- Network Admin
The SME Guide to Network Monitoring and Management
10 Mar, 2026






£2226.43 inc. VAT
AI-generated summary
The APC NetShelter SX Gen2 42U is one of those “buy it once, don’t think about it for years” cabinet options. The big win here is practicality: side panels and a sensible form factor make it easier to work on in the real world (cabling, patching, airflow management) without turning your rack build into a weekend project. APC’s racks also tend to be genuinely solid on stability and fit—useful if you’re a reseller or installer supporting multiple customers, because you’re less likely to get fiddly surprises during deployment. At **£1855.36 ex-VAT**, it’s not cheap, but it’s in the ballpark for a quality, serviceable 42U that won’t feel flimsy when you’re regularly maintaining gear.
Who should buy it: anyone setting up a standardised server/IT rack in an office, comms room, or small data room where you want decent build quality and good day-to-day accessibility. It’s particularly suitable if you expect to populate it with a mix of network gear, patch panels, and servers and want a straightforward physical platform with a reputable ecosystem. Who should *not* buy it: if you’re planning a very specific airflow/containment design, or you’re building at volume and need maximum cost efficiency over longevity—there are cheaper racks that work, but you’ll feel it in access, finish, and how “forgiving” they are during installs. If your requirement is standard general-purpose rack space and you value stability and usability, this is a safe bet for the money.

STARTECH
StarTech.com 2U Fixed Server Rack Mount Shelf, 22in Deep Steel Universal Cantilever Tray for 19" AV/Data/Network Equipment Rack with Cage Nuts & Screws, 50lbs Weight Capacity, 22" Deep - 2U Network Rack Shelf (CABSHELF22) - Rack shelf - black - 2U - 22" - for P/N: RK12OD2, RK2433BKM, RK2537BKM, RK3236BKF, RK4236BKB, RK4242BK24, RK4242BK30

APC
APC NetShelter SX Enclosure Without Sides Without Doors - Rack open frame - black - 48U - 19"

Lenovo
Lenovo - Tower to rack conversion kit - 4U - for ThinkSystem ST550

APC
APC Rack Air Removal Unit - Rack mounting frame - black - for NetShelter SX Enclosure with Sides, Enclosure without rear doors