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Outfitting a Brand New Datacenter?
An anonymous reader writes "We completed our new 4,000 sq. ft. data center (Tier II/III, according to The Uptime Institute) and just recently moved our core systems from our old data center to the new. We've been up and running for several months now and I'm preparing to close out the project. The last piece is to purchase some accessories and tools for the new location. The short list so far consists of a Server Lift, a few extra floor tile pullers, flashlights and a crash cart. We'll also add to the tools in the toolbox located in one of the auxiliary rooms — these things seem to have legs! What are we missing? Where can we find crash carts set up more for a data center environment (beyond the utility cart with and LCD, keyboard, and mouse strapped to it)?"
Ear protection
O2 masks for when the Halon drops
arrows on the floor directing people to the nearest exit
a 'Battleship' style row/column marker for every row/column of racks
near-Draconian access control policies
I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
At the DC I work at we have a crap load of extra gear. Make sure you have one emergcy kit in your core room, ensure that no one is to use it unless it is an emergmcy. The kit should have but not limited to the following: screw drivers mounting screws/cage nuts knife (a Leatherman multi-tool) spare patch/cross-over cables (Copper) (various length) spare fibre patch cables (Various length) Cable tester (Copper/fibre) couplers for fibre fibre cleaning kits Patch panel punch tool spare hard ware for core gear We have more gear however i'm drawing a bit of a blank as I haven't needed to look at the kit for a while.
...a time machine, preferably in a Faraday cage (to shield your data center from unwanted interference), so you can implement the necessary changes a couple of months ago.
I've seen several good suggestions already with specific suggestions on tools or parts. Start with those. My suggestion is quite simple, actually: Why GUESS what you need, when you can find out for sure?
Tear down one ENTIRE rack. (Or several, if they have any variations.)
Now, look at this big pile of parts in front of you and imagine what you would do WHEN *ANY* one of them breaks.
Get several spares for each of those parts and put into the cart.
Whatever tools you needed for disassembly, put into a crash cart.
Then make another, identical cart. When the brown stuff hits the spinnie thingie, and multiple systems are down, the last thing you want to be doing is fighting over tools. Get spares of EVERYTHING so at least TWO people can work on things at the same time! You'll thank me when there's two of you trying to work on both sides of a rack.
NOTE: Be sure to inventory what you put into each cart! Tools have a way of growing legs and you want to be able to check and make sure that you STILL have ALL the tools.
And please consider getting a big-ass UPS for your cart (At least 1KVA). If your power is wonky, you want to be sure your cart's equipment (laptop, hub, switch, router, etc.) won't be flaking out as the power comes and goes. Even with the power out, you can plug one server into the UPS and restore/repair it while the power is still out. While you're at it, also get some LONG extension cords (100-foot) made of AT LEAST 12-gauge wire. Plug the UPS into the extension cord.
Think you're all set? Now, using ONLY the tools on ONE crash cart, put the rack back together. With the power out. (i.e. no mains)
When you have done this, not only will you be CERTAIN that you have all the tools you needed to [re]assemble everything, you'll actually have done so and will have run into (hopefully) most of the problems that you could encounter.
That's it off the top of my head. Best of luck to you! P.S. One last thing: MANY rolls of Duct Tape! <grin>