Vertiv CMR-45U12-B-1224 45U Open Frame Rack — 12 in. Deep, Black
The Vertiv CMR-45U12-B-1224 is a 45U open frame rack built for network equipment, patch panels, and AV or security infrastructure where airflow matters more than enclosure. At 12 inches deep with #12-24 tapped mounting rails, it accommodates standard rack-mount equipment without requiring adapter hardware on most commercial networking and security deployments. The open frame design keeps heat from building up around dense switch stacks or NVR arrays — a real advantage in equipment rooms without dedicated CRAC units.
Key Features
- 45U Usable Height: 45U of rack space handles a full complement of patch panels, switches, NVRs, and UPS units in a single column — enough vertical real estate for a mid-sized surveillance or network closet without going to a two-rack layout.
- 12-Inch Depth: The 12 in. depth of the CMR-45U12-B-1224 suits shallow-profile equipment like patch panels, fiber enclosures, and 1U switches. If you're mounting deep UPS units or high-density servers, verify equipment depth against this rail-to-rail measurement before ordering.
- #12-24 Tapped Mounting Rails: Factory-tapped #12-24 threaded holes accept standard rack screws without cage nuts or tooling, speeding initial installation and ongoing equipment moves. The M6 square-hole variant is available in other SKUs if your equipment uses cage-nut hardware.
- Black Finish: The black powder coat matches standard equipment room and data center aesthetics. A Winter White variant is available in a separate SKU for environments requiring light-colored infrastructure.
- Open Frame Construction: No side panels or doors means unrestricted front-to-back airflow around mounted equipment. This is the right form factor for telecom rooms and security head-end closets where passive cooling handles the load — not for environments requiring physical access control to rack contents.
Integration and Compatibility
The CMR-45U12-B-1224 is compatible with standard network video recorders, PoE switches, patch panels, and other 19-inch rack-mount equipment using #12-24 fasteners. It fits naturally into Vertiv's rack and power infrastructure lineup, and pairs with Vertiv PDUs and KVM switches for consolidated equipment rooms. For deployments pairing this rack with managed PoE switches or UPS units, confirm the combined equipment depth does not exceed the 12-inch rail spacing. Integrators building out video surveillance head-end closets will find this rack a workable fit for 1U–2U NVR appliances and associated networking gear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What mounting hole pattern does the CMR-45U12-B-1224 use?
A: The CMR-45U12-B-1224 ships with #12-24 tapped mounting rails. No cage nuts are required — standard #12-24 rack screws thread directly into the rails.
Q: Is the CMR-45U12-B-1224 available in colors other than black?
A: Yes. Vertiv offers this rack in a Winter White finish under a separate model number. The CMR-45U12-B-1224 is the black variant.
Q: What is the usable rack height of the CMR-45U12-B-1224?
A: The CMR-45U12-B-1224 provides 45U of usable rack space, suitable for a full complement of networking, patching, and AV or security equipment.
Q: Can I mount deep equipment like UPS units in the CMR-45U12-B-1224?
A: The rail depth is 12 inches. Verify your equipment's mounting depth against this spec before ordering — many tower-style or deep UPS units exceed 12 inches and require a deeper rack variant.
Q: Does the CMR-45U12-B-1224 come with an enclosure or side panels?
A: No. The CMR is an open frame rack — no side panels, doors, or top cover are included. If physical security of rack contents is required, consider a fully enclosed cabinet instead.
The CMR-45U12-B-1224's 12-inch rail depth is the spec that determines whether this rack works for your application — I've seen integrators order open frame racks without checking this number and end up with PDUs or UPS units that physically can't mount. At 45U with #12-24 tapped rails, this unit is well-suited to standard security and networking gear, but the depth constraint is real and worth confirming against your equipment list before the rack ships.
Technical Highlights:
- 45U Capacity: Enough vertical space for a complete security head-end — NVR, PoE switches, patch panels, and a 2U UPS — without splitting across two racks.
- #12-24 Tapped Rails: Eliminates cage nut fumbling during installation and equipment moves. This is the right choice when your equipment uses standard #12-24 fasteners; if your gear uses M6 cage nuts, order the square-hole variant instead.
- Open Frame / No Panels: Natural convection and active airflow from equipment fans work without restriction. In a properly cooled equipment room, this format runs cooler than a fully enclosed cabinet of equivalent fill.
Deployment Considerations:
- Confirm every piece of equipment in your BOM has a mounting depth under 12 inches — this is not a deep rack, and there is no deeper-depth variant at this SKU.
- Open frame means no physical access control to rack contents. If the equipment room is shared or publicly accessible, a locking enclosed cabinet is the safer choice.
The CMR-45U12-B-1224 is a practical fit for dedicated security equipment rooms or IT closets housing NVR appliances, patch infrastructure, and managed switches — where the room itself provides physical access control and passive airflow is sufficient.
