| Summer Server Cooling Needs | | | | IT managers find their servers actually run hotter |
| Changes made to physical server configuration during | | | | because of the lack of cool air. They may also find |
| warm weather may not show problems right away. | | | | they have paid attention to the cooling needs of the |
| Companies replaced older computers with high-heat | | | | servers but forgot about other equipment such as |
| blade servers or move the servers into a smaller | | | | network routers. Even if the system doesn't suffer a |
| room to open up floor space. The existing air | | | | heat disaster, equipment running hot has a much |
| conditioning is often up to the challenge of the | | | | shorter useful life. |
| increased heat load. | | | | Air Conditioning Must Be a Dedicated System |
| Hot outside weather doesn't affect the server room | | | | It is a rare business that doesn't depend on its |
| since the building's air conditioning automatically runs | | | | servers for daily operation. If the computers |
| more to compensate. In some cases IT managers | | | | overheat and shut down, company operations often |
| might have to bring in spot coolers to supplement | | | | shut down as well. For this reason, every server |
| the existing system, but other times no changes | | | | room needs a dedicated cooling system separate |
| need to be made. The instinctive assumption is that if | | | | from the building's HVAC system. |
| the server room is fine in the hot summer months, | | | | Installing a high-efficiency central cooling system is |
| there will be no problem when outside temperatures | | | | very expensive and not necessary for today's |
| drop. | | | | computer rooms. Many IT departments find portable |
| Winter Makes Server Rooms Hotter | | | | air conditioning to be a less expensive and more |
| Unfortunately when winter sets in, server room air | | | | versatile solution than an expensive HVAC upgrade. |
| conditioning faces its greatest challenge. Many smaller | | | | The ability to add or remove units as cooling needs |
| server rooms depend on the building's air conditioning | | | | change or as the building's main cooling system |
| system to keep cool, but in winter the HVAC | | | | changes is essential in keeping a server room cool. |
| system is switched from cooling to heating. Not only | | | | Don't wait until it's too late to give your the cooling |
| are the servers not getting the cool air they need, | | | | capacity it needs. Set up a dedicated server cooling |
| but additional heat is actually being blown into the | | | | system by using spot coolers to create the ideal |
| room through the vents. | | | | environment modern electronics need. |