Home / server / Questions / 186554
Accepted
David Schmitt
Asked: 2010-10-02 03:26:18 +0800 CST

What is the "bezel" and why does Dell charge 15€ for it?

  • 772

I'm in the process of shopping around for a new server and came across the "1U Rack Bezel" option for Dell's PowerEdgeâ„¢ R310 server. The only hint is the german heading "Frontblende" which seems to imply that it is just an aesthetic choice.

So the question is: For what do I need the bezel and why does it cost 15€?

hardware dell-poweredge

3 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    The bezel is attached to the front side of the server and it protects the hard drives and the power button from removal or accidental usage. The bezel comes with a key and a lock but it's not necessary if the server itself is only accessible by you or your administrator staff.

    In my opinion it is just an aesthetic choice. We're using about 120 DELL servers and we don't have any bezel installed.

    • 9

  2. It's a bit of plastic that makes the server look less like the metal box of bits it actually is and more like the sort of thing that management-types have been led by salespeople to think servers look like - i.e. it's purely aesthetic - nice of Dell to give you the option I guess, not many other places do.

    • 8

  3. Well, why it costs money - use your brain. Seriously. Why should Dell turn it out for free if not everyone has it so it is not included in the price for the server. It is a part, it costs money to make and store until someone buy sit and Dell is not in the business of giving money away. Seriously, "why do things cost money" questions are not smart.

    Now, for the rest.

    It normally is a front cover which can be LOCKED (!). This is the most important thing. You install a bezel and you can lock all the hard drives into the server so people can not remove it. Most of the time you also lock access to things like reset button (but obviosuly not the power cord). Whether this makes sense seriously depends on server usage. A server in an open rack - MAYBE (!). Even then the hoster will gladly help you go after other idiot customers playing with your equipment while doing maintenance on theirs. Larger (locked half rack, like me) and even before the real sense starts to disappear pretty fast.

    I seriously prefer open servers where I can rip out the discs as needed without playing around with keys for the brezel first.

    • 2