PowerEdge R340 A12 ReadyRails II Server Rack Installation Problem

Meowmii,

Would you confirm the specific part number for the rails? 
Also, did you happen to follow the rail installation guide found here?

Let me know.

Hi Chris,

This is the part number of the sliding rails we have supplied with PowerEdge R340.

8N0JT

Regarding to the installation manual, yes, we followed the instruction manual carefully and repeated multiple times but we're stuck on step 4.1.iv. where the server needs to latch with the rails. There is still an inch gap from the slam latches to the rails when pushing and engaging the spring.

From our observation, it seems like the server rack is below the minimum allowable depth (distance of front rail post to rear rail post) for our server to fit in. Can you confirm this?

We tried to attach one of the rails into the server, off from the cabinet rack, and we measured the minimum distance from the two rail ends which the rails and the slam latches of the server are engaged. It is approximately 685mm. The cabinet rack where we would be installing our server have a distance of 660mm of its front and rear rails.

If this is the case, is there a workaround for this? Adjusting the post rails distance would not be possible as there are other devices already installed in the cabinet rack.

Meowmii,

Would you be able to provide some images showing what you're seeing?

If the rails aren't compatible with the rack then you may need to look at the other rail kit for the server, part # 53D7M, which is designed for the different rack. 

These are the actual pictures our server already installed in the rack. As you can see from the first picture, there is still a huge gap from the latch to the server rails.

Front of R340 pushed to back

The second picture shows the rear of the R340 and R430 server in its rails installed into the rack. The R430's sliding rails seems like there's still space for the server to be pushed backwards. Unlike our rail where it already reached its limit while not being unable to lock it in the front.

We will be trying a workaround where we would put a rack depth adapter, about 4", into the rear rail posts. Changing the rails would be the last option.

Just an update.

The server rack depth extender just arrived to increase the depth by 10cm of the front and rear slotted rail posts. The depth of the server is just too short for the rails.

Hello,

Is there meanwhile a solution for this problem?

I have two R340XL servers here with A12 rails selected by Dell and sold together.

Hi @Sandro.P,

Perhaps the below post might help you.

https://dell.to/3Xd1Yhf

Hello,

Pushing harder don't fix it. I can send you an Video if you want.

Hi,

that is a good idea, a Video and some pictures could help.

Regards Martin

Here some pictures. I can't upload the video.

On the third picture you can see the difference between the mounting position of the rails of an R450 and a R340XL on the bottom.

Would you confirm the part number listed on the rails you are having problems with, as it may be an issue of them not being the right rails. 

Hello @Sandro.P 

Were you able to resolve this issue?  We just received (2) R350 rack servers and have the exact same issue.  Your pictures are identical to ours.  And we have several other Dell servers in the rack so it is not a "NON" standard rack. 

Did you find another rail kit or did you use your extender?  An extender would work for us but then we can not close the back of the cabinet.

Thanks

After infestigating this topic with DELL, we found out that in our case the A12 rails are not compatible for us. Specifically, the distance between the front and rear rail is 660mm in our case, which would be ok according to the compatibility matrix. But does not work.

DELL send us the fixed rails A8 and with these it works. I hope that information will help you.