How to Mount a Network Switch or Mini PC Without a Rack

A small office or home network grows one box at a time: a switch, then a PoE switch for the cameras, then a mini PC that runs something important. None of it justifies a rack cabinet, and all of it ends up on the floor or balanced on a shelf. This guide covers how to mount a network switch or a mini PC on a wall or under a desk without a rack, and when you don't need to buy anything at all.

Short on time? Measure how thick your box is, rubber feet included, and pick the set:

Adjustable wall brackets for boxes 17 to 54mm thick

Adjustable brackets, 17–54mm

View the 17–54mm set
Large adjustable wall brackets for boxes 22 to 87mm thick

Large adjustable brackets, 22–87mm

View the 22–87mm set

First, check the back of your switch

Turn your switch over. Plenty of small desktop switches have two keyhole slots moulded into the base for wall mounting. If yours does, two screws in the wall are all you need, and you don't need brackets from us or anyone else.

Brackets earn their place when the switch has no keyholes, when the keyholes would put the ports facing the wrong way, or when you want it under a desk where hanging on keyholes isn't secure.

Mounting a network switch

  1. Measure its thickness. Small 5- and 8-port switches are typically 25–30mm. A TP-Link TL-SG108 is 25mm and a Netgear GS308 is 29mm, so both suit our 17–54mm adjustable brackets.
  2. Point the ports down or sideways. Ports facing down let the cables drop straight away without bending at the plug. That's the neatest look on a wall, and it keeps dust out of the sockets.
  3. Keep the lights visible. When something stops working, the link lights are the first thing you'll want to see. Mount it where you can.
  4. Mind the heat on PoE switches. A switch powering cameras or access points runs noticeably warmer. Leave its vents open to the room.
  5. Fit two brackets under one edge and one over the other, then tighten the thumbscrews by hand.
Set of three adjustable 3D-printed plastic wall brackets with spacers, screws and wall plugs, holding a CCTV recorder

Mars Outpost · 3 identical brackets

Adjustable Wall Brackets – 17–54mm

For boxes 17 to 54mm thick: most 1U CCTV recorders, routers, switches, mini PCs and set-top boxes. 3D-printed PETG plastic, with spacers, screws and wall plugs in the set.

View the 17–54mm set

Mounting a mini PC without VESA

Many mini PCs come with a VESA plate, and it only helps if you're hanging the PC on the back of a monitor with VESA holes. On a wall, under a desk, or behind a monitor without VESA mounts, the plate is no use.

Our brackets aren't a VESA mount. They clamp the PC's case directly to any flat surface. A Lenovo ThinkCentre M70q Tiny, for example, is 36.5mm thick, which is mid-range for the standard set. Before you fit it:

  • Find the air intake and exhaust. Mini PCs pack a lot of heat into a small case. Keep both clear and don't clamp the vented side against the wall.
  • Leave the power button reachable, and the front USB ports if you use them.
  • Watch Wi-Fi on the PC. If it uses Wi-Fi rather than a cable, keep it away from metal desk frames, for the same reasons as a router.

When a rack is the better answer

Brackets suit one, two or three boxes. If you're heading for a patch panel, several switches and a UPS, buy a small wall cabinet and rack-mount kit. Patch panels in particular are rack equipment, and our brackets aren't a substitute for one. Clamp brackets are for the far more common case: a couple of boxes, no rack and no wish to buy one.

Set of three large adjustable 3D-printed plastic wall brackets holding a deep CCTV recorder

Mars Outpost · 3 identical brackets

Large Adjustable Wall Brackets – 22–87mm

For deeper boxes, 22 to 87mm thick: multi-drive NVRs, chunkier routers and anything the standard set can't reach around. Same PETG plastic, same complete fixing kit.

View the 22–87mm set

Frequently asked questions

Can I mount a switch and a mini PC with one set?

No. A set of three brackets holds one box. Two boxes need two sets, and they can be different sizes.

Will it hold a 16- or 24-port desktop switch?

If it's within the thickness range, yes. The three brackets are separate, so you spread them out along a long switch instead of trying to fit it into a fixed-width cradle. Larger switches are often 1U rack-width units around 44mm thick, which fit either set. Check its thickness, and its keyholes, first.

Is it a VESA mount?

No. It clamps the case to a wall or the underside of a desk. If you want the PC on the back of a VESA monitor, use the plate that came with it.

Are the brackets metal?

No, they're 3D-printed in PETG plastic and rigid once fitted. We'd rather say that up front than have you expect steel.

Related guides

Brackets for switches, recorders, routers and mini PCs are in For Security & Data Systems. UK orders are 3D-printed and dispatched from our family workshop in Bristol.

Need a mount for something oddly shaped? We take on custom design and printing work.

TP-Link, Netgear and Lenovo ThinkCentre are trademarks of their respective owners. Mars Outpost is not affiliated with any of them.

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