Designing a server closet from the ground up is the best way to keep your valuable computer equipment protected and keep your network up and running. An improperly designed server closet can cause all sorts of problems--including overheating and component failures--and that could result in a network that is unavailable and a business that loses money every minute the computers are down.
Air Conditioning Considerations
One of the most critical parts of designing a server closet is making sure sufficient air conditioning is in place. Servers and associated computer equipment produce a surprising amount of heat, and it is vital for that heat to be dissipated by a dedicated air conditioning unit. If you have a single rack of equipment in your server closet, you may be able to get away with one air conditioning unit, but if you plan to add equipment later on, it is best to add an additional unit. Having two dedicated air conditioning units in place will also provide the failover and redundancy you will need should one of the units go down. If the air conditioning were to fail, the temperature could quickly rise from the optimum range of 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit to 100 degrees or more, and that heat could cause permanent damage to your servers, routers, switches and other pieces of equipment.
Check the Space
When designing a server closet, you must allow sufficient space for both the servers themselves and the associated equipment you will need. Be sure to measure the space you have to work with, and sketch out where everything will go before you get started. Also measure the server racks you will use, and sketch out their proposed locations in the room. When designing your space, be sure to have sufficient space behind each piece of equipment so that you will be able to work on it as needed. Making the space too tight and failing to leave sufficient space at both the front and the back of each server will make it difficult to service equipment, and it could also cause excessive heat to build up and damage those fragile components.
Leave Room for Growth
You may think you have all the servers, routers, switches and other equipment you will ever need, but chances are you are wrong. As the business grows, its need for computer equipment will grow as well, and it is important for the server closet you design to grow with the needs of the business. When you bring in your rack and start loading in the equipment, check to see how much space is still available. If the rack is nearly full, you will want to make sure you have enough space in the closet for a second rack, if and when one is needed.
Tags: server closet, computer equipment, equipment will, sufficient space, conditioning unit, dedicated conditioning, keep your
