i found some cage nuts

pro-tip rack gear for audio and network stuff is mostly interchangeable yay EIA-310 standard! (some caveats like rack length for server vs music gear), sometimes you can find deals looking up studio rack equipment sets that are way cheaper than network stuff. Sometimes the other way around

IDK if you’ve ever seen this, but when you have to stand up high and mount a switch, the Patchbox SETUP.EXE Tool is a huge help. Also, flip it around and use it as a laptop shelf while working on a rack. My favorite tool that I bought for this type of work:

Hair or makeup do not matter when we see a smart girl. Some might even dream about a wife...

that “some” should look/dream elsewhere 👹

Вибачте, напевно моя англійська не найкраща, я не хотів вас образити

Old timer's trick - always set the screws mostly tight then push the device up in the rack before tightening and tighten the bottom screws first. This is to make sure the devices are all at the top of each rack space so you can fit everything in nearer the bottom!

Cage nuts are the bane of my existence... One of my racks doesn't use them at all, but is tapped right in the frame... my other racks use rack studs. That's my favourite type, and there's a big gap between them and tapped racks... but cage nuts aren't even on the score sheet.

The little bent piece of metal cage nut tools actually work quite well once you get the hang of them. Clip one leg of the cage on the rack then use the hook part to pull the other through.

This video gives off "excited Christmas morning" vibes. idk if that'll make sense but, if it doesn't, I mean like this:

why you no

The only thing I hate worse than cage nuts are stripped holes in rack ears.

Put bottom screws in first ;p

Get these next time, your fingers will thank you.

Cage Nuts are evil. I hate them. Never have them when you need, and have piles of them when you don't. And they Suck when installing equipment in racks. 40+ years in IT. I'm the old greybeard I used to make fun of 40 years ago.

The number of times I almost gave myself the stigmata trying to use a screwdriver to set the cage nuts is....greater than zero. Often the source of the blood sacrifice that ensured a successful install. 😅

Cage nuts are a PITA. :( I loath them. I wish I learned about rack studs sooner! But my home network rack is small. I only have 4 items in it. Two patch panels, one 24-port network switch and a shelf to hold my NVR and small little server.

I just had to order some. Reusing an old rack and it 12-24 and I have ONE 12-24 screw.

My only suggestion would be to start from the bottom. That way you aren’t fighting gravity on every device, you can let the next device rest on the one below as you start the screws.

Also, if someone sold “squishier” cage nuts like you used without tools, that would be mint. Whenever I get a batch that doesn’t require a tool, I feel like John Hamm. 🤣

I've also found that a couple of small locking pliers/vise grips are handy for racking stuff. Clamp them on the front rail right below the cage nuts, they hold up the front of the device so all you need to do is hold up the back and run in the screws

I'm so ANGRYYYY. JK your videos are pretty interesting

Are you really an IT department if you don’t have a drawer or toolbox full of them?

"Cage Nut Insertion Tool" I wonder if OSHA made them fix how hard they are to put in due to the number of grevious injuries sustained 😂💀

Nicely done! Not even a blood sacrifice to the rack gods!

These things changes my life for the home lab.

I hate removing those! I use to carry some in my backpack just in case.

Cage nuts were invented by Satan.

No bloody hands due to cage nut incidents?!?

I always used my fingers for cage-nuts. I'd break out either a flat-head screw driver or a butter knife for the stubborn ones.

For this to work out you need to wear less clothing... Just sayin...

There are always a few at the bottom of any rack.

Lucky they weren't mixed nuts;) I get that in many leftover bags

The prop up with one hand (like a posh waiter carrying a silver tray) as you screw in the ears is the way we were all taught…and the jam your knee/foot/stack of boxes under it technique is equally effective

Great job, now let the audience know which noise cancelling headphones you wear in that room.

Hateful things. If I had a pound for every time I'd stabbed myself with a screwdriver trying to fit cage nuts, I'd be able to buy some plasters to stop the bleeding.

M6 FTW. for some reason the M5 ones always seem like trash. Replacing Juniper fans with Noctuas require a re-pin, and you may or may not still get a chassis alarm, and may refuse to boot. probably the case with those QFX's, haven't tried replacing those.