Is your server in a closet? If so, check out this summertime warning...
Confusion. Dizziness. Muscle cramps. Fatigue. These are a few of the early signs of heat exhaustion in humans. But did you know that your SERVER can also suffer from heat exhaustion and “meltdown,” causing slowness, blue screens, random reboots and other problems? If you keep your server in a closed closet or other small, confined space, here are three things you need to address during hot summer months to avoid premature loss of your equipment and data.
Room Temperature. Server rooms should be kept between 68° and 72° Fahrenheit (20°-22° Celsius). If you keep your server in a closet with a closed door, the heat emitted will quickly elevate the temperature to levels that will damage hardware. Consider opening the door or putting in a good exhaust fan to pull the hot air out. If that doesn't solve the problem, we can recommend small A/C units to get the temperature down.
Ventilation. Good airflow is critical for maintaining a safe room temperature and reducing dust, the next culprit that causes damage to computers, servers, phone systems, and other electronic gear.
Dust. Perhaps more dangerous than room temperature is dust. Dust acts as insulation, and it traps the heat generated by your computer components. If you smoke or have pets in the office (don't laugh, we've seen this more often than you'd think), problems with dust grow exponentially. Make sure your hardware is clean and cool for maximum efficiency and lifespan.
Computer hardware is expensive, and unexpected downtime is incredibly frustrating. If you want to extend the life of your equipment and avoid the meltdown, make sure your server closet is set up correctly. Proper cooling and cleanliness can add a year or more to the life of your server!
Bonus Tip: Look around your server room for other potential problems that may not seem quite so obvious. Examples of issues are water heaters or plumbing pipes (can you say "flooding"), exterior window access (can you say "security"), or extreme messiness (we've seen phone providers or ISP vendors unplug the wrong cable and bring down an entire office more than one time due to messy cabling).
If you need help, give us a call for a FREE Summer Server Room Check at 228-273-4877. We’ll be glad to do a free evaluation on your server closet or room and let you know if you’re at risk of heat exhaustion and dust damage.
