Moving a Data Center Rack Enclosure

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bfun_x1

bfun_x1

Senior member
May 29, 2015
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Has anyone here ever tried to move a loaded 42u rack cabinet? I have 2 that need to be moved about 15 feet. They're sitting flush on a raised tile floor. I estimate they weigh between 700 and 1000 lbs and are 60% to 70% loaded. I really don't want to unload them before moving but I'm also not sure if it's safe to move them loaded. Larger data centers have server lifts or rack movers but all I'll have is myself and one other guy.
 
dave_the_nerd

dave_the_nerd

Lifer
Feb 25, 2011
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it is not safe to move them loaded without proper/specialized equipment. they are very easy to tip over.
 
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XavierMace

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2013
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It's generally not safe to move them loaded. That said 70% loaded.... If it's a well designed rack, loaded from the bottom up and you're only going 15 feet, I'd probably do it. I would say your weight estimate is probably on the low side though.
 
bfun_x1

bfun_x1

Senior member
May 29, 2015
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I had a chat with the facilities people and it now looks like the distance will be much shorter. All racks will be turned 90 degrees and only moved 3 to 8 feet. That seems much more doable. I tried to move one a few inches without the doors and side panels and it was too unstable. The panels probably add 100 pounds but they keep the rack rigid. The rack that need to move the furthest has most of it's weight at the bottom.

I've decide I'll try to scoot them into position inch by inch.
 
Carson Dyle

Carson Dyle

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2012
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Can you get a pallet jack under them? You can probably rent one for a couple hours for not very much.
 
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Lordhumungus

Golden Member
Jan 14, 2007
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Wondering if maybe some serious business furniture sliders would work since you are on tile. Wouldn't require you to lift the thing up but like an inch any direction.
 
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XavierMace

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2013
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Carson Dyle said:
It's a means of lifting and moving, on wheels, a very heavy object. Beats trying to have two guys lift it by hand.
Click to expand...

Lordhumungus said:
Wondering if maybe some serious business furniture sliders would work since you are on tile. Wouldn't require you to lift the thing up but like an inch any direction.
Click to expand...

The only reason to try to lift it is if it's not on casters. If it's not on casters, don't even try to move it loaded. I was assuming OP's rack was on casters, but that could be a bad assumption. If this has UPS's and what not in it, I'd guess it's probably more like 1,500lbs and extremely tippy. Far more than a vending machine. If it doesn't have casters, it's probably not load rated to move it with more than couple things in it. I've always been a fan of HP racks, IMO they're among some of the best built racks out there.

HPE 42U 600mm x 1075mm Enterprise Pallet Rack (BW903A)
Weight: Rack 239 lb (109 kg), Shipping 275 lb (125 kg)
Load: Static 3000 lb (1361 kg), Dynamic (rolling) 2500 lb (1134 kg)

The casters on HP's racks are far beefier than say any of the Dell racks I've worked with.
 
Carson Dyle

Carson Dyle

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Jul 2, 2012
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XavierMace said:
The only reason to try to lift it is if it's not on casters. If it's not on casters, don't even try to move it loaded. I was assuming OP's rack was on casters, but that could be a bad assumption.
Click to expand...

Probably the best advice.Couldn't even imagine the horrible mess of having half of your servers fall to the ground.
 
ch33zw1z

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
39,040
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On casters - unload the top few servers and roll it.

Not on casters - roll up your sleeves, get the lift tool and a few pallets to stack the servers on, and get to it
 
Carson Dyle

Carson Dyle

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2012
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Tell your boss there's no way in hell you're moving two fully loaded racks. Tell him it will take you and the other poor SOB helping you six to eight hours to bring everything down in an orderly manner, unload both racks, move and resecure the racks, carry all the equipment over and put everything back, then bring everything up again and check that all systems are operating properly. That's if everything goes well, which it probably won't.

If he wants it done any faster, bring in another four guys armed with rechargeable drivers. Label every piece of equipment and create clear diagrams showing where everything is to be installed in the racks after moving them. You can take it as an opportunity to completely reorder the racks, if you like.
 
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rchunter

Senior member
Feb 26, 2015
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On my APC AR3150 caster load rating is over 2200 lbs. This rack I have is built like a tank and wider than most 42u racks which means its plenty stable. Probably could easily roll it with 700 lbs in it, depending on what floor it was on of course. I would check into exactly what racks you have and then go from there.
 
bfun_x1

bfun_x1

Senior member
May 29, 2015
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Carson Dyle said:
Tell your boss there's no way in hell you're moving two fully loaded racks. Tell him it will take you and the other poor SOB helping you six to eight hours to bring everything down in an orderly manner, unload both racks, move and resecure the racks, carry all the equipment over and put everything back, then bring everything up again and check that all systems are operating properly. That's if everything goes well, which it probably won't.

If he wants it done any faster, bring in another four guys armed with rechargeable drivers. Label every piece of equipment and create clear diagrams showing where everything is to be installed in the racks after moving them. You can take it as an opportunity to completely reorder the racks, if you like.
Click to expand...


Oh yeah I'm kind of bitter about it. When they installed the racks they flew three people in and had a forth one onsite. Now that it's time for clean up there's no money. My boss is trying to get travel money for a second guy but I don't know if it will happen. I've had some other customers in the data center offer to help but it's weekend work and they wouldn't get paid for it. There will be consequences if I don't get them moved soon. Our move is holding up other customers. Their move is holding up construction. Poop will hit the fan eventually. I could probably unload them myself but one rack has a 300lb 20RU switch and there is no way I moving that.
 
Carson Dyle

Carson Dyle

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2012
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bfun_x1 said:
Oh yeah I'm kind of bitter about it. When they installed the racks they flew three people in and had a forth one onsite. Now that it's time for clean up there's no money. My boss is trying to get travel money for a second guy but I don't know if it will happen.
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Travel money? You just need a few guys who can operate a screwdriver and lift 50 lbs. They don't need engineering PhDs to hump hardware.
 
aigomorla

aigomorla

CPU, Cases&Cooling Mod PC Gaming Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
Sep 28, 2005
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Lordhumungus said:
Wondering if maybe some serious business furniture sliders would work since you are on tile. Wouldn't require you to lift the thing up but like an inch any direction.
Click to expand...

lmao... you mean something like this..

oh yeah... i can see bfun going to bath and beyond getting some of those sliders with a grin and trying them out on 42U racks.

Your definitely going to need to document this on a camera if you really decide to go that route
 
aigomorla

aigomorla

CPU, Cases&Cooling Mod PC Gaming Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
Sep 28, 2005
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XavierMace said:
Right? I feel like some people don't quite grasp that you're potentially talking 10x the weight of a refrigerator.
Click to expand...

not just that imagine i cant possibly imagine those drives in the said units will appreciate being jolted like that even off...
 
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Lordhumungus

Golden Member
Jan 14, 2007
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I mean I really don't think it's that crazy. You can slide the back end of a car around on some cafeteria trays and he said he only had to move it a few feet on a tile surface.

It's fair to want to be extra careful, but I feel like that went out the window the second discussions happened on how to do this without taking the gear out. So in place of that, I was trying to get creative.

FWIW I'm the same person who put an 87" tall glass and metal display cabinet into my Mazda Protege 5 wagon and carried it into my house by myself. The point being that one day my hubris will probably get me killed or sent to the hospital, but in the meantime we might learn what is possible with a little creativity :D

This whole situation reminded me of this video.
 
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