Server Rack Accessories

Server rack accessories are the install hardware around the empty rack — shelves for non-rack-mountable equipment, PDUs (power distribution units) for distributing power to rack devices, cooling fans for managing heat in enclosed cabinets, cable management for clean install, patch panels for terminating structured cabling, and blanking panels for airflow management. None are dramatic on their own; collectively they're what turns a rack from a metal box into a usable comms install. The 44-product range covers most accessory categories for typical CCTV and network installs in 6U through 47U enclosures.

Security Cameras Australia stocks the rack accessory range. Every accessory is genuine Australian stock with manufacturer warranty.

For racks themselves see Server Racks parent. For specific rack brands see X2 Server Racks and APC Server Racks.

What's in the accessory range

Rack shelves

Fixed shelves — bolt into the rack for non-rack-mountable equipment (small NVRs, UPS units, modems, routers).
Sliding shelves — pull out for access to mounted equipment. Useful for equipment needing periodic physical access.
Vented shelves — perforated for airflow around heat-generating devices.

Cable management

Vertical cable management — runs along the side of the rack, organising cables from top to bottom.
Horizontal cable management (1U or 2U) — between active devices, organising patch cables across the rack width.
Cable rings and finger ducts — guide cables through specific channels for clean routing.
Velcro and cable ties — bundling and securing.

PDUs (Power Distribution Units)

Rack-mount power strips distributing power from the UPS or mains to individual devices:

Basic PDUs — rack-mount power strip, no remote management. Cheap, simple.
Metered PDUs — report total power draw. Useful for capacity planning and load balancing.
Switched PDUs — remote control of individual outlets. Useful for remote power cycling of devices (reboot a frozen NVR remotely without site visit).
Metered + switched (smart PDUs) — both metering and remote switching. Standard for enterprise.

Cooling

Roof-mount fan trays — mounted on the top of the rack, drawing hot air out. Standard for enclosed cabinets generating moderate heat.
1U fan trays — rack-mounted between heat-generating devices for active cooling within the equipment stack.
Side panel vents — passive airflow management.

Patch panels

12, 24, 48-port Cat6 / Cat6a patch panels — terminating structured cabling at the rack for clean patch-cord connection to active devices.
Fibre patch panels — for fibre uplinks and inter-rack connections.
Loaded vs unloaded — loaded panels come pre-populated with keystones; unloaded panels accept field-installed keystones for flexibility.

Blanking panels and airflow

1U through 4U blanking panels fill empty rack spaces to prevent hot exhaust air recirculating to cold intake — critical for heat management in enclosed cabinets. Often overlooked but materially improves equipment temperatures.

Mounting and fixings

Cage nuts, M6 screws, captive screws, mounting brackets, and the small hardware that completes the rack install.

What you actually need for a CCTV install

For a typical CCTV install in a comms rack, the accessory shopping list:

1U or 2U cable management between NVR and PoE switch.
Vertical cable management down at least one side of the rack.
Patch panel sized to camera count (24-port for 8-16 cameras; 48-port for 16-32).
Basic or metered PDU for power distribution from the UPS.
Roof fan tray if the rack is enclosed and the heat load is moderate or above.
Blanking panels to fill empty U-spaces.

Sizing the cooling load

A typical 8-channel CCTV install (NVR + PoE switch + UPS) draws 100-200 W total. Heat dissipation roughly equals power draw. For an enclosed cabinet in an air-conditioned room: passive vents are usually enough. For an enclosed cabinet in a normal-temperature service space: fan tray is the call. For dedicated comms room with active environmental management: heat load handled at the room level rather than the rack.

Why buy from Security Cameras Australia

Authorised dealer · genuine accessories with manufacturer warranty.
Expert support · advice on accessory selection for CCTV-specific installs, cooling sizing, cable management for clean finishes.
Complete system specification · accessories spec'd alongside rack, NVR, switching, UPS, cabling.
Price-match · free shipping · 30-day returns.

Shop server rack accessories

Browse below, or see Server Racks parent, X2 Server Racks, APC Server Racks, or all networking equipment.

Frequently Asked Questions about Server Rack Accessories

Do I really need cable management, or can I just bundle cables?

For a working install, bundled cables technically work. For a maintainable install, cable management matters. Without management: cables obstruct airflow, complicate maintenance (tracing a cable through a bundle is painful), look unprofessional in customer-facing installs, and stress over time (sharp bends, weight-loaded bundles damage connectors). Vertical management down the side of the rack plus 1U horizontal management between active devices is the typical commercial-grade install. For residential and small commercial, the simpler version (bundled with velcro and routed cleanly) is acceptable.

What's the difference between a basic PDU and a switched PDU?

Basic PDU is a rack-mount power strip — no remote management, no metering. Cheap and simple, suits residential and small commercial. Metered PDU reports total power draw — useful for capacity planning. Switched PDU lets you remote-control individual outlets — useful for power cycling a frozen NVR from offsite without a site visit. Smart PDU combines metering and switching. For most commercial installs, basic or metered is fine; switched is worth the premium specifically when remote power cycling matters operationally.

Do I need a fan tray in my rack?

Depends on the heat load and the room. Enclosed cabinet in an air-conditioned room with moderate equipment (NVR + small PoE switch + UPS, 100-200 W): passive vents enough. Enclosed cabinet in a normal-temperature service space with the same equipment: fan tray recommended. Larger heat loads (multiple PoE switches, larger UPS, multi-NVR): fan tray plus blanking panels plus consider room-level cooling. Excessive heat shortens equipment life — particularly hard drives in NVRs and electrolytic capacitors in UPS — so don't skip this on enclosed installs.

What U-size patch panel do I need?

Match port count to your structured cabling. 12-port (1U) for very small installs. 24-port (1U) for 8-16 camera installs (with spare ports for expansion). 48-port (1U or 2U) for 16-32 camera installs or where the patch panel terminates both camera Cat6 and other structured cabling. For larger installs, multiple patch panels organised by zone or function.

Why do empty rack spaces need blanking panels?

Heat management. Empty U-spaces let hot exhaust air recirculate from the rear of the rack back to the front intake of cold air — degrading the cooling efficiency for all equipment in the rack. Blanking panels prevent this recirculation. For air-conditioned dedicated comms rooms, the effect is modest; for enclosed cabinets relying on directed airflow, blanking panels materially improve equipment temperatures. Cheap accessory with measurable benefit.