Technology News from James Moore & Co.

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What Technology=20 articles would you like to read about? Please let us know. = Send=20 suggestions to Charles Westfall at CharlesW@jmco.com


Moore=20 About Technology	July=20 2005

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If you=20 are like most businesses, the server or computer room is the = last=20 thing on your mind. Your file servers and other computer = equipment=20 might be sitting in someone's office, in a small closet or = tucked in=20 a corner somewhere. Unfortunately, this room is very = important and=20 is usually put at the bottom of the list of priorities. = There are=20 several aspects that come in to play when setting up and = securing=20 your server room.=20

The first and foremost issue is location of the room. The = physical location of the server room is extremely important. = Obviously, it is easier to address these issues in the = planning=20 stages of building an office, rather than to correct the = problems=20 after the fact. Often it is impossible to implement these = actions if=20 the room is already in place. Below are a few options you = should=20 consider for your current or upcoming server room.=20

Physical Security - You should provide secure points = of entry=20 to the computer room. This helps secure sensitive data, = limit the=20 possibility of employee vandalism, theft or inadvertent = actions of=20 untrained personnel. You should consider installing a dead = bolt or=20 keypad type of locking system. The key or code should only = be=20 given to the IT administrator, office manager and/or = principal=20 business interest. If you are using a keypad type entry = system,=20 please do not use a guessable code i.e. your birthday, = phone=20 number, extension, etc. The room should be reasonably = secure=20 during the day, if not locked, and locked after the close = of=20 business.=20
Electronic Security - Once inside the room, you will = want to=20 consider the security of the equipment. It is recommended = that you=20 use password-protected screensavers and/or login methods = on your=20 equipment. Passwords should be unique, 8-10 characters in = length,=20 and contain at least one numeric character. Another good = way to=20 create a password is to use an easy to remember phrase and = use the=20 first letter in each word to create the password, i.e. My = dog is=20 brown and white - password would be MDIBAW.=20
Flooring - If this is in your budget or a possibility, = you=20 should consider using raised flooring in your server room. = If this=20 is an option, you would want to design the raised floor = computer=20 spaces in a convenient proximity to the support equipment = (UPS,=20 etc.). It is often appropriate to locate the computer = equipment on=20 the floor directly above the support equipment.=20
Climate Control and Ventilation - You should consider = the=20 cooling method used for your server room. Depending on the = size of=20 your room and the amount of equipment, you may want to = provide=20 extra ventilation and air conditioning vents in this room. = It is=20 important that hot air can escape from the server room. On = some=20 occasions, it is best to use a standalone air conditioning = unit=20 strictly for your server room. It is important to keep = your=20 equipment in a cool environment, between 65-70 degrees, to = keep it=20 at it's peak performance=20
Room to expand - This always seems like a far off = topic, but=20 you should consider expansion options for your server room = too.=20 Even though technology changes tend to make hardware more=20 space-efficient over time, the ability to expand, either = within=20 the current building or through additions, should be = available to=20 accommodate possible growth.=20 =

Establishing A=20 Server Room (by Jennifer Webster)