OCP Rack & Power

OCP Rack & Power is a hardware specification and set of open designs from the Open Compute Project that define rack mechanics, power architectures, and power distribution infrastructure for data centers (data center infrastructure).

• Open rack mechanical specifications for equipment mounting, dimensions, and physical interfaces (data center infrastructure).
• Open power architectures, including centralized Dual Connectivity (DC) power delivery and distribution schemes for IT equipment (power distribution).
• Standardized power shelves, bus bars, and related components for rack-level power delivery (power distribution hardware).
• Guidelines for interoperability of IT gear, racks, and power systems within OCP-compliant data centers (interoperability framework).
• Design contributions and reference implementations for vendors and operators adopting OCP-compliant rack and power solutions (hardware reference designs).

More About OCP Rack & Power

OCP Rack & Power is a project within the Open Compute Project that focuses on open specifications and reference designs for data center racks and associated power delivery infrastructure (data center infrastructure). Its scope covers mechanical aspects of racks, the electrical design of power distribution within and between racks, and the interfaces that allow IT equipment from multiple suppliers to operate within a common physical and electrical environment.

The project defines open rack mechanical specifications, including dimensions, mounting schemes, and structural features required to host OCP-compliant IT equipment such as servers, storage, and networking devices (mechanical infrastructure). These specifications differ from conventional 19-inch rack formats and are intended to support higher power densities and serviceability. The mechanical designs are published as open documentation and enable manufacturers to build compatible racks and enclosures.

On the electrical side, OCP Rack & Power specifies power architectures that commonly use centralized AC-to-DC conversion at the rack or row level, followed by DC distribution to IT equipment (power distribution). Designs frequently incorporate power shelves, bus bars, and connectors that provide standardized voltage levels and current capacities. The goal is to establish predictable electrical characteristics and interfaces so that IT gear can be designed around a known power environment, simplifying integration and deployment.

Reference designs within the project include power shelves and distribution components that fit the mechanical rack standards (hardware reference designs). These documents describe how rectifiers, battery backup units in some configurations, and distribution modules are arranged to deliver power to server or storage sleds. Vendors can adopt these reference designs as a baseline for products, while operators can use them as input for capacity planning, redundancy strategies, and safety reviews.

Enterprises and hyperscale operators use OCP Rack & Power specifications when building OCP-compliant data halls or integrating OCP hardware into existing facilities (data center design). The shared specifications enable interoperability between racks, power equipment, and IT gear from multiple suppliers, which can simplify sourcing and lifecycle management. Because the designs are published under the Open Compute Project, organizations can review mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, and interface definitions in detail during engineering and procurement processes.

Within a technical taxonomy, OCP Rack & Power belongs to the category of open hardware standards for data center physical infrastructure, specifically rack systems and power distribution (hardware standard). It intersects with other OCP projects that define server, storage, and networking hardware that physically install into these racks and draw power from the standardized distribution systems. This alignment allows enterprises to plan end-to-end OCP deployments that combine IT hardware designs with consistent rack and power building blocks.