Vertiv GL42UEX-80160W-MS-SP 42U Floor-Standing Server Rack

Overview

The Vertiv GL42UEX-80160W-MS-SP is a 42U, 800mm wide by 1600mm deep floor-standing server rack finished in white — a practical choice for data center buildouts, network closets, and enterprise server rooms where deep equipment, cable management headroom, and safe transport logistics all matter. The extra 1600mm depth provides the clearance needed for high-density blade servers, UPS systems with extended battery modules, or back-to-back cable trays, without forcing cable bends that shorten patch cord life. The white finish suits environments where rack visibility and room aesthetics are a factor, such as co-location suites, broadcast control rooms, and clean-room IT deployments.

This unit ships as part of the Vertiv server rack lineup under the EX series designation, which is aimed squarely at enterprise and commercial data center deployments requiring proven structural integrity and field-proven deployment accessories out of the box. If you are sourcing server racks and enclosures for a structured rollout — particularly one that involves freight transport to a raised-floor facility — the integrated shock pallet specification on the GL42UEX-80160W-MS-SP (often searched as GL42UEX 80160W MS SP) is the single most operationally relevant detail to understand before ordering.

Key Features

• 42U Usable Height: 42U of rack space accommodates a full complement of 1U and 2U servers, patch panels, KVM switches, and power distribution units without needing a second rack for overflow in most single-server-room deployments. That translates directly to fewer racks to cable, fewer PDUs to provision, and a tighter physical footprint per compute unit.
• 800mm Width: The 800mm wide profile — versus the more common 600mm — provides meaningful extra room for side-mounted cable managers, wider blanking panels, and equipment with non-standard ear geometries. If your switches or UPS units have cable egress points on the side rails, the 800mm chassis prevents the cable crush that happens when you force wide equipment into a 600mm frame.
• 1600mm Depth: A 1600mm deep cabinet handles the longest rack-mount equipment in current production, including extended UPS battery cabinets, rear-mounted PDUs plus front-mounted servers simultaneously, and dual cable managers (front and rear). This is the depth tier to specify when your equipment list includes anything over 900mm — and it eliminates the need for depth extenders that introduce vibration points.
• 2000 lb Rated Shock Pallet: This is the feature that separates the MS-SP variant from a standard EX rack. The shock pallet is engineered to absorb the impact loads of freight transport — pallet drops, dock leveler transitions, and forklift handling — without transmitting those forces to installed equipment. For pre-integrated racks being shipped to a remote site or co-location facility, this is the difference between arriving with seated cards and arriving with a field service call.
• Low-Profile Casters: Once the rack arrives and is off the pallet, low-profile casters allow repositioning on raised floors and smooth concrete without requiring a pallet jack. This matters in live data center environments where you cannot take a floor section offline to maneuver equipment.
• Leveling Feet: After final positioning, the leveling feet replace the casters as the load-bearing contact points, providing a solid, vibration-damping stance that keeps the rack stable during high-vibration events like HVAC cycling or nearby construction. A properly leveled rack also ensures door alignment holds long-term.
• Baying Brackets: Included baying hardware allows this unit to be mechanically joined to adjacent Vertiv EX racks, creating a rigid multi-rack row without gaps that collect dust or allow air bypass around hot-aisle/cold-aisle containment curtains. In a planned row of four or more racks, this is a significant containment and cable management advantage.
• Bolt-Down Brackets: For seismic zones or any installation where the rack must be anchored to the floor slab — a code requirement in many jurisdictions for equipment above a certain weight threshold — the bolt-down brackets are included, not an add-on kit to source separately.

Integration and Compatibility

The GL42UEX-80160W-MS-SP is designed to integrate into standard rack infrastructure and accessories ecosystems. The 800mm wide profile is compatible with standard 19-inch EIA rack rail equipment — the extra chassis width is in the outer frame and cable management zones, not the rail spacing. Baying hardware aligns with other Vertiv EX series cabinets, so mixed-depth row configurations (for example, pairing 42U 1200mm deep compute racks with this 1600mm deep storage or UPS rack) are achievable without custom fabrication. Consult a rack enclosure planning guide or pre-sales engineering team when mixing depths in a bayed row to ensure door clearance and containment seal alignment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the maximum load capacity of the GL42UEX-80160W-MS-SP shock pallet?

A: The shock pallet is rated for 2000 lbs, covering fully populated racks with servers, UPS equipment, and PDUs in virtually all enterprise configurations.

Q: Does the GL42UEX-80160W-MS-SP include casters and leveling feet, or are those purchased separately?

A: Both low-profile casters and leveling feet are included with the unit, along with baying brackets and bolt-down brackets.

Q: Can the GL42UEX-80160W-MS-SP be bolted to the floor in seismic zones?

A: Yes. Bolt-down brackets are included with the rack, enabling floor anchoring in seismic compliance installations without requiring a separate accessory kit.

Q: Is the 800mm wide frame compatible with standard 19-inch rack-mount equipment?

A: Yes. The internal rail spacing follows the standard 19-inch EIA specification. The 800mm outer width adds room in the side cable management zones, not the equipment mounting area.

Q: Can this rack be bayed with other Vertiv EX series cabinets of different depths?

A: The included baying brackets are designed for EX series to EX series connections. When baying different depths in the same row, verify door clearance and containment seal alignment before finalizing the row layout.

Q: Why choose the MS-SP variant over a standard Vertiv EX 42U rack?

A: The MS-SP suffix indicates the unit ships with an integrated shock pallet rated to 2000 lbs, designed to protect pre-integrated rack contents during freight transport. If the rack will be shipped pre-populated to a remote site or co-location facility, this variant eliminates the need to source and attach a third-party shock pallet.