APC by Schneider Electric AR3107B2X617 48U NetShelter SX Gen 2 Server Rack Enclosure
Overview
The APC by Schneider Electric AR3107B2X617 is a 48U open-frame-style server rack enclosure from the NetShelter SX Gen 2 line — a field-proven server rack enclosure designed for high-density IT deployments where structural integrity and bay-to-bay scalability matter. Standing 2,258mm tall with a 600mm width and 1,070mm depth, it accommodates the deepest modern server chassis without forcing cable management compromises. Ships without side panels, which is deliberate: in multi-bay data center rows, removing sides reduces airflow restriction between adjacent cabinets and saves installation time when deploying in bayed configurations.
Key Features
- 48U Rack Capacity: 48 usable rack units in a single enclosure means you can densely populate with 1U/2U servers, patch panels, and PDUs without immediately running out of vertical space — meaningful when fitting out a full compute row.
- 1,020.6 kg Dynamic / 1,814.4 kg Static Load Rating: The dynamic rating covers rolling loads during installation and relocation — 1,020kg rolling capacity means fully populated cabinets can be repositioned on a raised floor without partial teardown. Static rating of 1,814kg handles the heaviest blade or storage chassis deployments without frame deformation risk.
- 14-Gauge EIA Mounting Rails: Heavier-gauge steel on the mounting rails (14ga) compared to the posts (16ga) and roof (18ga) puts material where racking stress concentrates. This matters in high-density builds where rail-mounted equipment weight is the primary structural load — not just a spec, a real-world durability decision.
- 190.5mm to 914.9mm Mounting Depth Range: The wide depth adjustment (190.5mm minimum to 914.9mm maximum) means this enclosure handles everything from shallow patch panels to deep 900mm+ server chassis in the same frame — no need to pre-specify equipment depth at order time.
- No Side Panels — Baying-Ready: Designed for multi-cabinet rows. The included baying hardware lets you bolt adjacent NetShelter SX enclosures together into a continuous row, sealing inter-cabinet gaps for hot-aisle/cold-aisle containment without purchasing separate baying kits.
- UL 2416 Listed: UL 2416 is the rack enclosure safety standard. Listing confirms the structure meets tested requirements for load-bearing and electrical safety — a checkpoint for data center facility approvals and insurance requirements.
- 19-Inch EIA Rail Standard: Universal 19-inch rack compatibility means every standard server, switch, UPS, and PDU mounts without adapter hardware. No vendor lock-in on what equipment populates the cabinet.
Integration and Compatibility
The AR3107B2X617 is compatible with the broader APC NetShelter SX accessory ecosystem — including blanking panels, cable management arms, and PDU mounting options. The without-sides configuration pairs directly with APC side panel accessories for environments that later require panel enclosure, preserving flexibility post-installation. For rack PDU selection, the 1,070mm interior depth accommodates standard 0U vertical PDU installations along rear posts without conflicting with server cable runs.
What's in the Box
- 1x AR3107B2X617 48U NetShelter SX Gen 2 rack enclosure frame (without side panels)
- 1x Baying hardware kit
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the AR3107B2X617 include side panels?
A: No. This model ships without side panels by design, making it suited for bayed multi-cabinet rows where inter-cabinet sides are removed and cabinets are bolted together using the included baying hardware.
Q: What is the maximum equipment depth this rack supports?
A: The AR3107B2X617 supports mounting depths from 190.5mm to a maximum of 914.9mm, accommodating standard 1U servers through deep 900mm+ chassis without modification.
Q: How much weight can the AR3107B2X617 hold?
A: The dynamic (rolling) load rating is 1,020.6 kg and the static load rating is 1,814.4 kg — sufficient for fully populated high-density compute or storage builds.
Q: What rail gauge is used on the AR3107B2X617?
A: The EIA mounting rails are 14-gauge steel, posts are 16-gauge, and the roof is 18-gauge. The heavier rail gauge is where structural load concentrates during dense equipment installations.
Q: Is the AR3107B2X617 certified to any safety standards?
A: Yes, it is UL 2416 listed, which is the recognized rack enclosure safety standard covering load-bearing and electrical safety requirements.
Q: Can side panels be added later?
A: Yes. APC offers compatible side panel accessories for the NetShelter SX line that can be installed after initial deployment if the environment requires full enclosure.
The AR3107B2X617 gets specified most often when a data center row is being built out in phases — the without-sides configuration and included baying hardware mean you can bolt cabinets together as they arrive rather than retrofitting baying kits after the fact. The 914.9mm maximum mounting depth is the number I check first on any dense compute deployment: it clears virtually every current server chassis on the market with room for rear cable management.
Technical Highlights:
- 1,020.6 kg Dynamic Load: A fully populated 48U cabinet with dual-socket servers, a top-of-rack switch, and a vertical PDU can easily approach 600–700 kg loaded — the 1,020.6 kg rolling rating gives real headroom for relocation without partial equipment removal.
- 14-Gauge Mounting Rails: Rail gauge is where cheap enclosures cut corners. 14ga on the EIA rails versus 16ga posts is the correct material distribution — heavier where rail nuts and cage nuts concentrate point loads from heavy chassis.
- 190.5mm Minimum Depth: The 190.5mm minimum mounting depth means 1U patch panels and shallow switches sit flush at the front rather than floating awkwardly mid-rail — cleaner installations and better cable radius control.
Deployment Considerations:
- This model ships as a single PCE (packaged unit) at 112.46 kg gross — plan for two-person unboxing and verify freight access (239.5cm package height) before scheduling delivery to tight data center corridors or basement server rooms with low overhead clearance.
- The without-sides configuration is intentional for bayed rows, but if this cabinet stands alone in an edge or branch deployment, factor in side panel accessory cost upfront — retrofitting after cabling is complete adds labor time.
The AR3107B2X617 is the right call for enterprise core data center rows being built in multi-cabinet bayed configurations — particularly compute-dense environments running modern 2U or 4U servers where depth flexibility and structural load headroom are non-negotiable.
