Rack mounting the MS250

[tom_moore]

Hi all,

Very basic question here, but hoping you can help.

We have just had two MS250 switches sent over to us from another site, and we're looking to mount them in a standard four-post datacentre rack.

The switches have been supplied with the front mounting tabs (two screw holes each, for use with cage nuts) but nothing else.

The person who pulled them from the original rack tells us that they were mounted by just these front tabs, with no rear support brackets (the switches aren't deep enough to span the full depth of the rack, so would need some sort of bracket)

I can't find any guidance online but, at nearly 6kg each (with most of the weight at the back), it feels like they should have some rear support.

We aren't using the mid-mount brackets.

My question is: should the MS250s be mounted solely by their front panel tabs, or are we missing some vital piece of hardware?

Thanks in advance!

- Tom

[DarrenOC · Accepted solution]

Hi @tom_moore 

Nothing missing, the MS250’s are front mount only but there is an option for a mid-mount:

Optional Mid-Mount bracket

All MS250 models are designed for an optional MA-MNT-MID-1 mid-mount bracket when using 2-post racks.  

[DarrenOC]

And for your reference 

https://documentation.meraki.com/MS/MS_Installation_Guides/MS250_Series_Installation_Guide

[tom_moore]

---

@DarrenOC wrote:

And for your reference 

https://documentation.meraki.com/MX/MX_Installation_Guides/MX250_Installation_Guide

---

Thanks, Darren. I had found the installation guide, but it doesn't go into detail about the mounting options (it refers to an in-box pamphlet which we don't have).

Anyway, thanks for the clarification. Very much appreciated!

Best regards,

Tom

[DarrenOC]

No worries. Thanks for Kudos. Have a tonne of these installed across the UK all front mounted. None have dropped out the racks yet 😁

[cmr]

Don't try it with MS355s though, they're hefty beasts...

[BlakeRichardson]

As long as you aren't using them as a shelf front mounts are all that is required. If you look at the thickness of the rack ears even though they are aluminium they are quite substantial in thickness compared to steel rack ears. 

[EJN]

As others pointed out, there is no need for these, but just in case you want to explore this option:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0060RUVBA/

[danatyler]

It's a poor design to have something of that weight and depth relying on 1RU of front mounting. Will it hold: Yes. Will is sag/slope: Yes. Will it look bad: Yes