What are the differences between Standard NetShelter SX, OCP ORV3 / NetShelter Open Architecture, and NVIDIA MGX / NetShelter Open Architecture racks?
Question:
What are the differences between Standard NetShelter SX, OCP ORV3 / NetShelter Open Architecture, and NVIDIA MGX / NetShelter Open Architecture racks?
Product Line:
Standard NetShelter SX – All applicable SKUs
OCP ORV3 / NetShelter Open Architecture – All applicable SKUs
NVIDIA MGX / NetShelter Open Architecture – All applicable SKUs
Environment:
Enterprise IT, colocation, networking, traditional server environments, hyperscale cloud, large-scale compute, Open Compute Project (OCP) environments, AI, High Performance Computing (HPC), GPU clusters, and accelerated computing environments.
Cause / Resolution:
APC by Schneider Electric rack solutions are designed for different infrastructure standards, workloads, power architectures, cooling requirements, and deployment models. The following table provides a comparison of the three rack architectures to help identify the primary differences.
Summary:
Standard NetShelter SX is designed primarily for traditional enterprise IT infrastructure and uses the 19-inch EIA standard with traditional Rack PDUs and server power supplies.
OCP ORV3 / NetShelter Open Architecture is designed for hyperscale and large-scale computing environments. It uses Open Units (OU), a 21-inch OCP Open Rack architecture, and 48V DC busbar and Power Shelf power distribution.
NVIDIA MGX / NetShelter Open Architecture is focused on high-density AI and accelerated computing environments, including AI training, inference, Large Language Models (LLMs), HPC, and GPU clusters.
What are the differences between Standard NetShelter SX, OCP ORV3 / NetShelter Open Architecture, and NVIDIA MGX / NetShelter Open Architecture racks?
Product Line:
Standard NetShelter SX – All applicable SKUs
OCP ORV3 / NetShelter Open Architecture – All applicable SKUs
NVIDIA MGX / NetShelter Open Architecture – All applicable SKUs
Environment:
Enterprise IT, colocation, networking, traditional server environments, hyperscale cloud, large-scale compute, Open Compute Project (OCP) environments, AI, High Performance Computing (HPC), GPU clusters, and accelerated computing environments.
Cause / Resolution:
APC by Schneider Electric rack solutions are designed for different infrastructure standards, workloads, power architectures, cooling requirements, and deployment models. The following table provides a comparison of the three rack architectures to help identify the primary differences.
| Category | Standard NetShelter SX | OCP ORV3 / NetShelter Open Architecture | NVIDIA MGX / NetShelter Open Architecture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Use Case | Enterprise IT, colocation, networking, traditional servers | Hyperscale cloud, large-scale compute, OCP environments | AI, HPC, GPU clusters, accelerated computing |
| Industry Standard | EIA-310 | Open Compute Project (OCP) ORV3 | NVIDIA MGX Architecture |
| Space Measurement | U (Rack Units) | OU (Open Units) | U (Rack Units) |
| Unit Height | 1U = 1.75 in (44.45 mm) | 1OU = 1.89 in (48 mm) | 1U = 1.75 in (44.45 mm) |
| Rack Width | 19-inch EIA | 21-inch OCP Open Rack (with support for some 19-inch equipment) | Typically 19-inch EIA-based compute platforms |
| Power Distribution | Rack PDUs and server PSUs | 48V DC Busbar + Power Shelves | Often leverages rack-scale power architectures for AI deployments |
| Power Architecture | Device-centric | Rack-centric | AI platform-centric |
| Cooling Design | Air-cooled | Air-cooled and liquid-cooling ready | High-density air and liquid-cooling optimized |
| Deployment Model | Rack-and-stack | Rack-scale deployment | AI rack and cluster-scale deployment |
| Typical Workloads | Servers, storage, network switches | Cloud compute, storage, networking | AI training, inference, LLMs, HPC |
| Can Host Multiple Device Types? | Yes | Yes | Primarily MGX-based compute systems |
| Key Differentiator | Traditional enterprise infrastructure | Open, hyperscale-inspired rack ecosystem | NVIDIA standardized AI compute ecosystem |
Summary:
Standard NetShelter SX is designed primarily for traditional enterprise IT infrastructure and uses the 19-inch EIA standard with traditional Rack PDUs and server power supplies.
OCP ORV3 / NetShelter Open Architecture is designed for hyperscale and large-scale computing environments. It uses Open Units (OU), a 21-inch OCP Open Rack architecture, and 48V DC busbar and Power Shelf power distribution.
NVIDIA MGX / NetShelter Open Architecture is focused on high-density AI and accelerated computing environments, including AI training, inference, Large Language Models (LLMs), HPC, and GPU clusters.
The appropriate rack architecture depends on the equipment being installed, applicable infrastructure standard, workload, required power architecture, and cooling requirements.
If you have any clarifications, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-800-4272 or chat with our technical support representatives.