Vertiv GL840ES-3042-B-MS 44U 30" x 42" Black Server Rack Cabinet
Overview
The Vertiv GL840ES-3042-B-MS is a 44U, 30-inch-wide by 42-inch-deep enclosed server rack cabinet finished in black — a straightforward, purpose-built enclosure from Vertiv's Vertiv rack infrastructure line designed for datacenter aisles, server rooms, and network equipment deployments where you need a standard-footprint, commercial-grade cabinet. The 30x42 form factor keeps it compatible with the most common raised-floor tile spacing and hot-aisle/cold-aisle arrangements without eating additional floor space. If you're specifying server rack enclosures for a new build or expansion, the GL840ES-3042-B-MS (often searched as GL840ES 3042 B MS) slots into that planning conversation directly.
Key Features
- 44U Usable Height: 44U of rack space handles a densely loaded row — enough for a mix of 1U servers, patch panels, and 2U/4U appliances without running out of vertical real estate mid-deployment. Less rack-hopping, fewer inter-rack cable runs.
- 30" Width: The 30-inch footprint is the most common standard in North American datacenters — fits standard floor tiles and existing hot/cold aisle layouts without custom shimming or repositioning adjacent equipment.
- 42" Depth: 42 inches of internal depth accommodates full-depth 1U and 2U servers without rear-door interference. Sufficient clearance for most enterprise switches and storage arrays with rear cable management intact.
- Black Finish: Black cabinet finish matches the majority of commercial datacenter aesthetics and reduces visible dust accumulation on the exterior compared to lighter finishes — a minor but real consideration in raised-floor environments.
- Mesh Contour Door Options: Available with mesh contour front/rear or mesh contour front with split mesh rear — mesh doors provide passive airflow to front-to-rear cooling architectures without requiring blanking panels to redirect every CFM, keeping thermals predictable on standard server fans.
- Multiple Size Variants in the ES Family: The ES series spans 24U through 52U heights and 24", 30", and 32" widths — so if this footprint isn't right for a specific bay, a sibling SKU in the rack enclosures category likely fits without switching vendors or rail kits.
Integration & Compatibility
The GL840ES-3042-B-MS is designed for standard 19-inch EIA rack-mount equipment. The 30-inch width and 42-inch depth align with common raised-floor tile grids and fit within typical hot-aisle/cold-aisle datacenter layouts. For environments pairing this cabinet with active cooling, the mesh door configuration supports front-to-rear airflow without modification. Pair with compatible power distribution units and vertical cable managers sized for a 30-inch cabinet to complete the enclosure build-out. If you're evaluating network infrastructure placement alongside server gear, the 44U height provides enough space to consolidate both in a single enclosure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the exact dimensions of the GL840ES-3042-B-MS?
A: The GL840ES-3042-B-MS is a 44U rack cabinet with a 30-inch width and 42-inch depth. Height above floor will depend on caster/leveling foot configuration — confirm finished height with Vertiv's installation guide for your specific floor planning needs.
Q: What door configurations are available on the GL840ES-3042-B-MS?
A: The ES series supports mesh contour front/rear, mesh contour front with split mesh rear, and clear door options. The split rear door is useful when rear equipment access is needed without fully opening a single large panel — practical in tighter aisles.
Q: Is the GL840ES-3042-B-MS available in colors other than black?
A: Yes. The ES series is available in both black and Winter White finishes. The GL840ES-3042-B-MS specifically is the black variant; if Winter White is required, look for the corresponding -W-MS or equivalent SKU in the ES family.
Q: What rack unit heights are available in the GL840ES series?
A: The ES series spans 24U, 42U, 44U, 48U, and 52U heights. The GL840ES-3042-B-MS is the 44U configuration at 30"W × 42"D in black.
Q: Is the GL840ES-3042-B-MS suitable for a hot-aisle/cold-aisle datacenter layout?
A: Yes. The mesh door configuration supports front-to-rear airflow, which is the standard requirement for hot-aisle/cold-aisle containment. The 30-inch width also aligns with standard floor tile spacing used in most raised-floor datacenter designs.
When I specify the GL840ES-3042-B-MS for a datacenter refresh, the first thing I lock in is that 30"W × 42"D footprint — it fits standard 24-inch raised-floor tiles without repositioning adjacent rows, which matters when you're slotting into an existing aisle rather than building from scratch.
Technical Highlights:
- 44U Capacity: 44U gives you genuine density headroom — you can load a full mix of 1U compute, 2U storage, and patch infrastructure without hitting the ceiling mid-rack on a standard server build-out.
- Mesh Contour Doors: The mesh contour door design supports passive front-to-rear airflow that aligns directly with hot-aisle/cold-aisle containment — no blanking panel retrofits needed to keep airflow directional on standard server fans.
- Split Mesh Rear Option: The split rear door variant (which the -MS suffix designates) lets you access rear-mounted equipment — cable managers, PDU verticals, switch rear ports — without swinging open the full rear panel. In tight aisles with less than 36 inches of rear clearance, that's the difference between a clean service call and a logistics problem.
Deployment Considerations:
- Confirm finished height (including casters or leveling feet) against your room's ceiling clearance and any raised-floor plenum depth requirements before ordering — the 44U chassis is tall and caster kits add meaningful height above tile.
- The evidence covers the ES family's size and door variants but does not specify load rating or grounding lug positions — verify those figures in Vertiv's current installation documentation before committing to a high-density GPU or storage-heavy configuration.
The GL840ES-3042-B-MS is the right call for a standard enterprise server room or co-location cage build where 30-inch-wide 44U is the specified bay dimension — particularly where split rear access is a service requirement for the installed equipment.
