Supermicro SuperChassis 216BE1C-R920WB

The Supermicro SuperChassis 216BE1C-R920WB is a high-density, 2U rack-mount chassis built to deliver enterprise-grade storage, expansion, and reliability in data centers, virtualization clusters, and storage-centric workloads. Designed for scalable performance and effortless management, this black rack chassis accommodates ATX and EATX motherboards, supports a substantial 26 x external 2.5" drive bays, and arrives with dual 920W power supplies to maximize uptime. With a robust 2U form factor, this chassis is engineered to optimize airflow, simplify maintenance, and integrate seamlessly into standard 19" server racks, making it a trusted backbone for demanding applications such as databases, hyper-converged infrastructure, media libraries, and research computing.

• Massive storage density: 26 external 2.5" drive bays deliver expansive storage capacity within a compact 2U footprint. This configuration is ideal for large-scale databases, virtualization environments, and media archives where rapid provisioning and scalable growth are essential. The front-accessible bays enable non-disruptive maintenance and quick drive swaps, while maintaining clean cable management and steady airflow.
• Redundant power for critical uptime: Two 920W power supplies are installed to provide reliable, redundant power capability. This design minimizes single-point failures and supports hot-swap maintenance as part of a robust high-availability strategy, ensuring workloads stay online during routine maintenance or power events.
• Flexible motherboard support and expansive I/O: The chassis is compatible with both ATX and EATX motherboards and includes seven PCIe expansion slots, allowing you to maximize PCIe cards, RAID controllers, accelerators, or GPU add-ins within a single 2U chassis. This flexibility is ideal for virtualization hosts, AI workloads, data processing, and dense compute clusters where space is at a premium.
• Optimized cooling and airflow: A carefully engineered 2U chassis design prioritizes airflow from front to rear, supporting the dense 26-bay configuration while keeping drives, controllers, and power components within safe thermal ranges. This helps sustain sustained performance under heavy I/O loads and reduces the risk of thermal throttling.
• Rack-ready, enterprise-grade enclosure: Built for standard 19" racks, the 216BE1C-R920WB provides a professional, space-efficient solution for data centers, labs, and colocation facilities. The black enclosure presents a clean, professional appearance while enabling straightforward serviceability, quick drive swaps, and scalable expansion for evolving storage needs.

Technical Details of Supermicro SuperChassis 216BE1C-R920WB

• Chassis type: 2U rack-mount chassis
• Color: Black
• Drive bays: 26 x external 2.5" bays
• Power supply: 2 x 920W redundant power supplies installed
• Motherboard support: ATX and EATX
• Expansion slots: 7 x PCIe slots
• Rack compatibility: 19" rack standard
• Form factor: 2U height for dense deployment

How to install Supermicro SuperChassis 216BE1C-R920WB

• Prepare your rack and workspace: verify there is sufficient clearance for 2U height, airflow, and service access. Ensure the rack has adequate weight capacity for the fully populated chassis and installed drives.
• Mount in the rack: align the chassis with the rack rails, secure it using the appropriate screws, and verify stability before proceeding with component installation.
• Install the motherboard: use ATX or EATX-compatible standoffs and mount the motherboard inside the chassis. Attach the I/O shield, align the motherboard with the back plane, and connect power and data cables as required by the motherboard manual.
• Configure drive trays and backplane: insert 2.5" drives into the hot-swap trays, secure them, and connect data cables to the backplane. Route cables neatly to maintain optimal airflow and easy future maintenance.
• Install expansion cards: insert PCIe cards into the seven expansion slots, ensuring card length and power requirements are compatible with the chassis. Secure brackets to the chassis to prevent movement during operation.
• Power and initial test: connect the dual 920W PSUs to a reliable power source, power on the system, and enter the BIOS or management interface. Verify drive detection, PCIe card recognition, and fan operation. Configure BIOS/RAID settings according to workload requirements and install any necessary management software for monitoring and alerts.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the primary use case for the 216BE1C-R920WB? It is designed for high-storage-density environments, offering 26 external 2.5" bays, robust cooling, and plenty of expansion capacity for enterprise storage, virtualization hosts, and data-intensive applications.
• Does this chassis include redundant power supplies? Yes. It comes with two 920W redundant power supplies installed to support high-availability configurations.
• Which motherboard sizes are supported? The chassis supports ATX and EATX motherboards, providing flexibility for different CPU and I/O configurations.
• How many PCIe expansion slots are available? There are seven PCIe expansion slots, enabling multiple add-in cards such as RAID controllers, network adapters, GPUs, or accelerators within the 2U chassis.
• Is it compatible with standard 19" racks? Yes. The 216BE1C-R920WB is designed for standard 19" rack installations, making it easy to integrate into existing data center infrastructure.