Racks with units starting > 1

[bebehei]

NetBox version

87e7cc4867d1 (v3.4.6)

Feature type

Data model extension

Proposed functionality

Currently, it is possible to assign a rack an arbitrary number of height units (usually 42 or 47). The starting point is fixed to 1, so all Devices in this Rack are located in RU {1..Y}.

This GitHub issue requests, that the starting point does not start hard coded from 1.

Use case

If you rent a quarter half/quarter/third rack, the starting point is not fixed necessarily fixed to Rack Unit 1. To talk to remote hands, this is quite confusing.

Current possible workarounds:

• You could currently work around by creating a full rack and assigning Rack Reservations.
  • CON: This will falsely blow up the actual space utilisation of your rack. (e.g. quarter rack used with 2 Rack units displays 80% Rack Usage, while actually only 10% are used.)
• Assign the rack the actual height and use instead of 41-60 the units 1-20.
  • CON: You have to convert this when talking to remote hands (error prone).
  • CON: Rack Photos show the actual rack unit and not the virtual unit
• Tenancy should be a possibilty, but I haven't found anything to work around this with tenancy.

Database changes

No response

External dependencies

No response

[jeremystretch]

It sounds like adding a starting_unit integer field (defaulting to 1) to the Rack model would suffice. We'd no doubt have to dig through a lot of logic that assumes a starting unit of 1, but it should be feasible.

[bebehei]

Thank you all for adding this feature!