Unfortunately and in many cases, it takes a server room disaster for companies to start taking their data management seriously. What makes it worse – is that it’s almost entirely preventable all the time. Before the worst happens, there are steps you can take to both monitor and address challenges that you and your server room are almost bound to face at one time or another.
Today’s blog is going to be about precisely that. Common server problems that businesses should not only prepare for, but actively manage. Let’s jump right in!
Poor temperature control
In order for your server space to work optimally, it needs to have the right physical conditions. Of those conditions – the most important is the temperature of the space, itself. If there’s too much heat, you can damage your equipment. Ideally, you’ll want to keep your room somewhere in the neighborhood of 68-72 degrees.
In addition to the temperature inside the room, you should account for the temperature outside it as well – as it can have an impact on the internal temperature of your server space. Things like sunlight, windows, how close the room is to the outside of the building – can all impact the heat within the room. Make sure that you can control the room temperature inside your server room separately from the rest of your facility.
Poor ventilation
Additionally, you’ll want to make sure that there’s space around your equipment for air to circulate freely. The temperature will rise when equipment is too close together and there isn’t enough room or area for heat to escape. This is particularly bad for things like data backup and data storage as they tend to generate quite a bit of heat.
Make sure you put servers in the racks they were intended to be in, or better yet – hire a pro who can lay the room out properly for you.
Clutter
How many server rooms have you walked into that look like this: cluttered wires, scattered servers, old batteries, debris on the floor and plenty of dust? We’re willing to bet that’s half of the server rooms you’ve seen. And make no mistake – this is bad. Not only is this not clean – but this is no way to keep a space that contains the information that quite literally supports your business.
Your server room should be neat and orderly. Not only to manage things like temperature, but a clean, well designed room will allow your equipment to last longer and operate more efficiently and even in the event that it doesn’t – service technicians will know exactly what they need to do and where to go in order to identify and address any potential issues that may arise.
Power devices
Power surges, blackouts, spikes and brownouts are simply just part of human existence, but when it comes to your server room, it can be a really big problem. Make sure that your system is covered by providing reliable power backup solutions – like a standalone generator or an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) device). In the event of any of these things happening, these devices will switch on, keeping the power flowing through your server room and thus protecting against severe damage and system failure.
That being said, these items will also need some attention on your part. Old UPS batteries should be placed and if your generator runs on fuel of any kind, you’ll need to make sure that it’s in good working order and fully stocked. No matter how your system may fail electrically – make sure that you have a solution ready to help cushion the blow.
Server rooms are like anything else in life – they need consistent, ongoing maintenance and attention in order to work optimally. But by simply being aware and casually checking in on these things from time to time, you’ll be way out ahead of any potential issues. If you’re looking for advice on how to get more out of your server room, give us a call and we’ll be happy to provide you with a free consultation. Good luck!