How Computer Managers Cope With The Ever Shrinking Server Room

By Author: Robert Bell
Total Articles: 3698
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Most businesses insist on packing the server room with as much technology as possible. As technology advances, small businesses have to embrace new technology, with most small businesses the idea of a server room, is just a glorified broom cupboard.

The computer room initially starts off with a high powered computer that acts as the server, this is fine until more and more servers are needed to control different aspects of the business. With the increased number of servers in a small room, the heat that is given out by the computers and monitors increases too. There are ways to control this.

1.Use a KVM (Keyboard, Video and Mouse) switch; this can control multiple servers that are daisy chained together through 1 monitor, keyboard and mouse. This saves space, extra costs on air conditioning and the extra investment for the equipment.

2.Use 19 inch rack mount servers, these fit into a rack mount cabinet that normally has a footprint of 600 mm wide x 1000 mm deep and come in different heights. These servers normally are more expensive.

Also, the computermanager needs an area were he or she can work, ...
... with room for manuals etc, for software and hardware upgrades. However there are companies that specialise in planning server rooms, one such company is Computer Security & Solutions.

They have undertaken many projects in major cities in the UK, including London, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh and Glasgow, were office space is at a premium, so the more technology they can fit into a square metre, the more efficient the server room is and most important, more affordable for the client. The computer room is the backbone of any successful business, so it needs the right approach.

They did a study for a financial establishment in London and found they could accommodate 16 servers, 1 monitor and keyboard complete with a working area in a footprint of 1200 mm x 700 mm, with a total area of 0.84 M2. Comparing this with previous the original footprint of 3200 mm x 900 mm, 2.88 M2. The annual cost per square metre of office space, was $2544, saving the company over $5,000 in the first year.

By storing the servers, computers, monitors and keyboards in free space above the work surface, this frees up actual square footage in the office. The LAN racking units could also be placed in an open office, however this is not ideal, as any employee could unplug a server and down the business communications network, so some security is required, ideally in a locked room with limited access.

Access can be controlled by a numeric keypad or by a access control system, the later offers the best security available, as finger print recognition can also be attached to this.

Network furniture will allow small businesses to house the same amount of affordable servers as a Blue Chip organisation with their rack mounted servers, in a similar if not smaller foot print. Enabling small businesses to compete with the dominating companies in their business sector.