Vertiv GL840CL-3048-3PF Colocation Rack Cabinet — 3×14U, 30"×48"
The Vertiv GL840CL-3048-3PF is a multi-bay colocation rack cabinet configured in a 3×14U layout at 30 inches wide and 48 inches deep — a purpose-built enclosure for shared-tenancy data center environments where multiple customers or departments occupy discrete, lockable bays within a single cabinet footprint. If you're managing a colo facility, a shared-services closet, or a campus deployment where physical access segregation is a hard requirement, this is the configuration to evaluate. The GL840CL-3048-3PF (often searched as GL840CL 3048 3PF) ships in black and is part of Vertiv's GL840 colocation line.
Overview
Colocation cabinets solve a problem that standard open-frame racks and single-tenant enclosures cannot: how do you install multiple independent tenants — each with their own equipment, their own lock, and their own SLA — inside one physical rack? The GL840CL-3048-3PF answers that with a three-bay, 14U-per-bay internal layout, giving each tenant a physically separated, access-controlled compartment. At 30 inches wide and with depth options spanning 36, 42, and 48 inches, the cabinet fits into standard raised-floor grid layouts while accommodating a range of equipment depths, from shallow patch panels to deeper 1U servers.
For a broader look at Vertiv's enclosure and power infrastructure line, the Vertiv catalog covers their full rack and cabinet portfolio. If you're specifying a colocation deployment, also review the data center cabinet category for comparative configurations.
Key Features
- Three-Bay, 3×14U Layout: Each of the three internal bays provides 14U of usable space — 42U total — with physical separation between bays. In a shared-tenancy colo environment, this means three distinct customers or departments can occupy one cabinet without physical access to each other's equipment. Eliminates the need to provision three separate cabinets for small deployments.
- Variable Depth — 36", 42", or 48": The GL840CL-3048-3PF is available in three depth configurations. The 36" depth suits network gear and patch infrastructure; 42" handles most 1U/2U servers; 48" accommodates deep storage arrays and high-density compute nodes. Specify depth at order time based on your deepest equipment — you can't adjust after delivery.
- Multiple Door Configurations: Choose from Mesh Front/Rear, Plexi Front/Solid (with 2 fans) Rear, or matching clear-bay variants. Mesh doors maximize passive airflow for high-density thermal loads without mechanical intervention. The Plexi/Solid-with-fans option adds active rear exhaust — appropriate when rear-door heat exchangers or blanking panels alone aren't sufficient for the thermal budget. Clear bays allow visual inspection without opening the enclosure.
- Two, Three, or Clear Bay Options: Beyond the standard three-bay split, the GL840 colocation line supports two-bay and clear (single open) bay configurations — giving facility operators flexibility to match bay count to actual tenant headcount rather than forcing a fixed partition layout.
- 30" Cabinet Width: The 30-inch external width fits standard colo floor tile spacing and keeps the per-cabinet footprint tight. In high-density rows where floor space translates directly to power and cooling cost, the narrower profile versus a 600mm-wide standard cabinet can free meaningful row density.
- Black Finish: The all-black finish matches standard enterprise data center aesthetics and Vertiv's broader enclosure line, relevant if cabinet uniformity is part of your facility management requirements or customer-facing SLA presentation.
Integration and Compatibility
The GL840CL-3048-3PF integrates with standard 19-inch rack-mount equipment across all three bays. The variable-depth selection (36/42/48 inches) accommodates the full range of 1U through high-density chassis equipment. For power distribution, Vertiv's own rack PDUs mount vertically in the rear bay space and are designed to the same rail spacing. Cable management accessories and blanking panels from the GL840 accessory family should be verified for bay-level compatibility before ordering.
If you're deploying in a facility that requires individual bay locking with access logging, verify locking hardware compatibility separately — the door and bay partition configurations listed here address the physical layout, not the electronic access control layer. For broader data center infrastructure planning, including hot/cold aisle containment and in-row cooling, consult your facility's thermal model before finalizing depth and door type selection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the total rack unit capacity of the GL840CL-3048-3PF?
A: The GL840CL-3048-3PF provides a 3×14U layout — three independent bays, each with 14U of usable space, for 42U total across the cabinet.
Q: What depth options are available for the GL840CL-3048-3PF?
A: Three depth configurations are available: 36", 42", and 48". Select based on the deepest equipment you plan to install — depth cannot be changed after the cabinet ships.
Q: What door configurations does the GL840CL-3048-3PF support?
A: The cabinet supports Mesh Front/Rear doors for maximum passive airflow, Plexi Front/Solid Rear (with 2 integrated fans) for active rear exhaust, and clear bay variants for visual equipment inspection without opening the enclosure.
Q: How many bays can the GL840CL-3048-3PF be configured with?
A: The GL840 colocation line supports two-bay, three-bay, and clear (open) bay configurations. The GL840CL-3048-3PF is the three-bay variant at 3×14U.
Q: Is the GL840CL-3048-3PF suitable for multi-tenant colocation deployments?
A: Yes. The three-bay physical partitioning is designed specifically for shared-tenancy environments where independent customers or departments require segregated equipment compartments within a single cabinet footprint.
Q: Does the GL840CL-3048-3PF fit standard 19-inch rack-mount equipment?
A: Yes. All three bays are configured for standard 19-inch rack-mount equipment.
The GL840CL-3048-3PF is the colocation configuration I reach for when a client needs to consolidate three small tenants — or three internal departments — into a single cabinet without the overhead of provisioning three full enclosures. The 3×14U split gives each tenant 14U of isolated rack space, which is the right amount for a basic compute + storage + networking stack in a shared facility.
Technical Highlights:
- 3×14U Bay Partitioning: Physical separation between bays is the core value proposition — each tenant's 14U is independently accessible and lockable, which matters for compliance and physical security SLAs in shared environments.
- Three Depth Options (36"/42"/48"): The 48" depth is the one I spec for mixed deployments — it handles everything from shallow patch panels to deep 1U rack-mount servers without forcing a second enclosure just because one tenant runs deeper storage.
- Door Type Selection — Fans Included on Solid Rear: The Plexi Front/Solid Rear variant ships with 2 integrated rear fans, which removes one variable from your thermal planning — you're not retrofitting fan trays after the fact.
Deployment Considerations:
- Depth selection is permanent — measure your deepest equipment before ordering. The 36" option is too shallow for most 2U compute nodes; go 42" minimum if you're mixing compute and networking.
- Bay count (two, three, or clear) needs to be locked at order time as well. If your tenant headcount is uncertain, the clear (single open) bay configuration preserves flexibility at the cost of losing the partitioning benefit.
The GL840CL-3048-3PF is the right call for managed service providers running small shared-tenancy colo rows, or for enterprise campus deployments where IT, security, and AV teams need physically segregated equipment in a single footprint — and where a full three-cabinet row isn't justified by the actual equipment density.
