Location-aware inventory, configuration, and management of electronic devices

A system comprising:

• a data center rack having a left vertical flange and a right vertical flange, the data center rack divided into a plurality of U positions, wherein each U position is spaced in groups of three holes provided in the left vertical flange and the right vertical flange, wherein the holes enable mounting of electronic devices in the data center rack;
• and
• a shim attached to an outside surface of a vertical flange of the data center rack at the U position, the shim including an upper hole and a lower hole which align with a top hole and a bottom hole, respectively, of a three-hole group provided for the U position, wherein the shim does not alter the function and usability of the data center rack when attached to the data center rack;
• an optically readable label provided via the shim, wherein the optically readable label encodes location identifying information that can be accessed by an optical reader.

A system comprising:

• a data center rack having a left vertical flange and a right vertical flange, the data center rack divided into a plurality of U positions, wherein each U position is spaced in groups of three holes provided in the left vertical flange and the right vertical flange, wherein the holes enable mounting of electronic devices in the data center rack;
• and
• an optically readable label provided via a shim attached to a front mounting bracket of a rack rail installed at a U position of the plurality of U positions and on an outside-facing surface of the data center rack, wherein the optically readable label encodes location identifying information that can be accessed by an optical reader;
• wherein the shim does not alter the function and usability of the rack rail;
• further wherein the shim includes a shim extension extending outwardly from a side of the shim, the shim extension having another optically readable label applied thereto.