Vertiv GL980ES-2442-B-MSS 52U Server Rack Cabinet with Split Mesh Rear Door

Overview

The Vertiv GL980ES-2442-B-MSS is a 52U, 24-inch-wide by 42-inch-deep rack enclosure finished in black, configured with a split mesh rear door — a common choice for data center rows and telecom rooms where rear cable access needs to happen without taking the full door offline. The split rear design means technicians can open one panel at a time, keeping adjacent equipment shielded while working. This model is part of Vertiv's Vertiv rack and enclosure line, which spans multiple height, width, and depth configurations to fit different floor plans and equipment depths.

The GL980ES-2442-B-MSS (also searched as GL980ES 2442 B MSS) targets deployments where airflow management and rear access flexibility both matter. The mesh contour door design on the front promotes front-to-back airflow without blocking visibility into the cabinet, which matters in dense compute or network cabinet environments where visual status checks are routine.

Key Features

• 52U Height: 52U of usable rack space accommodates tall server, storage, and network buildouts without stacking multiple cabinets — reducing floor footprint and simplifying cable runs between adjacent units.
• 24" Width: The 24-inch-wide footprint fits standard raised-floor tile grids and is common in co-location environments where floor space is billed per tile. Verify your aisle width before ordering — 24" cabinets are narrower than the 30" and 32" variants in the same family.
• 42" Depth: A 42-inch internal depth accommodates most 1U–4U rack-mount servers and the majority of commercial network switches without forcing cable bends at the rear. Deeper chassis (blade servers, large UPS units) may require the 48" depth variant instead.
• Split Mesh Rear Door: Two independently opening rear panels give technicians access to one half of the cabinet's rear without disturbing the other — useful in live environments where partial access is the operational norm. Mesh construction maintains airflow continuity when closed.
• Mesh Contour Front Door: The front door's mesh pattern allows passive airflow and direct visual inspection of indicator lights and port status without opening the cabinet, reducing unnecessary access events in secure or monitored spaces.
• Black Finish: The standard black finish matches the majority of commercial data center aesthetics. A Winter White variant exists in the same family for environments where white cabinets are specified (clean rooms, some broadcast facilities).

Family Variants and Selection Notes

The GL980ES family spans heights of 24U, 42U, 44U, 48U, and 52U; widths of 24", 30", and 32"; and depths of 42" and 48". The GL980ES-2442-B-MSS is specifically the 52U / 24" / 42" / black / split-mesh-rear configuration. If your equipment requires wider side clearance for cable managers or wider blanking panels, evaluate the 30" or 32" width variants. If you're housing deep UPS units or rear-mounted patch panels with large bend radius requirements, the 48" depth variant is the safer pick. Consult your rack accessories requirements — PDU mounting, cable managers, and blanking panels — before finalizing the configuration, as those dimensions affect whether the 24" width remains viable for your build.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the exact height of the GL980ES-2442-B-MSS in rack units?

A: The GL980ES-2442-B-MSS is a 52U cabinet. The GL980ES family also includes 24U, 42U, 44U, and 48U height configurations if a different height is needed.

Q: Does the split rear door on the GL980ES-2442-B-MSS open independently on each panel?

A: Yes. The split mesh rear door consists of two separate panels that open independently, allowing partial rear access without opening the full door width.

Q: What width and depth does this specific SKU ship in?

A: The GL980ES-2442-B-MSS is 24 inches wide and 42 inches deep. Variants with 30" or 32" widths and 48" depth are available in the same GL980ES family.

Q: Is this cabinet available in colors other than black?

A: The GL980ES family is available in black (this unit) and Winter White. The Winter White variant is a separate SKU.

Q: Will the 42" depth accommodate standard 1U rack servers?

A: A 42-inch depth is sufficient for the vast majority of 1U–4U rack-mount servers and commercial network switches. Verify chassis depth plus cable bend radius for any units deeper than approximately 30 inches before ordering — those edge cases may require the 48" depth variant.

Jerry Tildsen

The GL980ES-2442-B-MSS is a 52U, 24-inch-wide rack with a split mesh rear door — the split rear is the spec I'd focus on first when evaluating this unit. In live environments where you're patching or swapping hardware without a maintenance window, being able to open half the rear while the other half stays closed is a real operational advantage over a full-swing single door.

Technical Highlights:

• 52U Capacity: A full 52U of usable rack space in a 24-inch-wide footprint — meaningful in co-location environments where floor tiles are a hard constraint and you need to maximize vertical density.
• Split Mesh Rear Door: Two independently hinged rear panels allow half-cabinet access without exposing the full rear — reduces accidental cable disturbance in dense patch environments and keeps the cooling plane intact on the unopened side.
• Mesh Contour Front Door: Passive airflow through the front mesh eliminates the need to prop the door open for cooling during high-utilization periods — a small operational detail that matters in cabinets running dense compute loads.

Deployment Considerations:

• The 24-inch width is the narrowest option in the GL980ES family — verify your cable manager and side panel clearance requirements before committing, since 24" cabinets leave less room for horizontal cable management arms than 30" or 32" variants.
• The 42" depth is appropriate for standard server and switch chassis, but if your build includes rear-mounted patch panels with large-radius fiber management or deep UPS units, measure the combined depth including cables before ruling out the 48" variant.

This cabinet is the right pick for co-location builds, telecom rooms, and managed service provider edge deployments where floor tile constraints force a 24-inch-wide profile and live-access rear patching is a routine operational requirement — not a periodic event.