Supermicro SuperChassis 216BE1C-R920LPB

The Supermicro SuperChassis 216BE1C-R920LPB is a high-density, 2U rack-mount chassis built for demanding data-center workloads, virtualization clusters, and enterprise storage deployments. Designed to deliver reliability, expandability, and easy serviceability, this chassis provides a robust foundation for modern server configurations. With dual power supplies installed and ready for redundancy, it offers the uptime protection needed for mission-critical applications. It supports both ATX and EATX motherboards, making it compatible with a wide ecosystem of components while enabling expansive PCIe configurations. The chassis’ generous fan support and large external bay footprint make it an ideal platform for dense storage, high-throughput networking, and compute-intensive workloads in a compact 2U footprint.

• Power and cooling for mission-critical workloads: The 216BE1C-R920LPB ships with two 920W power supplies already installed, delivering redundancy to minimize downtime and protect important services. Coupled with support for up to eight hot-swappable fans (8 x fan(s) supported), this chassis maintains optimal airflow and component temperatures even during peak demand. This combination is especially valuable for virtualization hosts, storage nodes, and multi-card configurations where stable power and predictable cooling are essential for performance and longevity.
• Unmatched storage density and flexible expansion: This chassis offers an expansive storage footprint with 24 external 5.25" bays and 24 external 2.5" bays, enabling a wide range of drive and controller configurations. Whether you’re provisioning tiered storage, archiving, or high-velocity data access, the large external bay matrix provides the flexibility to swap between drive types, optimize IOPS, and tailor capacity to your workload without compromising chassis depth or rack space.
• Broad motherboard support and PCIe expansion: The design supports ATX and EATX motherboards, unlocking a broad ecosystem of processors, memory configurations, and PCIe cards. With 7 expansion slots, it’s possible to deploy multiple PCIe devices—such as RAID controllers, NICs, accelerators, and other add-in cards—without crowding the chassis. This makes the 216BE1C-R920LPB ideal for virtualization hosts, software-defined storage, or network-heavy deployments that demand robust I/O capability.
• Solid chassis construction for rack integration: The black, rack-mountable 2U enclosure is engineered for reliability in busy data centers. The 2U form factor aligns with standard rack infrastructure, while the open interior design and well-organized drive bays simplify cabling, airflow management, and component replacement. The chassis is purpose-built to withstand persistent operation in high-demand environments, offering straightforward service access for drive swaps, card installation, and maintenance tasks.
• Ideal use cases and long-term value: Perfect for dense virtualization clusters, enterprise storage platforms, HPC-ready nodes, and multi-function servers, the 216BE1C-R920LPB delivers a scalable foundation that can adapt to evolving workloads. Organizations can consolidate compute, storage, and networking into a single, space-efficient chassis while preserving room for future upgrades. The combination of generous expansion, reliable power, and flexible motherboard support translates into strong total cost of ownership and dependable performance across a range of data-center scenarios.

Technical Details of Supermicro SuperChassis 216BE1C-R920LPB

• Form factor: 2U rack-mountable chassis
• Color: Black
• Power supplies: 2 x 920 W installed
• Motherboard compatibility: ATX, EATX
• Drive bays (external): 24 x external 5.25" bays
• Drive bays (external, secondary): 24 x external 2.5" bays
• Fan support: 8 x fans supported
• Expansion slots: 7 x slots
• Special note: Supports EATX motherboard to provide a significant number of PCI slots for diverse upgrade paths

How to install Supermicro SuperChassis 216BE1C-R920LPB

• Prepare your rack and workspace: Confirm rack clearance, power availability, and proper grounding. Ensure the rack rails are compatible with your enclosure and that you have the correct tools for mounting and cable management.
• Mount the chassis in the rack: Install the chassis into the rack using the provided rails or the appropriate mounting hardware. Align the chassis securely and tighten all mounting screws to prevent movement during operation.
• Install the motherboard and components: Open the chassis access panel and install your ATX or EATX motherboard per the motherboard’s manual. Attach CPU, memory, and any required expansion cards in accordance with the motherboard specification and PCIe slot requirements. Ensure proper standoffs and anti-static precautions during installation.
• Populate drives and add PCIe cards: Add storage controllers and PCIe cards to the available expansion slots to meet your performance and connectivity goals. Then install the 5.25" and 2.5" drives into their respective external bays as needed for your configuration, ensuring proper cabling and drive tray securing.
• Connect power, data, and cooling: Attach power cables from the two 920W supplies to the motherboard, storage controllers, and PCIe devices. Route data cables cleanly for airflow and accessibility. Verify all fans are connected and configured for proper cooling, and close the access panel securely before powering on.
• Power on and configure: Power up the system and enter the system BIOS/UEFI to configure boot devices, PCIe slot mappings, and any server management features. Install the operating system and drivers, and finalize your storage layout and RAID or NVMe configurations as required by your workload.

Frequently asked questions

• Does this chassis support EATX motherboards? Yes. The SuperChassis 216BE1C-R920LPB is designed to support ATX and EATX motherboards, offering flexibility for large PCIe configurations and expansive I/O options.
• What is the power supply configuration? The chassis ships with two 920W power supplies installed, providing redundant power to help maximize uptime for critical workloads.
• How many drive bays are available? It provides 24 external 5.25" bays and 24 external 2.5" bays, enabling extensive storage and drive-controller configurations for diverse data-center needs.
• How many PCIe expansion slots does it offer? The chassis includes 7 expansion slots, supporting multiple PCIe cards for networking, storage controllers, accelerators, and more.
• What is the form factor? It is a 2U rack-mountable chassis designed to fit standard 19-inch racks, balancing density with ease of installation and maintenance.