Rack / cabinet visualization

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 3 minutes to read
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    Summary of Rack / cabinet visualization

    TheRack / cabinet visualizationfeature in the Telecommunications Network Inventory application allows ServiceNow customers to graphically view and manage datacenter racks or cabinets. This visualization displays equipment and shelves loaded into front and rear accessible racks or cabinets, with each item accurately positioned in its designated Rack Units. It enables efficient organization and monitoring of network infrastructure components within a rack or cabinet.

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    Key Features

    • Rack KPIs: View rack utilization, allocated power usage, and weight usage based on equipment model data, helping to monitor rack capacity and performance.
    • Front and Rear Views: Visualize both sides of racks or cabinets for comprehensive equipment placement and management.
    • Equipment Management: Create, edit, add, move, or remove equipment or shelves directly from the rack or cabinet view.
    • Reserved Units Tracking: Identify reserved rack units and the users who reserved them.
    • Model and Lifecycle Visibility: Access rack or cabinet models and view lifecycle stages of equipment.
    • User Interface Options: Switch between default and dark modes for better usability.
    • Navigation and Details: Easily navigate to rack, cabinet, or slot forms and view detailed equipment and shelf information.
    • Rack Capacity Management: Customize capacity evaluation by creating capacity definitions and functions to align with business needs.

    Prerequisites

    • Create or select equipment holder models categorized as Equipment Rack or Cabinet Model to associate with racks or cabinets.
    • Define rack slots by creating or selecting network model relationships with the Rack/Cabinet to Rack/Cabinet Slot Relationship type.
    • Create or select inventory templates that include rack or cabinet models.

    How to Visualize and Manage Racks or Cabinets

    • Initiate rack or cabinet creation based on selected models and templates, either through Network Inventory Workspace or dedicated create actions.
    • Add equipment or shelves to racks or cabinets, and manage their placement by editing the rack or cabinet layout.
    • Remove equipment or shelves as needed through change requests.
    • Decommission or delete racks or cabinets using appropriate inventory management actions.

    Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    This functionality enhances the management of datacenter infrastructure by providing a clear, interactive visualization of rack and cabinet layouts, improving space and power utilization, and streamlining equipment lifecycle management. Customers can expect improved operational efficiency and better resource allocation within their telecommunications network inventory.

    Using rack or cabinet visualization in the Telecommunications Network Inventory application, you can visualize a rack or cabinet in the canvas. Here you can observe the loading of equipment and shelves into the front and rear accessible racks or cabinets, with each item placed in its designated Rack Units.

    Rack visualization overview

    Rack or cabinet visualization is a graphical representation of a datacenter rack or cabinet used to store and organize all equipment.

    A rack where front and rear view of a rack loaded with equipments, and shelves along with the equipment or shelf details.

    The previous screenshot is an example of a rack. From the Overview tab of a rack or cabinet, you can:
    • See the KPI (Key Performance Indicator) of a rack using rack utilization.
      Note:
      This KPI is only for racks.
    • See the percentage of allocated power currently utilized by all equipment within the rack. This value is derived from the equipment model details. However, the actual power consumption might vary.
      Note:
      This KPI is only for racks.
    • See the percentage of allocated weight currently utilized by all equipment within the rack. This value is derived from the equipment model details. However, the actual weight consumption might vary.
      Note:
      • All rack capacities are calculated based on the capacity definition - rack capacity. To change the evaluation of the capacity, you can create a capacity definition and function. To learn more, see Capacity management.
      • This KPI is only for racks.
    • Explore different equipment types to optimize the placement of routers, shelves, or other network infrastructure.
    • See both the front and rear views of the rack or cabinet.
    • See all the reserved units and reserved by which user.
    • See the rack or cabinet and rack or cabinet models.
    • Create equipment from a rack or cabinet view. To learn more, see Create a rack.
    • Edit a rack. To learn more, see Edit rack.
    • Edit a cabinet. To learn more, see Edit a cabinet.
    • Add packs
    • Decommission a rack or cabinet. To learn more, see Decommission an inventory record.
    • Delete a rack or cabinet. To learn more, see Delete a record.
    • Navigate to the rack/cabinets/slots form either from the canvas or the menu item.
    • See life-cycle stage of equipment.
    • See all the equipment and shelf details by selecting the info icon (Info Icon.).
    • See the number of total and occupied slots available.
    • Switch between the default and dark view using the preferences settings.

    Pre-requisites

    To instantiate the creation of a rack or cabinet, you must:
    1. Create or select a model in the equipment holder model with the Equipment Rack or Cabinet Model categories to associate it with a rack or cabinet respectively.

      To learn more, see Create an equipment holder model.

    2. Create or select a relationship in the network model relationships with the Rack/Cabinet to Rack/Cabinet Slot Relationship type to define the number of rack slots.

      To learn more, see Define a network model relationship.

    3. Create or select a template having the rack or cabinet model in the inventory model field.

      To learn more, see Create an inventory template.

    Visualize and manage a rack or cabinet

    1. Initiate the rack or cabinet creation based on the rack or cabinet model, and rack or cabinet slots based on the template. To learn more, see Create a change request from Network Inventory Workspace.
      Note:
    2. Add an equipment or shelf to a rack or cabinet. To learn more, see Create a change request from Network Inventory Workspace.
      Note:
      You can also edit, add, move, and remove an equipment using Edit rack and Edit a cabinet.
    3. Remove an equipment or shelf from a rack or cabinet.

      To learn more, see Create a change request from Network Inventory Workspace.