If your business has a new small server room, you’ll have to keep a few key considerations in mind. A couple ladder racks for proper cable management and two split-style air conditioning systems will offer your data center the proper capacity and airflow.
You should consider instituting a cold aisle and a hot aisle with ample server racks to keep equipment cool, cables free and energy bills low. If you have the money, a central air conditioning system with separate source and return points will be ideal. There should also be fire protection like FM200 and a means of humidity control.
In terms of the network and power, you’ll need UPS, cable management solutions like ladder racks or raised floors and patch panels from the network equipment to top of rack. If you are going with two post racks, make sure that cable management solutions can be implemented along the sides of the rack.
For systems administration, you’ll need a KVM station with a monitor and mouse and keyboard for staging and troubleshooting. Ideally, you’ll have a full workstation installed to perform work from inside of the small server room. Keep in mind that you’ll need a space for your boxes, inventory and parts. So dedicate a storage space and purchase some shelves and bins to store all of your server room sundries so that they can be quickly accessed.
In terms of supplies, you’ll need a console cable, hook-and-loop straps, scissors, cable ties and a shelf next to the terminal station. A whiteboard will come in handy so that you can make sketches, write down notes, perform planning and document other activities while in the area. A label maker will also be helpful so that you can create labels for business purposes and label the cables in your small server room.
Don’t forget about securing your small server room’s valuables. You should implement measures for controlled and logged access by way of badges and/or passwords. You might even want to create keys for the room with strong locks. Make sure to install a video camera outside of the small server room door for continuous video surveillance.
The feed should be backed up outside of the DC just in case the surveillance server is stolen. Ideally, you’ll be able to link the camera with a smart card access system so that the date, time and identification of each person who enters is recorded before and after he swipes his card for entry. Make sure that to implement root/console/ILO passwords on everything. This way, a thief won’t be able to access everything in your small server room and create total chaos for your business.