Data storage enclosure with a stop slot

A system comprising:

• a data storage device physically connected between first and second rails, each rail having a rail width and first and second protrusions offset from one another, each protrusion having a protrusion width less than the rail width, the first protrusion having a capture post shaped to connect to the data storage device, each rail having a retention post cantilevered from opposite sides of the respective rails and extending perpendicular to the capture post;
• first and second enclosure drive supports each having first and second slots, each slot having a channel shaped to retain one of the respective rails with the second protrusion of the respective rails, the first and second rails collectively occupying the first slot of the first and second enclosure drive supports;
• and
• a cooling device physically connected between third and fourth rails, the cooling device separated from the data storage device and occupying the second slot.

A method comprising:

• inserting a retention post of a rail into an enclosure slot, the rail having a rail width;
• attaching a data storage device to a first protrusion of the rail;
• restricting movement of the rail within the enclosure slot with a second protrusion of the rail, the first and second protrusions being offset from one another and each having a smaller width than the rail width, the rail retained in the enclosure slot by a retention post cantilevered from opposite sides of the rail along a direction parallel to the rail width;
• and
• establishing an electrical connection between the data storage device and a connector while the rail is retained in the enclosure slot.