Simply drag any equipment from the Equipment Library on the left and drop it onto the rack diagram. The equipment will automatically snap to available rack units. You can also create custom devices by clicking the + Add button.

Click on any installed device in the Installed Equipment list on the right panel. Use the edit button (pencil icon) to modify the device name, power consumption, size, or color. Changes are saved automatically.

Some smaller devices (like consumer NVRs, small switches, routers) are not rack-mountable and need to be placed on a rack shelf. Install a shelf first, then when you add the device, you'll be prompted to select which shelf to place it on. Devices on shelves don't consume additional rack units.

Drag the installed equipment directly on the rack diagram to reposition it. The system will prevent overlapping equipment. You can also remove and re-add equipment at a new position.

Click Export PDF to generate a comprehensive PDF document that includes: project information, rack specifications, a visual rack diagram, complete equipment list with positions and power consumption, and power topology summary. This is perfect for documentation and client proposals.

The UPS Calculator tracks the total power consumption of all equipment and compares it to the available UPS capacity. It uses a 0.8 power factor and recommends keeping UPS load under 80% for optimal battery runtime and lifespan. The status bar shows green (good), yellow (warning), or red (overloaded).

Power Topology shows how your equipment is connected to power sources. You can assign devices to UPS units, PDUs, or ATS units to visualize the power distribution. This helps identify unprotected devices and balance load across multiple power sources.

An ATS automatically switches between two power inputs (e.g., two different UPS units or a UPS and wall power). This provides redundancy for connected devices. In this planner, ATS devices have two power source inputs and provide outlets for downstream equipment.

Equipment with redundant power supplies (marked with ⚡⚡) has two internal PSUs for fault tolerance. You should connect each PSU to a different power source (e.g., PSU1 to UPS-A, PSU2 to UPS-B). The load is split 50/50 between both sources. If one fails, the device continues operating on the other.

Rule of thumb: Total your equipment wattage, add 20% headroom, then divide by 0.8 (power factor) to get the minimum VA rating. For example: 800W of equipment → 800W × 1.2 = 960W → 960W ÷ 0.8 = 1200VA minimum. The UPS Calculator shows recommendations based on your actual load.

General guidelines:

• Heavy equipment (UPS, servers) at the bottom for stability
• Network switches and patch panels in the middle for easy cable management
• Recording devices (NVRs) above switches for short cable runs
• Leave 1-2U gaps for airflow between heat-generating equipment
• PDUs on sides or back (0U vertical) to save rack space

Aim to keep 20-30% of rack space free for future expansion and adequate airflow. A completely full rack can lead to thermal issues and makes maintenance difficult. The capacity bar turns yellow at 70% and red at 90% utilization.

Vertical (0U) PDUs are recommended when possible because they don't consume rack unit space and make cable management easier. However, they require a rack with sufficient depth and side rails. Horizontal PDUs are useful in shallow racks or when you need outlets at specific heights.

Rack-mounted equipment has mounting ears/flanges designed to screw directly into rack rails (standard 19" width). Shelf-mounted equipment is consumer/prosumer gear that sits on a shelf. Using shelves for non-rack equipment is more cost-effective than buying rack-mount versions or adapter kits.

Projects are automatically saved to your browser's local storage. Use the Save button to save with a name, or select from Saved Projects dropdown to load previous configurations. Use Export Plan to download a text file backup, or Export PDF for a printable document.