Networking equipment generate a lot of exhaust heat. Overheated equipment can be self-destructive, and uncontrolled temperature management can shorten their lifespan. The heat produced by such equipment can become so high, if left unmanaged, that parts of the equipment can melt!
There is no room for doubt – it is absolutely essential to plan an efficient cooling solution for your data center. In large, dedicated data centers, it will be feasible to opt for high-end air conditioning and set up hot- or cold- aisle containment. But what will you do if you have a small server room setup with a few equipment and limited resources?
Here are a few cost-effective tips to help you keep your cabinets cool in a small server room setup.
Opt for portable air conditioning
If you cannot afford to cool the entire room, get a portable air conditioner and set it up in front of your equipment. Remember, the hot exhaust usually emanates from the back of the equipment; so if you place the air conditioning at the back, both hot and cold air will mix, bringing down the effectiveness of the cooling solution.
Improve ventilation with fans
Fans can effectively improve ventilation within the cabinets, dissipate the hot air around your equipment. You can choose a cooling fan tray to be mounted on top of your racks – it will facilitate the quick and effective eviction of hot air from within your cabinets. You can also opt for cabinets that come with vented front doors and inbuilt high-speed enclosure blowers.
Choose server racks with perforated doors
It is important to ensure that server racks themselves do not interfere with the airflow in your data center. This is why server racks with perforated front and/or back doors are recommended.
Click here to know more on how to choose the right server rack for your needs.
Fill empty spaces with blanking panels
If you have empty rows within your data center racks, use blanking panels to close them. This is important to ensure that hot and cold air within the room do not mix, and optimum temperature is maintained. Using blanking panels is also an inexpensive way to improve the efficiency of cooling solutions and cut down on costs.
Continuously monitor and make adjustments
Every equipment has an acceptable temperature range which, when exceeded, can lead to node crashes, hardware failures, and gradual degradation. By installing a thermometer for manual monitoring or using a thermostat for automatic turning on/off of fans, you can maintain the ideal temperature within your server racks and network cabinets.
No two server rooms or data centers are the same. If you need help with choosing the right kind of racks and accessories or recommendations on how to plan your data center, get in touch with Hardy Racks today.