APC Netshelter SX Gen2 AR3350B2 - 42U, 1991h x 750w x 1200d mm, with side panels, black

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

If you’re paying £2,492.83 ex‑VAT for an APC NetShelter SX Gen2 42U, you’re mainly paying for “it’s built to last” and “it’ll look right in a proper comms room.” This cabinet is a serious bit of kit for a UK B2B setup where uptime and neat cable management actually matter, and APC’s standard of build quality is generally better than the bargain basements that end up needing replacement doors/panels/catch issues. The side panels help with containment and airflow control, and if you’re installing a mix of networking/servers, that’s a real-world win over flimsy open frames.

That said, I wouldn’t buy it blindly. Gen2 units are a bit of a legacy workhorse—great when you’re standardising on an existing APC ecosystem, but if you’re starting from scratch, check what you need for your specific deployment (how you’ll route cables, whether you’ll add PDU/ladder trays, and whether you require ventilation/containment options beyond “good enough”). Also, make sure you’re not overbuying cabinet capacity: 42U sounds large, and in practice you can waste budget on empty space you won’t use. If you want a dependable, professional cabinet that your engineers won’t curse during installs, it’s a solid choice; if you’re cost-optimising or your design is still evolving, you might be better served shopping for a less premium rack solution and spending the saved money on cooling/management.