate into that architecture rather than fight it.
Integration & Compatibility
The AR3300B2X617 is a standard EIA-310 19-inch rack enclosure. All major server vendors — including HPE, Dell, Cisco, and Lenovo — design their 1U through 4U rack platforms to the same 19-inch mounting standard, making equipment compatibility a non-issue. The 1200mm depth accommodates full-chassis platforms without restricting rear cable egress. APC's own UPS and power management units, including the Symmetra and Smart-UPS rack lines, mount directly into the SX frame with APC rail kits. For structured cabling overhead, pair this rack with cable management pathways and patch panels that terminate runs cleanly above or below active equipment. If you're sizing out power distribution for the rack, review the network and PoE planning guide to calculate PDU and UPS capacity before committing to a populated build. For multi-rack deployments, APC offers bolt-together kits that stabilize adjacent SX enclosures — relevant when seismic or vibration considerations apply. Side panels, roof sections, and caster/leveling foot kits are available as server rack accessories for post-build addition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does 'without sides' mean on the AR3300B2X617 — does it ship with side panels at all?
A: No. The AR3300B2X617 is configured without side panels. The enclosure ships as an open frame — front door, rear door, and the structural vertical members, but no side panels. APC sells side panel kits separately if your deployment requires them.
Q: Will standard 19-inch rack equipment fit in the AR3300B2X617?
A: Yes. The AR3300B2X617 is a 600mm wide EIA-310 19-inch rack enclosure. All standard 1U through 7U rackmount equipment designed to the 19-inch standard mounts directly. The 1200mm depth accommodates full-chassis servers, including most dual-socket platforms with rear cabling.
Q: How many rack units does the AR3300B2X617 provide?
A: The AR3300B2X617 provides 42U of usable rack space within a 1991mm (approximately 78.4-inch) overall enclosure height.
Q: Can I add side panels to the AR3300B2X617 after installation?
A: Yes. APC designs the NetShelter SX Gen 2 platform with separately orderable side panels. You can add them post-deployment without modifying the core enclosure structure.
Q: Is the AR3300B2X617 suitable for hot-aisle/cold-aisle containment?
A: The open-side configuration is compatible with APC's hot-aisle containment accessories and is a common choice for builds where containment hardware — rather than solid side panels — defines the airflow boundary. Confirm your specific containment kit compatibility with APC's configuration tools before ordering.
The AR3300B2X617 is one of those enclosures I recommend specifically when the build team wants to defer the side-panel decision — or skip it entirely for containment integration. The 1200mm depth is the spec that drives most of my recommendations here: at that depth, you're not compromising rear cable dressing on a dual-socket server, and you're not fighting the enclosure when adding a rear-mounted PDU or cable trough.
Technical Highlights:
- 42U / 1991mm Height: Full 42U gives you room to mix compute, switching, and power distribution in a single frame without running short mid-build — a real consideration when a rack-mount UPS alone can consume 2–4U.
- 1200mm Depth: Accommodates the longest mainstream 1U and 2U server chassis on the market without forcing rear-cable compromises. Most shallow racks (800–900mm) create rear-cable congestion on modern platforms — the 1200mm dimension eliminates that problem.
- No Side Panels: Lateral access during initial population is significantly faster without panels in the way. For deployments where containment hardware defines the airflow boundary anyway, the panels are unnecessary cost and installation time.
Deployment Considerations:
- Without side panels, the enclosure is not suited for environments where dust ingress, EMI shielding, or physical security of lateral access is a concern — add APC side panels before commissioning in those scenarios.
- Floor load planning matters at 42U of full-depth servers: confirm your raised-floor or slab rating before placing fully loaded SX enclosures, especially in older facilities not originally built for modern compute densities.
The AR3300B2X617 is the right call for data center row builds and machine room deployments where hot-aisle/cold-aisle containment is already designed in — the open side profile integrates cleanly with containment hardware and speeds up the initial rack population before containment panels go on.
