Rackmount Kit for the Mac Pro??

Question

Rackmount Kit for the Mac Pro??

We are having our Pro-Tools studios rewired, and need to rackmount all of the Mac Pros in the main technical area. One of them has an old Marathon rackmount kit, but having looked on the web, they don't seem to be around anymore. Does anyone know of a company making Rackmount kits for the Mac Pro. ( We don't want to have to put them on a tray )

MacPro, Mac OS X (10.4)

Posted on Jul 6, 2009 1:02 AM

Reply

Answer 1

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Jul 6, 2009 3:45 AM in response to macdaddylondon

Anything that would fit a G5 would be fine, and I know there have been a number of those (think Virginia Tech).

Odd, isn't it, that the first three items look perfect here?
http://www.google.com/search?q=rackmountmacpro

Reply

Answer 2

Jul 6, 2009 6:13 AM in response to macdaddylondon

Thank you for your rapi response and input. Unfortunately the G5 and Mac Pro don't fit sideways into a 19" rack, so we are looking for a solution whereby it is mounted virtically. Looks like it will take up 11 rack spaces in a standard rack. Any other suggestions are gratefully received.

Reply

Answer 3

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Jul 6, 2009 6:27 AM in response to macdaddylondon

The problem with side mounting a Mac Pro is that it is a little too tall to fit in a 19″ rack on it s side. _The feet make it over 20″ tall_.

Most racks have more than enough room horizontally for the Mac Pro once you are past the mounting rails, so it is possible.

In order to sideways-mount the system you will have to have side access to the rack. Then you just need a 19″ wide shelf.

http://www.powermax.com/askjacob/2008/11/can-you-horizontally-rack-mount-a-mac-p ro/

Reply

Answer 4

Jul 6, 2009 6:33 AM in response to The hatter

Again, thanks for the input. The engineers say that this would be no good, as the racks once installed will be pretty full, and so if we install the Mac inside the rack, tbhere would be no way of getting it out again. Someone must be making a similar product to the one Marathon made which mounts two Macs vertically in a rack. Thanks .

Reply

Answer 5

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Jul 6, 2009 7:52 AM in response to macdaddylondon

I thought VT had theirs in upright racks, and I wonder if they sold those off, think I read they were upgrading their systems to latest Mac Pro.

Xserve products? or even go with those instead of the desktop line?

Reply

Answer 6

Jul 7, 2009 12:19 AM in response to The hatter

Thanks again, but the Digidesign Pro-tools Software has to run on a G5 or Mac Pro as the HD3 Accel cards take up a lot of slots. We are looking for something that looks like this, The other advantage that this has is that the kit fixes the kit down

http://bellsouth.com.com/search-results/marathon-g5-rack-rack/1707-5_7-31644685. html#manDesc

Reply

Answer 7

varjak paw

Level 10

182,668 points

Jul 7, 2009 9:15 AM in response to macdaddylondon

Marathon is indeed out of business and I've seen no one else make a rackmount kit specifically for G5/Mac Pro systems. Unless you could find one of Marathon's kits on eBay or another such site, about all you can do is get a really strong rack shelf and place the Macs on that.

Reply

Answer 8

Jul 7, 2009 12:45 PM in response to macdaddylondon

as system integrators we have had the same problem, and found the following products to do the job, varying in price and functionality.

cadlock MacPro rackmount kit - http://www.cadlock.tv
Pull Out Shelf for Apple™ G5 / Mac Pro - http://www.kaecorp.com
Redco Mac G5 Vertical - http://www.redco.com

Our favourite is the Cadlock range, as it suites the Mac style, and our clients love the look and the fact that the unit can be locked into the rack using the locking lug.

hope this helps

Reply