Uniform equipment mounting system

A method for operating an assembly fixture to install mounting hardware on a piece of electronic equipment prior to mounting said piece of electronic equipment in an equipment rack, comprising:

• providing said assembly fixture, said assembly fixture comprising:
• first and second rail mounts, wherein at least a portion of the first rail mount is parallel to a portion of the second rail mount, wherein a distance between said portions of said first and second rail mounts corresponds to a mounting width defined by a distance between a pair of rail assemblies of said equipment rack;
• a base;
• and
• a deck supported by said base, said deck comprising a platform;
• placing said piece of electronic equipment on said platform;
• centering said piece of electronic equipment on said platform to align said piece of electronic equipment with a reference axis disposed equidistant between and parallel to said portions of said first and second rail mounts;
• removably attaching a first mounting structure to said first rail mount and a second mounting structure to said second rail mount;
• first installing a first bracket connecting a first side of said piece of electronic equipment to said first mounting structure;
• second installing a second bracket connecting a second side of said piece of electronic equipment opposite said first side to said second mounting structure, wherein said platform is disposed in relation to said first and second rail mounts such that a mounting elevation of said piece of electronic equipment is vertically aligned with an attachment mechanism of each of said first and second mounting structures;
• removing said piece of electronic equipment from said assembly fixture with said first and second brackets and said first and second mounting structures interconnected to said piece of electronic equipment such that a distance between said first and second mounting structures corresponds to said mounting width.