Data Center Industry Shifts to 21-Inch Open Rack Standard Amid AI Boom
The data center industry is undergoing a fundamental shift as major cloud providers and server manufacturers transition from traditional 19-inch racks to wider 21-inch Open Rack designs. According to new research, this emerging standard could dominate rack shipments by 2030, driven by the specific requirements of AI infrastructure and modular server architectures.
Industry Transition Accelerates
The data center industry is reportedly undergoing a significant transformation as cloud computing providers and server manufacturers increasingly standardize on 21-inch Open Rack designs. According to reports from research firm Omdia, this shift marks a departure from the long-established 19-inch EIA-310 rack standard that has dominated data centers for decades.
