Vertiv GL840CL-3036-2PF Dual-Bay 2x21U Colocation Cabinet

The Vertiv GL840CL-3036-2PF is a dual-bay colocation cabinet offering two independent 21U compartments in a 30-inch-wide, 36-inch-deep footprint finished in black — a purpose-built enclosure for multi-tenant data center environments and shared colo deployments where each tenant's space must be physically isolated within a single rack footprint. The GL840CL-3036-2PF (often searched as GL840CL 3036 2PF) is part of Vertiv's Vertiv cabinet line targeting colo and enterprise rack enclosures.

Overview

Colocation cabinets carry different requirements than standard single-tenant racks: access control per bay, airflow flexibility, and door options that can be mixed to match tenant SLAs and facility airflow architectures. The GL840CL-3036-2PF addresses all three with a configurable door matrix and a bay count that can scale from two to three compartments depending on how space is divided. At 30 inches wide and 36 inches deep, it fits standard colo floor tiles without consuming the footprint of a wider high-density cabinet — relevant when you're paying per square foot.

Key Features

• Dual 21U Compartments (Two-Bay Standard): Each of the two 21U sections functions as a discrete tenant space. You get physical isolation between tenants without deploying two separate cabinets — that means half the floor space commitment and one set of PDU/cable infrastructure to manage at the cabinet level. Bay configuration can extend to three compartments, giving the facility operator flexibility as tenant mixes change.
• 30" Width / 36" Depth Footprint: The 30-inch width matches standard colo tile spacing, and the 36-inch depth accommodates most 1U–4U servers and mid-depth networking gear without wasted clearance. If you're running deep storage nodes or high-density blade chassis, evaluate the 42" or 48" depth variants instead — the GL840CL product family supports all three depth options (36"/42"/48"), so upsizing depth doesn't require a different cabinet line.
• Mesh Front / Rear Door Option: Mesh doors on both front and rear maximize passive airflow through the cabinet — the right choice for hot-aisle/cold-aisle deployments where containment depends on unobstructed front-to-back airflow. If your facility uses in-row cooling or rear-door heat exchangers, confirm airflow compatibility before specifying mesh rear.
• Plexi Front / Solid Rear Door Option (with 2 Fans): The plexi front gives visual access to equipment status lights without opening the door — useful in shared colo environments where tenants or NOC staff need to do visual checks without physical access. The solid rear with integrated dual fans actively exhausts heat when passive airflow isn't sufficient, handling deployments where rack density or aisle layout limits natural convection.
• Configurable Bay Count (Two / Three / Clear): The cabinet ships in two-bay and three-bay configurations, with a clear (open) option for single-tenant use of the full 42U interior. This makes the same physical cabinet serve different tenant-density models — a facility can standardize on one SKU and configure per contract rather than stocking multiple enclosure models.
• Black Finish: Standard black powder coat matches most colo facility aesthetics and avoids the light-reflection issues that can obscure status indicators in white or silver enclosures under fluorescent lighting.

Integration and Compatibility

The GL840CL-3036-2PF is designed for standard EIA 19-inch rack-mount equipment. The dual-bay architecture is compatible with per-bay rack PDUs and per-tenant locking mechanisms, which are typically sourced separately based on facility security policy. For cable management, evaluate vertical and horizontal cable management panels sized to the 30-inch frame width. Confirm with your facility's colo operations team whether the plexi+fan rear door configuration meets their airflow management requirements before finalizing the door selection — some facilities mandate mesh rear for hot-aisle containment compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between the two-bay and three-bay configurations of the GL840CL-3036-2PF?

A: The two-bay configuration splits the cabinet interior into two independent 21U compartments. The three-bay option divides the space into three smaller compartments, supporting higher tenant density within the same physical footprint. The clear configuration leaves the full interior open as a single-tenant space.

Q: Can I mix door types on the GL840CL-3036-2PF — for example, mesh front with solid rear?

A: The GL840CL-3036-2PF supports multiple door configurations: mesh front/rear, or plexi front with solid rear (which includes two integrated fans). Mixing front and rear door types is inherent to the available configurations — select the combination that matches your facility's airflow architecture and tenant access requirements.

Q: What depth options are available in the GL840CL cabinet family?

A: The GL840CL product family supports 36-inch, 42-inch, and 48-inch depths. The GL840CL-3036-2PF specifically is the 36-inch-depth variant. If your equipment requires more rear clearance, evaluate the 42" or 48" depth models in the same family.

Q: Is the GL840CL-3036-2PF suitable for a hot-aisle/cold-aisle containment environment?

A: The mesh front/rear door option is the appropriate selection for hot-aisle/cold-aisle deployments, as it allows unobstructed front-to-back airflow through the cabinet. The plexi front/solid rear with fans configuration is better suited to environments where active exhaust is needed or passive airflow is insufficient.

Q: Does the GL840CL-3036-2PF ship with PDUs or cable management included?

A: Based on available evidence, PDUs and cable management accessories are not included with the GL840CL-3036-2PF and are sourced separately based on deployment requirements.

Marty Allison

The GL840CL-3036-2PF is a cabinet I'd specify specifically for shared-infrastructure colo deployments where you need physical tenant separation without doubling your floor space commitment. The dual 21U bay split is the defining spec here — two isolated compartments in a 30x36 footprint is a meaningful density advantage over placing two independent cabinets side by side.

Technical Highlights:

• Dual 21U Bay Architecture: Two independent compartments in one enclosure halves the floor footprint compared to two separate cabinets — directly relevant when colo space is billed per square foot or per tile.
• Depth Flexibility (36"/42"/48"): The GL840CL family supports three depth options, so if equipment clearance becomes a constraint after deployment, you're selecting within a known product line rather than re-specifying an entirely different enclosure.
• Integrated Fan Option on Solid Rear Door: The plexi front / solid rear configuration ships with two integrated fans — active exhaust without a separate fan tray purchase, which matters in dense multi-tenant bays where passive airflow is insufficient.

Deployment Considerations:

• Door selection is a day-one decision — confirm your facility's airflow management standard (hot-aisle containment vs. in-row cooling) before ordering, since swapping door types post-installation is not a minor field change.
• The 36-inch depth is the shallowest in the family; if you're deploying storage arrays or full-depth blade chassis, verify equipment depth against rear-door clearance before specifying this variant over the 42" or 48" options.

This cabinet is a practical fit for colo operators building out shared-infrastructure bays in facilities where floor density and per-tenant physical isolation are primary design constraints — not a general-purpose single-tenant rack.