Multiple good #2 Phillips. Don't overtighten. Variety of cable ties and good quality pocket-size diagonal cutters. Don't cinch down on cable ties. I use other screw bits but rarely, so just a handle + quality bit kit + other bits (if Torx, get a couple of the tiny ones, too). Always use the right bit. Cage nuts and screws, plus small containers to segregate them by size. Antistatic mat or at least a good wrist strap Labeller and a variety of tapes. Better labellers can do sequences and not waste tape but cost more. White artist tape and Sharpies (always, *always* label things, no matter how temporarily. This is for "temporary" labels) A few different flashlights and spare batteries (one that clips on and bends is nice for DIMM swaps, also get a bigger/broader one, and maybe one or two cheapie LED penlights) Lots of pens and notepads (they walk away) for writing down serial numbers or drawing things behind the racks Barcode app for your smart phone, and take lots of pictures anyway. Take pictures when you have a system open. Take pictures of front & back so you can describe over the phone where to connect something when you're handholding from far away. A few USB keys, always keep one with a bootable recovery system Shipping tape (for RMAs) Tak-Tape (Thin velcro tape. Look it up, buy some. Trust me.) Scissors (for boxes, tape), maybe an x-acto (or just use your multitool's blade. You do already have a multitool and keep it sharp?) Small but steady folding ladder Ear plugs or noise-cancelling headphones if needed A Kill-a-watt if your power strips don't meter, maybe a multimeter Cheapie serial breakout box and adapters if you have serial ports (ugh) A couple of big fans and even a USB thermometer if your A/C is iffy (but monitor system sensors anyway) Small broom and dustpan or know where the janitors keep them
All that should be around budget. Label stuff as belonging in the server room or it will walk.
Good cable testers (that test more than just connectivity) and TDRs get expensive. If you can afford one, fine, but possibly better to just spend more for professionally-made pre-labelled (serial numbered) cables (seriously, Cat5 and over are hard for an amateur to build to spec, and who wants to build enough to be good at it?). I'm not fond of powered screwdrivers unless I'm racking a lot of systems at once because screws easily end up overtightened and stripped, and you have 50 systems total so I don't imagine you do.
Don't lend tools, or else keep a parallel set of terrible ones for lending. They'll use a #1 Phillips for a #2 screw, and your flat screwdriver will be a prybar.
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This one speaks wisdom. My list is similar:
Multiple good #2 Phillips. Don't overtighten.
Variety of cable ties and good quality pocket-size diagonal cutters. Don't cinch down on cable ties.
I use other screw bits but rarely, so just a handle + quality bit kit + other bits (if Torx, get a couple of the tiny ones, too). Always use the right bit.
Cage nuts and screws, plus small containers to segregate them by size.
Antistatic mat or at least a good wrist strap
Labeller and a variety of tapes. Better labellers can do sequences and not waste tape but cost more.
White artist tape and Sharpies (always, *always* label things, no matter how temporarily. This is for "temporary" labels)
A few different flashlights and spare batteries (one that clips on and bends is nice for DIMM swaps, also get a bigger/broader one, and maybe one or two cheapie LED penlights)
Lots of pens and notepads (they walk away) for writing down serial numbers or drawing things behind the racks
Barcode app for your smart phone, and take lots of pictures anyway. Take pictures when you have a system open. Take pictures of front & back so you can describe over the phone where to connect something when you're handholding from far away.
A few USB keys, always keep one with a bootable recovery system
Shipping tape (for RMAs)
Tak-Tape (Thin velcro tape. Look it up, buy some. Trust me.)
Scissors (for boxes, tape), maybe an x-acto (or just use your multitool's blade. You do already have a multitool and keep it sharp?)
Small but steady folding ladder
Ear plugs or noise-cancelling headphones if needed
A Kill-a-watt if your power strips don't meter, maybe a multimeter
Cheapie serial breakout box and adapters if you have serial ports (ugh)
A couple of big fans and even a USB thermometer if your A/C is iffy (but monitor system sensors anyway)
Small broom and dustpan or know where the janitors keep them
All that should be around budget. Label stuff as belonging in the server room or it will walk.
Good cable testers (that test more than just connectivity) and TDRs get expensive. If you can afford one, fine, but possibly better to just spend more for professionally-made pre-labelled (serial numbered) cables (seriously, Cat5 and over are hard for an amateur to build to spec, and who wants to build enough to be good at it?). I'm not fond of powered screwdrivers unless I'm racking a lot of systems at once because screws easily end up overtightened and stripped, and you have 50 systems total so I don't imagine you do.
Don't lend tools, or else keep a parallel set of terrible ones for lending. They'll use a #1 Phillips for a #2 screw, and your flat screwdriver will be a prybar.