Tech/Hardware

Area for hardware related content

Rackmount

Tips and Tricks for rackmount stuffs, maybe even some datacentre tips.

rubber port blockers are handy in SFP and RJ45 ports
glass hinged doors are great for 2post racks with sensitive network equipment that has a switch on the front
for top of rack switches, leave a replacement space above so you can replace it fast
for zero unit PDUs make sure they are out of the way to enable racking something from the rear
put a coat rack near the door to hang hearing protection on
- earplugs can end up being tossed everywhere in the room so over the head earmuff style is better
put a no food/drink sign on the door
buy a rackmount-drawer or rolling-toolbox to keep screws, bolts, nuts, tools, and wire organization stuffs
keep testers for power, cabling in the room
use serial console servers
inspect grounding over time, people do silly things
add year-month to labels when labeling things
do not add holes to a datacentre, know your infil/exfil points (NTP GPS, Cellular backup links, etc)
- document on a poster on the wall
keep cold spares cold
buy shorter power cables when it makes sense, same with shorter network cables/fiber
dry run a switch replacement
cable management is not meant to hide 1m of cable, don't do it
if external power shutoff is required, use a paddle switch and not a lever switch (hanging a coat on a lever can cut power)
leave a unit open if equipment is over-sized, never force it