A 42U replacement opens up several solid GAW options, depending on what's actually driving the change.
For a standard installation with no height restrictions, our default recommendation is to size up slightly rather than match 42U exactly.
General Recommendation: GAW 44U
View the GAW 40U / 44U cabinet
The jump from 42U to 44U is modest, but those two extra rack units add meaningful flexibility for future equipment.
If the added height isn't an issue on-site, there's little reason to leave that capacity on the table — which makes the GAW 44U the most common replacement path for former LINIER users.
Side panels, door type, and cabinet depth are all configured on the product page for your convenience.
If Cable Management Is the Real Problem
Not every replacement is about rack units. Sometimes the issue is a cabinet that can no longer keep pace with dense, growing cabling.
In that case, look at the GAW CableMAX.
CableMAX is worth considering any time the replacement is really an opportunity to improve cable organization and serviceability, not just add capacity. Full configuration details are on its product page.
If the Equipment Itself Has Changed
When the gear going into the new cabinet is deeper, heavier, or higher-density than what the original Kendall Howard cabinet was built for, the GAW Cloud Cabinet is worth a look.
This matters most when today's equipment looks nothing like what the old cabinet was originally sized for. The better question isn't "what looks like my old rack?" — it's "what fits the equipment I'm installing now?"
The Short Version
- Standard installation, vertical room available: GAW 44U
- Cable-intensive application: GAW CableMAX
- Higher-density or heavier equipment: GAW Cloud Cabinet
- Hard physical constraints: GAW engineering review
That should be enough to point most customers to the right next step without digging through full spec sheets first.
Why Customers Choose GAW for Replacements
GAW manufactures in the United States, giving customers a domestic partner that can support standard, semi-custom, and custom builds when needed.
That domestic manufacturing base is also what makes the One Box Solution possible — cable management and other accessories are assembled into your semi-custom or custom cabinet before it ships, so it arrives in a single box, ready to install, with no extra assembly and no delays waiting on separate shipments.
Add accessories to a GAW-manufactured cabinet or rack (seismic included) and the GAW Advantage Program installs them for you at no extra cost. Setup is tool-less, so once the cabinet is in place, it can be deployed in minutes.
GAW is also a WBENC-certified woman-owned business, an added value for companies, institutions, and government organizations with supplier-diversity programs.
The point isn't just steering you to another cabinet — it's matching you to the GAW platform that fits how the rack will actually be used.
Most 42U replacements:
Start with GAW 44U.
Move to CableMAX or Cloud Cabinet when the application calls for it.
View the GAW 40U / 44U cabinet
For the broader decision framework, see the Kendall Howard LINIER Server Rack Replacement Guide.