A physical server room seems like a piece of infrastructure, but it’s an expensive and valuable resource that your business depends on it in many ways. It works like the heart for your business pumps blood to the other key organs and limbs your business needs to function correctly.
How to build a Server Room
It’s essential to keep your server room clean and efficient for its proper functioning. Here are a few tips
1. Be Strategic With Location
The very first thing that you need to consider is location. Whatever the size of the server room, you can not select any random or convenient place as your server room.
You have to consider many factors, like never placing your server room near exterior walls or windows because there may be a security threat. Secondly, extreme temperatures and/or natural disasters can affect server room equipment.
2. Think About the Size
While placing your server room for the first time, always keep the size and scalability in mind. As your business grows, your server room will also keep growing and need upgrades. So, keep in mind that you will need double the space in almost five years. Leaving sufficient room for growth will prove to be highly beneficial.
3. Carefully Monitor Temperature
Temperature is considered the most crucial factor for the proper functioning of a server room. A temperature between 65 to 80 degrees (humidity 45%-50%) is considered optimal for a server room.
If the air temperature is regularly in the mid-80s or higher, you’ll need to take action to ensure the lifespan of your equipment is maintained.
4. Use the Right Equipment
While starting a new business, you will go with stacking hardware on desks and shelves. But when your business grows, you will be adding more equipment, and now you will need a proper server room with covered equipment because exposed equipment creates many problems.
5. Be Systematic With Cord Organization
There are hundreds of cords connecting various devices and outlets to other equipment, making it simple for wires to become tangled, knotted, and misplaced. The better off you’ll be with cord organization, the more careful you are.
The best cable management practices include keeping cords short, labeling them on both ends, and using colored cable runs to aid in distinguishing between different types of cables.
6. Keep it Spotless
A tidy server room says a lot about your company. Additionally, it promotes optimal effectiveness and performance. Maintain control of the mess and give your server room a weekly once-over rather than waiting for one major spring cleaning each year.
The major problem is dust. Any dust that gathers on the equipment’s exterior will eventually make its way inside. Over time, this could lead to serious performance problems. In addition to wiping down the equipment, you should also clean the inside of your gear with pressurized air.
Putting it All Together
It’s easy to forget about practical considerations when you’re preoccupied with the technical aspects of managing an IT department. Make sure you give the location, size, temperature, equipment selection, cleanliness, and cleanliness priority when it comes to your server room. By doing this, you’ll benefit from an effective and affordable IT infrastructure that helps your company grow.