PowerEdge rack rails/latches

Question

I have a tall (6-ft.) Dell rack with a PowerEdge 2650 server and Dell rails.

Embarrassing as it may sound, I cannot get the server to slide forward out of the rack.

The two screws on the front are backed-out; I can see that with a mirror. When I try to pull the server forward, it hits a hard stop after 1/4-inch or less of movement. I'm sure it's a safety latch, but I cannot find it, or any way to release it.

RackSolutions · Answer

There are no safety latches that prevent the server from sliding out of the rack. What usually catches is the top cover hinge. The tolerances on the complete server/rail assembly and the opening of the rack are very close. The EIA standard is 17.717" or 450mm. Measure the opening where the server is and compare it to the rest of the rack to see if the opening is consistent along the entire space. Are you using the Rapid Rails (Square Hole Rack) or the Versa Rails (Round Hole Rack)? Take some pictures and send them to me, I'm sure we can figure out what the problem is.

Will Beene

Will@RackSolutions.com

903-453-0835

RackSolutions · Answer

Look at the back of the server and see if the Cable Management Arm is catching on something.  Is the small amount of travel you get out of the rails smooth or is there a grinding?  You can release the small blue safety tab that holds the Rapid Rails in place and remove the server/rail assembly together.

FlashInThePan · Answer

I believe I have the RapidRails, as the rack has square holes. I don't have a camera available at the moment.

However, this server does not have a hinge; it has a top cover with three thumbscrews at the front. When disengaged, I think it slides forward a bit, and then lifts completely off.

At any rate, there is nothing directly above this box; there is a 2U gap to the next device. I don't think there's anything directly above to interfere.

I just noticed, when I pulled the server forward, that it shifts ever so slightly to the left (facing the front). That would suggest that whatever may be interfering is on the left side. I can't get into that side of the cabinet or remove the left side panel; there is another cabinet hard against the Dell rack.

tijo_confused · Answer

Whether your problem got solved or not?

I do have the same problem now. My PowerEdge R730 is stuck in its rail. When we tried to slide out the server its just coming only about a cm hardly, it just get unlock, and moves a bit. No further forward movements.

Any help by removing the rear side rail fixings, by pulling it fully backward. will it make server out of the rack?

DELL-Joey C · Answer

Hello,

What model rail that you are using on your R730? As far as I know, the rails does not have any locking mechanism on itself. Probably check try to check if the server is locked on the rack, eg: https://dell.to/35m6UaM page 2 Figure 6.

tijo_confused · Answer

Issue is that, the latch is disengaging but server not moving beyond disengagement. Is there any means to dismantle it in full. We have access from top (by removing the rack top cover), left , front and back...

We are using versa rails...

DELL-Joey C · Answer

And I forgot to mention, are all of the cables connected to the server has been disconnected?

DELL-Joey C · Answer

Hi,

I don't have any information or documentation that the rail can be removed without the server being remove first. Since you have side rack access, you can try to check if there is any latch mechanism that you can push, as for Rapid Rails, the latch is identified blue in color, but Versa Rail, I'm not definitely sure. Page 11: https://dell.to/3zrTwje

Just a ponder, the rail was able to be slide out right? As there is static Versa Rail too.

Rack Servers

PowerEdge rack rails/latches

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