It starts with knowledge, but there’s a lot more to keeping your system optimal than that! From inspections and testing to DCIM tools and preventative measures, here’s what you can do to maintain your data center.
Know Your Manuals
There’s a manual for every piece of equipment in your data center, and the first step toward proper maintenance is reading those manuals. Having someone in your organization who knows all the error codes and telltale signs of equipment problems is the best way for your business to stay on top of potential issues before they occur.
Perform Regular Inspections and Tests
Keep records of maintenance and dates when parts of the servers are replaced, so you know when a power supply’s warranty is up. In addition, check your system’s viability by running regular inspections and tests on your hardware. When something isn’t functioning at peak efficiency, figure out where the bottleneck is coming from and address it before it becomes a larger problem.
Utilize DCIM Tools
A good data center infrastructure management platform (DCIM) will give your technicians the tools they need to view your data center’s performance and monitor where and when things may not function properly.
Preventative Care
Replacing equipment when its warranty expires effectively avoids servers dropping out unexpectedly. Replace power distribution units, air handlers, and uninterruptible power supply batteries on a regular schedule. Additionally, ensure your systems receive adequate cleaning— dust is poison to your servers.
When adding new servers or updating old ones, you should focus heavily on good cable management. Keeping every area of your data center uncluttered and easy to navigate will help as time goes on.
Now that you know what you can do to maintain your data center, have your technicians make any necessary changes and learn those manuals like the backs of their hands. The days of unplanned downtime and random crashes are gone!
