Dell PowerEdge 2420 Quick start guide

Dell PowerEdge
2420, 4220, and 4820
Rack Enclosures
Technical Guide
An expanded
portfolio of rack
enclosures designed
to meet the
requirements of your
data center today
and tomorrow.
4820D
4820W
4220D
4220W
4820
4220
2420

ii PowerEdge Rack Enclosures Technical Guide
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©Copyright 2012 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or translation of any part of this work beyond that
permitted by U.S. copyright laws without the written permission of Dell Inc. is unlawful and strictly forbidden.
September 2012 | Version 2.0

iii PowerEdge Rack Enclosures Technical Guide
Table of contents
1System overview..................................................................................................................................................................5
Introduction.........................................................................................................................................................................5
Benefits.................................................................................................................................................................................5
2Rack enclosure features.....................................................................................................................................................7
Enclosure specifications....................................................................................................................................................7
Comparison of PowerEdge rack enclosures ................................................................................................................ 8
3Rack enclosure views and features................................................................................................................................. 9
PowerEdge 2420 rack enclosures.................................................................................................................................. 9
PowerEdge 4220 and 4820 rack enclosures ............................................................................................................. 10
Rack interior features.......................................................................................................................................................15
4Thermal and airflow considerations ..............................................................................................................................18
Thermal and airflow features..........................................................................................................................................18
5Installing rack enclosures ................................................................................................................................................19
Adjustable mounting posts .............................................................................................................................................19
Dell ReadyRails and ReadyRails II...................................................................................................................................19
Cable management arm (CMA) .....................................................................................................................................21
6Rack kit accessories ......................................................................................................................................................... 22
Thermal solutions............................................................................................................................................................ 22
Power solutions ............................................................................................................................................................... 23
Management solutions ................................................................................................................................................... 24
Additional accessories .................................................................................................................................................... 26
Accessory compatibility table........................................................................................................................................ 27
7Rack packaging options .................................................................................................................................................. 28
8Mechanical drawings....................................................................................................................................................... 29
Appendix A. Regulatory certifications.......................................................................................................................... 36
Appendix B. Documentation and resources .............................................................................................................. 37
Tables
Table 1. Benefits....................................................................................................................................................................5
Table 2. Basic rack specifications ......................................................................................................................................7
Table 3. Rack features and specifications ........................................................................................................................7
Table 4. Comparison of PowerEdge rack enclosures................................................................................................... 8
Table 5. Blanking panel options...................................................................................................................................... 22
Table 6. Rack accessories for Dell rack enclosures..................................................................................................... 27
Table 7. Packaging options for Dell rack enclosures.................................................................................................. 28
Table 8. Additional resources .......................................................................................................................................... 37
Figures
Figure 1. Front, rear, and frame views of the 2420 rack enclosure............................................................................. 9
Figure 2. Top view of the 2420 rack enclosure............................................................................................................. 10
Figure 3. Front view and features..................................................................................................................................... 10
Figure 4. Back view of the 4220 rack enclosures .......................................................................................................... 11
Figure 5. Back view of the 4820 rack enclosures ..........................................................................................................12
Figure 6. Side view of the 4220 rack enclosures............................................................................................................12
Figure 7. Side view of the 4820 rack enclosures ...........................................................................................................13
Figure 8. Top view of the rack enclosures ......................................................................................................................14
Figure 9. Tail bar access for cables...................................................................................................................................15

iv PowerEdge Rack Enclosures Technical Guide
Figure 10. Vertical-mount power distribution unit trays.................................................................................................16
Figure 11. Casters and leveling feet....................................................................................................................................16
Figure 12. Stabilizer feet........................................................................................................................................................17
Figure 13. Front, side, and rear latches and locks ............................................................................................................17
Figure 14. Adjustable vertical mounting posts..................................................................................................................19
Figure 15. ReadyRails II and ReadyRails mounting kits................................................................................................... 20
Figure 16. Cable management arm ....................................................................................................................................21
Figure 17. External dimensions – 4820 rack enclosure................................................................................................. 29
Figure 18. External dimensions – 4220 rack enclosure................................................................................................. 29
Figure 19. External dimensions – 2420 rack enclosure................................................................................................. 30
Figure 20. Internal dimensions – 2420, 4220, 4820 (top and bottom views) ........................................................... 30
Figure 21. Internal dimensions – 2420, 4220, 4820 (leveling foot/minimum clearance)........................................31
Figure 22. External dimensions – 4820D rack enclosure...............................................................................................31
Figure 23. External dimensions – 4220D rack enclosure.............................................................................................. 32
Figure 24. Internal dimensions – 4220D and 4820D (top and bottom views).......................................................... 32
Figure 25. Internal dimensions – 4220D and 4820D (leveling foot/minimum clearance) ..................................... 33
Figure 26. External dimensions – 4820W rack enclosure............................................................................................. 33
Figure 27. External dimensions – 4220W rack enclosure ............................................................................................. 34
Figure 28. Internal dimensions – 4220W and 4820W (top and bottom views)......................................................... 34
Figure 29. Internal dimensions – 4220W and 4820W (leveling foot/minimum clearance) .................................... 35

5 PowerEdge Rack Enclosures Technical Guide
1System overview
Introduction
The Dell™ PowerEdge™ rack enclosures are designed to hold and protect server, network and data
storage equipment. The Dell rack is a sturdy, practical design and solidly built, delivered with
Enterprise service, support and reliability. The Dell PowerEdge rack enclosures are offered in three
height options: 24U (2420), 42U (4220), and 48U (4820); each of these racks is available in the
standard 600mm x 1070mm dimensions, to fit within a two-tile floor plan layout.
Dell has introduced both wide and deep versions of the PowerEdge rack enclosures to address
specific market requirements for additional space for power and cable management. The 42U and
48U heights are available in the wide form factor, 750mm wide x 1070mm deep, and the deep form
factor, 600mm wide x 1200mm deep. The Dell racks are complemented with a range of products
that include basic, metered, and managed power distribution units (PDUs), rack-mount
uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs), digital keyboard/video/monitors (KVMs), and other
accessories.
All of these form factors adhere to the EIA-310-E standard for rack mounting of electronics,
ensuring that the mounting posts for installing components are configured for 19-inch equipment,
while the exterior of the rack is set to the specified dimensions. This ensures compatibility with
existing equipment while providing more options for cable and power cord routing. Not only do Dell
PowerEdge servers fit in these 19-inch racks, but other Enterprise equipment fit as well, including
Dell PowerVault™ and Dell EqualLogic™ storage, and Dell PowerConnect™ networking switches,
plus routers, hubs, and telephony equipment. Built with adjustable vertical mounting posts within
the rack, Dell racks are designed for use in almost any environment, such as an Enterprise data
center, a high-performance computing center, a remote office, a wiring closet, or a factory floor.
Benefits
Table 1 lists the benefits of the rack enclosures.
Table 1. Benefits
Benefits Detailed descriptions
Height options Dell PowerEdge rack enclosures offer three height options: 24U, 42U, and 48U
Form factors 42U and 48U are available in standard, wide, and deep form factors
Door design Excellent airflow with 80% perforated doors
Cabling and PDUs Superb design facilitates more cabling and power distribution options
With a static load rating of 2,500 lbs and three form factors to choose from, the PowerEdge 42U
and 48U rack enclosures can provide the capacity you need to hold a full complement of data
center equipment. These sizes are available in three form factors:
• Standard: 600mm wide x 1070mm deep
• Wide: 750mm wide x 1070mm deep
• Deep: 600mm wide x 1200mm deep

6 PowerEdge Rack Enclosures Technical Guide
Wide (750mm) racks in both 42U and 48U heights have three inches more space on each side for
cables and PDUs for networking, blade server and other installations that need to route cables along
the sides. The wide design of the 4820W and 4220W also moves the PDU trays even farther away
from the rack mounting posts, allowing more room for cables in the sides and back, helping reduce
contention between power cords, cables and installed equipment.
Deep (1200mm) racks offer more space in the back for cables and PDUs for high-density
installations. The 4820D and 4220D racks have extended PDU trays in the back of the rack, which
can hold up to four vertical-mount full-height PDUs on each side. This extra space can be used for
additional power management or for routing cables. PDUs can also be mounted with a 90-degree
rotation so that the power cords point toward the back of the rack rather than toward the middle.

7 PowerEdge Rack Enclosures Technical Guide
2Rack enclosure features
Table 2 contains the basic specifications for the rack dimensions and weights, while Table 3 provides
more details on features and specifications for the rack enclosures.
Enclosure specifications
Table 2. Basic rack specifications
Dimensions
PowerEdge 4820
48U rack enclosure
PowerEdge 4220
42U rack enclosure
PowerEdge 2420
24U rack enclosure
Standard rack
enclosure
Height 89.5" (2273mm)
Width 23.8" (605mm)
Depth 42.1" (1070mm)
Weight 315 lbs (143 kg)
Height 78.7" (1999mm)
Width 23.8" (605mm)
Depth 42.1" (1070mm)
Weight 298 lbs (135 kg)
Height 47.3" (1202mm)
Width 23.8" (605mm)
Depth 42.1" (1070mm)
Weight 209 lbs (95 kg)
Deep rack
enclosure
Height 89.5" (2273mm)
Width 23.8" (605mm)
Depth 47.2" (1200mm)
Weight 342 lbs (155 kg)
Height 78.7" (1999mm)
Width 23.8" (605mm)
Depth 47.2" (1200mm)
Weight 318 lbs (144 kg)
Wide rack
enclosure
Height 89.5" (2273mm)
Width 29.8" (755mm)
Depth 42.1" (1070mm)
Weight 351 lbs (159 kg)
Height 78.7" (1999mm)
Width 29.8" (755mm)
Depth 42.1" (1070mm)
Weight 335 lbs (152 kg)
Table 3. Rack features and specifications
Features Rack technical specifications
Rack form factor
•Static load rating of 2,500 lbs for 48U/42U and 1,500 lbs for 24U
•Large open base for cable entry and exit
•Rack-top cable exits with adjustable, sliding door and removable tail bar
•Reversible front door can be configured to open from left or right, with lock
•Dual rear doors with lock (same key as front door)
•Split side panels, with locks (same key as doors)
•Removable front and rear doors have an 80% open perforation pattern to aid
in thermal management
•Reinforced frame for stability
•Adjustable square-hole EIA mounting posts can be positioned forward or
backward within the rack
•U- space numerical markings on both front and rear mounting posts
•Rear-mount vertical PDU trays
•Rotating rear casters to easily position rack
•Easily accessible leveling feet
Rack color Black with aluminum accents
Products supported All Dell and third-party rack-mount equipment compliant to the EIA-310-E
standard

8 PowerEdge Rack Enclosures Technical Guide
Features Rack technical specifications
Shipping options Standard ground shipping pallet
Air freight container
Comparison of PowerEdge rack enclosures
Table 4 compares the basic specifications of the rack enclosure portfolio.
Table 4. Comparison of PowerEdge rack enclosures
Features Dell 2420 Dell 4220/4820 Dell 4220W/4820W Dell 4220D/4820D
U Spaces 24U 42U/48U 42U/48U 42U/48U
Height (mm) 1202 1999/2273 1999/2273 1999/2273
Width (mm) 605 605 755 605
Depth (mm) 1070 1070 1070 1200
Static load
capacity 1500 pounds 2500 pounds 2500 pounds 2500 pounds
Vertical PDU
capacity Up to 4 HH1 Up to 4 FH2
Up to 8 HH
Up to 4 FH
Up to 8 HH
Up to 8 FH
Up to 16 HH
0U access Limited Limited Improved Limited
1 Half-height
2 Full-height

9 PowerEdge Rack Enclosures Technical Guide
3Rack enclosure views and features
The Dell PowerEdge rack enclosures provide important power distribution, cooling and cabling
options for a range of Enterprise environments, including high density installations such as HPC and
newer/reconfigured data centers where the facilities are equipped to support higher thermal and
power loads per rack.
All Dell racks offer enhanced power management, efficient cooling, and simplified component
mounting and storage for a wide range of IT equipment. The PowerEdge 4820 rack enclosure is
designed for high-density data centers where floor space is at a premium. The PowerEdge 4220
rack enclosure is designed to provide Enterprise efficiency for all sizes of data centers, while the
PowerEdge 2420 rack enclosure provides a compact option.
PowerEdge 2420 rack enclosures
The PowerEdge 2420 rack enclosure is very similar to its larger family members, but does have
some specific differences.
• Most noticeably, the rack is 24U high, providing a compact enclosure for smaller data rooms.
• The static load capacity of the 24U rack is 1,500 pounds.
• The top canopy is not perforated, thereby providing a solid surface on the top of the rack.
• The lower height accommodates up to four of the half-height vertical PDU offerings.
Figure 1 and Figure 2 show the various external views specific to the 2420 rack enclosure.
Front Rear Frame
Figure 1. Front, rear, and frame views of the 2420 rack enclosure

10 PowerEdge Rack Enclosures Technical Guide
Figure 2. Top view of the 2420 rack enclosure
PowerEdge 4220 and 4820 rack enclosures
The PowerEdge 4220 and 4820 rack enclosures have identical features except the 4820 rack
enclosure adds 6U of height.
• 42U and 48U heights are available in standard (600mm x 1070mm), wide (750mm x
1070mm) and deep (600mm x 1200mm) form factors.
• Static load capacity of the 42U and 48U racks is 2,500 pounds.
• Top canopy is perforated, providing a path for airflow through the top of the rack.
The following sections and figures show the various external views specific to the 4220 and 4820
rack enclosure options.
4220, 4220D 4220W 4820, 4820D 4820W
Figure 3. Front view and features

11 PowerEdge Rack Enclosures Technical Guide
The wide and deep racks have the same design style as the standard 4220 and 4820 racks. In fact,
the deep racks look the same as the standard racks in a straight-on front or back exterior view, but
the extended depth can be seen in a side view. The additional 3 inches added on each side of the
wide rack are noticeable in the front and rear view of the rack, but from the side, the wide racks look
the same as the standard racks.
Dell rack enclosures have faster and easier access to the rear of rack with a single latch for both
doors. All of the 42U and 48U racks have two-piece side panels for easier removal and access to the
sides of the IT equipment and cables, as well as a split rear door design that includes a single latch
mechanism.
4220 4220D 4220W
Figure 4. Back view of the 4220 rack enclosures

12 PowerEdge Rack Enclosures Technical Guide
4820D 4820W
Figure 5. Back view of the 4820 rack enclosures
4220D 4220, 4220W
Figure 6. Side view of the 4220 rack enclosures

13 PowerEdge Rack Enclosures Technical Guide
4820D 4820, 4820W
Figure 7. Side view of the 4820 rack enclosures

14 PowerEdge Rack Enclosures Technical Guide
Top canopy knock-outs and adjustable rear- of- rack sliding cable exit door enable cabling from
above. The rack’s large open base and removable side panels offer more options for cable access.
The basic design of the canopy is similar between the three form factors, as shown in Figure 8.
Standard
Deep
Wide
Figure 8. Top view of the rack enclosures

15 PowerEdge Rack Enclosures Technical Guide
Removable “tail-bars” at both top and bottom of the rear of the rack, shown in Figure 9, make
cabling the IT equipment easier, especially in highly dense environments with three-phase power
cables deployed. The bars can be re-attached after the cables are in place.
Figure 9. Tail bar access for cables
Rack interior features
Each of the PowerEdge rack enclosure form factors accommodates servers with deep chassis
dimensions while allowing space for power and cable management.
PDU trays
In addition to U-space PDU mounting, the PowerEdge rack enclosures have specially designed trays
inside the rear doors to easily mount vertical PDUs, without using any tools, so they won't interfere
with air circulation. These trays are positioned as far back and out from the rear of the equipment as
possible, to reduce contention with cable management arms and equipment with removable
components. The PDU tray design provides more options for mounting various PDU types, and
provides access to the square holes in the rear frame posts for additional cable management
options. Dell vertical mount PDUs are available in a number of sizes and can be combined within a
rack. For more information, see the Rack kit accessories section.
Deep racks have expanded PDU trays in the back of the rack, which can be used for additional
power management or for routing cables. Wide racks have extra distance between the mounting
posts and the sides of the racks, moving the PDU trays even farther away from the rack’s mounting
posts and the equipment installed in the rack, which reduces interference between installed
equipment and cables. The trays in the standard and wide racks can hold up to four full-height or
eight half-height units while the deep rack trays can accommodate twice as many.
Note the clearly labeled U markings on the mounting posts for easier installation and service;
markings are provided on both the front and rear mounting posts.
Cable management clips are available for routing cables along the rear mounting posts.

16 PowerEdge Rack Enclosures Technical Guide
Standard Deep Wide
Figure 10. Vertical-mount power distribution unit trays
Rack stability and security
Each rack includes rotating rear casters for better maneuverability when positioning the rack in the
data center. The leveling feet are easily accessible to facilitate firm placement.
Standard / Deep Wide
Figure 11. Casters and leveling feet
Stabilizer feet, included with the rack, attach to the front and sides of each rack enclosure for
increased stability. Stabilizer feet have an “open face” to allow cold air to pass through and also have
holes to attach the stabilizer feet to the floor. Stabilizer feet should be attached to the front and both
sides of a stand-alone rack. Interconnect kits are available to link adjacent rack enclosures for
increased stability.

17 PowerEdge Rack Enclosures Technical Guide
Figure 12. Stabilizer feet
Lockable side panels and front and rear doors provide security for data centers, remote offices,
wiring closets, factory floors and other server environments. Front and rear door locks and side
panel locks are keyed alike for easier opening; different lock sets can be provided through Dell S&P
if needed.
Figure 13. Front, side, and rear latches and locks

18 PowerEdge Rack Enclosures Technical Guide
4Thermal and airflow considerations
Dell rack enclosures are designed for maximum airflow and the reduction of thermal issues, which
means greater efficiency and power savings for your data center.
Thermal and airflow features
The front and rear doors have 80% perforation to allow air to move through the rack with minimal
resistance, and flexible air dams help keep hot air from recirculating from the back to the front,
alleviating a problem common in many racks. Dell’s wide rack enclosure employs extended air dams
across the front to ensure proper airflow containment. Available blanking panels can further manage
airflow by filling unused U-space in the rack; see the Rack kit accessories section for information on
thermal accessories.
For hot-aisle/cold-aisle thermally-efficient data center topologies, the standard rack enclosure fits
within two standard floor tiles, in a space approximately 2 feet wide x 3.5 feet deep. The 750mm
wide rack is slightly wider and the 1200mm deep rack is slightly deeper. Space planners can select
the form factor that best meets data center needs.

19 PowerEdge Rack Enclosures Technical Guide
5Installing rack enclosures
Dell rack enclosures are compliant to EIA/ECA-310-E and IEC 60297- 3- 100 design specifications.
Dell racks use the square-hole design and are compatible with Dell and third-party rack-mount
systems.
Adjustable mounting posts
Dell racks have four adjustable vertical mounting posts to enable flexibility of the location of IT
equipment within the rack; this allows devices to be positioned closer to the front door or to the
rear door. These posts are positioned at 29 inches apart, but can be adjusted from 24 to 30 inches.
The front air dam seal can be maintained within 2 inches of adjustment.
Figure 14. Adjustable vertical mounting posts
For information regarding proper installation and cabling techniques for the Dell racks and servers,
please refer to
the Rack Installation and Cable Management Arm Installation Instructions and
Cabling Best Practices
for the appropriate server model. Additionally, rack installation guides and
related documentation may be found at: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/racks/.
Dell ReadyRails and ReadyRails II
The rails and cable management solutions for Dell 11th and 12th generation server platforms have
been designed to enable the user-friendly
slam latches (spring-loaded latches that engage
automatically) on the chassis, to expand third-party rack compatibility and to improve the overall
customer experience. The efficient design makes the release latch visible and accessible from the
front of the rack, with no special tools or empty U-spaces above or below required to disengage,
making the rails equally easy to remove.
Dell 11th generation server rails include the simple and intuitive ReadyRails™ rack/rail interface for
tool- less mounting in EIA-310-E compliant square hole and unthreaded round-hole 4-post racks.
Dell’s server, storage, and networking systems can be easily installed into the Dell PowerEdge 4820,
4220, and 2420 rack enclosures using the Dell ReadyRails static and sliding rail kits. Static rail kits
can be mounted, with a minor conversion using tools, into 4-post threaded hole racks and 2-post

20 PowerEdge Rack Enclosures Technical Guide
racks. Sliding rails require an adapter bracket for installation in threaded-hole racks. Other products
including rack-mount UPS systems, KVMs, and the 1U equipment shelf also use the ReadyRails
interface.
With the 12th generation servers, the rack/rail interface for the sliding rails has been updated to the
ReadyRails™ II design, which provides native support (with simple conversion) for threaded-hole
racks. ReadyRails and ReadyRails II rail kits are extremely fast and easy to deploy and are as easy to
remove from the rack as they are to install.
The rail kits are available in either sliding or static style, based on the system specifications and the
customer’s needs. Sliding rails allow the system to be fully extended out of the rack for service and
have an optional cable management arm (CMA) that provides a guide for component cable routing
to the rear of the rack. Static rails support a wider variety of racks than the sliding rails but do not
support serviceability in the rack. Due to their reduced complexity and lack of need for CMA
support, the static rails offer a smaller footprint than the sliding rails.
Sliding Static
Figure 15. ReadyRails II and ReadyRails mounting kits