GuideData centres
Server room checklist: power, cooling, security and monitoring
By Inara Crest Engineering 1 min read
A practical checklist for turning a room with servers in it into a server room you can rely on.
Many organisations host their own systems in a room that was never designed for it. Use this checklist to find the gaps.
Power
- Dedicated circuit for the room, not shared with office equipment.
- UPS sized for the load with headroom, and tested.
- Generator or plan for longer outages, if systems must keep running.
- Rack power distribution with enough outlets, ideally on two feeds.
Cooling
- Cooling sized for the actual heat load, running when the office is closed.
- Temperature and humidity monitored, with alerts.
- Blanking panels in empty rack spaces to stop hot air recirculating.
Physical security
- Lockable door with controlled access and a record of who entered.
- CCTV covering the entrance.
- No storage of boxes, cleaning materials or other equipment in the room.
Fire
- Smoke detection connected to the building alarm.
- Appropriate extinguishers, and a plan for suppression that does not destroy equipment.
Cabling and labelling
- Structured cabling, labelled at both ends.
- Rack diagrams kept up to date.
Monitoring and documentation
- Alerts for power, temperature, water leaks and device failures sent to someone who will act.
- Documentation of every device, its owner and support contract.
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About the author
Inara Crest Engineering
Engineering team
Written by the Inara Crest Technologies engineering team, who design, install and support software, network, security, power and data centre systems for organisations in Kenya and East Africa.