Reintroduce the concept of rack groups

[jeremystretch]

NetBox version

v4.4.8

Feature type

Data model extension

Proposed functionality

Introduce a "new" RackGroup model that can be used to group racks by their physical placement. This would be a flat organizational model similar to RackRole that serves merely as another dimension of categorization. The Rack model would be extended with a nullable ForeignKey to RackGroup.

("New" is in quotes here because NetBox previously had a RackGroup model, which became the Location model way back in NetBox v2.11.)

The RackGroup model could also function as a scope for a VLANGroup, to help better model L2 domains spanning rows or pairs of racks.

Use case

This would afford users (particularly datacenter operators) a secondary means beside Location to organize their racks. This can be helpful because a DC operator might want to group racks by row, for example, but still assign the racks in several rows to the same location (e.g. a cage or room).

Database changes

• Introduce a new RackGroup model subclassing OrganizationalModel with no additional fields
• Add a nullable (optional) ForeignKey on Rack pointing to RackGroup
• Add the RackGroup model to VLANGROUP_SCOPE_TYPES

External dependencies

N/A