---
title: "Record rack elevations"
description: "Record which devices are mounted where in each of a client's racks, front and rear, and draw and export the rack elevation."
url: "https://support.outpostplatform.com/network-maps/racks/"
product: "depot"
type: "how-to"
status: "draft"
ai_summary: "Racks in Outpost network maps: create a rack (name, site, height 1 to 60U, notes) on the Diagrams tab, place endpoints, discovered devices, documented assets, and blank panels by U position, height, and front or rear face, see the elevation, and export it as drawio, png, svg, or vsdx. The map's device details show the rack and U. Needs network_map:edit."
availability:
  plans: ["home-lab", "essentials", "enterprise", "msp"]
  permission: "network_map:edit"
  preview: false
source: "https://gitlab.com/outpostplatform/docs/-/edit/main/src/content/docs/network-maps/racks.md"
license: "CC BY 4.0"
---

# Record rack elevations

A rack in Outpost records what is mounted in one of a client's racks and
where: each device's U position and height, on the front or the rear. Outpost
draws the rack's elevation from it, and the network map shows each placed
device's rack and U, so a technician on site knows where to look.

Racks are on the **Diagrams** tab of **Endpoints** > **Network map**, under
**Racks**.

## Before you begin

- Viewing racks needs `discovery:read`. Creating, changing, and deleting them
  needs `network_map:edit`.
- A device you place must be on the client's network map: an endpoint, a
  device network discovery found, or a documented asset. Anything else can be
  a labeled blank panel.

## Create a rack

1. On **Endpoints** > **Network map**, select the **Diagrams** tab.
2. Under **Racks**, select **New rack**.
3. Enter a **Name**, up to 80 characters.
4. Optional: choose the **Site** the rack is in.
5. Enter the **Height in U**, from 1 to 60.
6. Optional: enter **Notes**, such as the room or the rack's asset tag.
7. Select **Make the rack**.

The rack opens on its own page.

## Place devices

U numbers count from 1 at the bottom of the rack. A device's position is the
lowest U it occupies.

1. Under **Placements**, select **Add a device**, or **Add a blank panel** for
   a patch panel, shelf, or anything else Outpost does not know.
2. In the new row, choose the device under **Device**. For a blank panel,
   enter its **Label**, up to 80 characters.
3. Enter the **U position** and the **Height (U)**, from 1 to 20.
4. Choose the **Face**: **Front** or **Rear**.
5. Repeat for every device, then select **Save placements**.

The **Elevation** shows the rack as you edit, including changes you have not
saved yet. Rows that overlap on the same face, or run past the top of the
rack, are outlined, and Outpost refuses to save them, naming the device in
the way. Every blank panel needs a label. **Undo changes** returns to the
last saved placements.

Saving replaces the rack's whole list of placements. To take a device out,
select **Remove** on its row and save.

## Find a device's rack from the map

Select a placed device on the network map. Its details show **Rack:** with the
rack's name and its units, such as **Rack A, U12-13**, and **(rear)** for a
rear placement. Select it to open the rack.

## Change or delete a rack

- **Change it.** Under **Details**, change the **Name**, **Site**, **Height in
  U**, or **Notes**, then select **Save details**.
- **Delete it.** Under **Delete**, select **Delete rack**, then confirm. The
  rack and its placements are deleted. The devices themselves are not
  touched.

## Export the elevation

Select **Export** on the rack's page and choose **draw.io (.drawio)**,
**Image (.png)**, **Vector image (.svg)**, or **Visio (.vsdx)**. The export
draws the front and rear elevations with U numbers. The .drawio file uses
draw.io's rack shapes. See [Export network maps and diagrams](/network-maps/export/).

## Verify

On the **Diagrams** tab, **Racks** lists the rack with its **Height** and the
number **Placed**. On the network map, a placed device's details show its
rack.

## If something goes wrong

| Symptom | Fix |
| --- | --- |
| **Add a device** is unavailable, with **The map has no devices with a record to place** | Network discovery has found nothing for this client yet. Add a blank panel, or turn on discovery. |
| **Some rows overlap on the same face or run past the top of the rack.** | Change the outlined rows' **U position** or **Height (U)**, or move one to the other face. |
| Saving names another device in the way | Another device already occupies those units on that face. Move one of them. |

## Next steps

- [Use the network map](/network-maps/use-the-map/)
- [Keep documented network diagrams](/network-maps/documented-diagrams/)