Will i benefit if i buy a server cabinet?

[Kameelperdza]

I have 5 servers(mail,database1,database2,firewall1,firewal l2.) that i want to put in a two server cabinets.

I went onto scoop's website and saw these.http://www.scoopdistribution.co.za/index.php?cPath=47_59

Will the one that cost R3,799.00 be the right one for me?

All the computer boxes is about +-400mm in height. And im planning to put 3 server in one cabinet and the other two in the other cabinet,

Oh yes what is the advanrages and disadvantages of a server cabinet.

The reason why im asking is becos i have noticed that during the day when aircon is on then cpu and motherboard temp is about 36'c but after hours it is 57'c

[The_Librarian]

Server cabinet won't help with cooling - it might exacerbate the cooling problem if not properly thought out, or the fans are positioned wrong.

It will help with maintaining the neatness of the server room though.

Is the aircon switched off at night?

[Kameelperdza]

yes i is switch of at night. I agree i dont think that 4 fans will help much with cooling.

Currently my server are all stacked under the table next to each other and it is very difficult to add new cables.

[The_Librarian]

We leave our aircon on 24x7 at 18degC

Average HDD temp is 35degC

Keep in mind that PC equipment and the such doesn't like hot temperatures and need to be cooled for optimal performance and longer life.

Just don't overcool it as condensation will occur then ;)

[ITCynic]

Maybe consider a smallish wall mounted rack with the patch panels and switches installed therein.

Leave the servers outside the unit -- only the relevant network cable goes from the rack to the server, at least all the cables are then neatly enclosed.

Also overcomes possible overheating issues.

[Kameelperdza]

im also thinking of putting the server ontop the table so that airflow can be more better. If only i could set a schedule on the aircon so that if can automatically startup at night or when temp reaches a certian degree

[Budza]

Cost of leaving aircon on overnight vs cost of shelving and added neatness... You could just use some cupboard space with holes to save some bucks if aesthetics aren't an issue...

[The_Librarian]

Some aircons have a timer function - maybe see if you can use that?

Or get a smaller (portable) aircon, put it on a pool timer so that it'll go on/off automatically?

[Kameelperdza]

One more thing if i decide to buy a cabinet such as 42U 1M Deep Cabinet 4 Fans & 3 Shelve for R3,799.00 @ scoop will there fit 3 (450mm high) servers?

The aircon we have is a gree aircon

[The_Librarian]

One more thing if i decide to buy a cabinet such as 42U 1M Deep Cabinet 4 Fans & 3 Shelve for R3,799.00 @ scoop will there fit 3 (450mm high) servers?

The aircon we have is a gree aircon

Most cabinets got spacers inside at both sides to fasten the shelves to, so you don't get the full space inside.

If you're set on purchasing such a cabinet, can I suggest that you also look at purchasing rackmounted chassis cases for the servers and use that for the servers instead of just putting the servers inside? It will look much neater and utilize the space much better, not to mention ventilation.

What's the dimensions of the servers? (width x length x height)

[Kameelperdza]

Sound expensive to begin from scratch. I think the best solution is to ask the boss if he can build me a small server room and pit in a aircon there. Thank you everybody.

[The_Librarian]

Sound expensive to begin from scratch. I think the best solution is to ask the boss if he can build me a small server room and pit in a aircon there. Thank you everybody.

Ja, that's the best. A small server room with its own aircon will work great as the aircon won't have a large space of air to cool down first.

As long as it's not a cramped closet ;)

[Nerfherder]

Most cabinets got spacers inside at both sides to fasten the shelves to, so you don't get the full space inside.

If you're set on purchasing such a cabinet, can I suggest that you also look at purchasing rackmounted chassis cases for the servers and use that for the servers instead of just putting the servers inside? It will look much neater and utilize the space much better, not to mention ventilation.

What's the dimensions of the servers? (width x length x height)

+1

I think that what the OP is trying to do is just stick normal PC cases in this cabinet. This is not correct, you are supposed to purchase the rackmount cases and attach them to the cabinet.

Yes this will cost more but they are designed to work like this.

I suppose what you could do is just stick your existing cases in the cabinet and take the sides off, it might reduce the temps if the flow still works.

[The_Librarian]

I suppose what you could do is just stick your existing cases in the cabinet and take the sides off, it might reduce the temps if the flow still works.

Not all servers support that.

HP's ProLiant servers require that the side covers be on for airflow over all components.

[Kameelperdza]

OP?

[The_Librarian]

OP = original post(er)

[Kameelperdza]

O ok.The boss says it is not a good idea to run a aircon 24/7 becos it will burn out. So screw them all, they will just have to replace the parts when the computer overheats

Think i going to put the servers ontop of the table. More privacy ;)

[Rate My ISP]

O ok.The boss says it is not a good idea to run a aircon 24/7 becos it will burn out.

I had this strange feeling your boss was going to say that.

[The_Librarian]

O ok.The boss says it is not a good idea to run a aircon 24/7 becos it will burn out. So screw them all, they will just have to replace the parts when the computer overheats

Think i going to put the servers ontop of the table. More privacy ;)

Bwahahaha. Ours have been running 24x7 for more than a year now.

just to CYA do regular backups ;)

Does the server have a RAID or not? What is it? SATA, SAS or SCSI?

SCSI is no good - it is on its way out. SAS or SATA is fine.

[Kameelperdza]

Two of the servers is ipcop and one is windows game server + virtual ubuntu mail server. Then there is a database server which i have copied some of the backup file to another computer.

The game/mail server has raid 0. There is two 160gig sata hdd's The other computers have none. I tried to add raid 0 to ipcop.

Im keeping ipcop setup printouts and copy of all files on server on another computer for just incase.

PS: scsi is acient. :D

[Asha'man X]

Our server room at our school is about 2m wide by 5m deep. Not very big at all, but it's enough to work in ok. The aircon in there is a Gree device, and it runs 24/7/365. Most of the time, when it holds the target temp, the unit outside actually turns off until it gets too hot again.

One thing I learned about networks is that when you treat your equipment right, it behaves well, looks neater and is better for long term health.

[spiderz]

What's cheaper, replacing your data or replacing a aircon?

[The_Librarian]

Our server room at our school is about 2m wide by 5m deep. Not very big at all, but it's enough to work in ok. The aircon in there is a Gree device, and it runs 24/7/365. Most of the time, when it holds the target temp, the unit outside actually turns off until it gets too hot again.

One thing I learned about networks is that when you treat your equipment right, it behaves well, looks neater and is better for long term health.

Hup hup yup, our aircon does that too.

Server room tidiness is an ongoing project which I do bit by bit. Already looks much better than it was.


What's cheaper, replacing your data or replacing a aircon?

Agreed - not to mention the downtime in reinstalling the operating system, applying all the patches, reinstalling the application and their associated patches, then restoring the data... it'll take more than two days if you're lucky. (During the recovery phase, nobody will be able to work - boss will still have to pay their salaries. Big loss for the company. Whoop whoop).

Not to mention trying to find the correct drivers first. :)

The primary Smoothwall backs itself up automatically, so whenever it borks, I can recover all my settings quickly and easily without having to do a full reinstall from scratch. Secondary Smoothwall is not so critical, it just is a reinstall and PPPoE account creation to get up and running.

And the data is synchronized every two hours to a backup server. Saved my day on more than one occasion when lusers deleted their files by accident :D

[bekdik]

Re airconditioners - don't place the vents immediately above equipment. I've had a couple of client sites where the outlet freezed over and then thawed, dumping large amounts of water onto a server farm!.

[Nerfherder]

Put the Aircon on a timer or get one of those climate controll aircons.

Also if you have your Server on a UPS then put your aircon on the UPS as well.

[The_Librarian]

Also if you have your Server on a UPS then put your aircon on the UPS as well.

Not a good idea - aircons pull some power. But if you do have a genset, do put the aircon on the genset if the genset have enough power and can handle it.

Otherwise, if possible, install a simple exhaust fan to eject hot air from the server room during a power failure.

[The_Librarian]

Just realized that an aircon on timer is not a good idea as there will be a higher temperature difference and a higher chance of component failures.

[Nerfherder]

Not a good idea - aircons pull some power. But if you do have a genset, do put the aircon on the genset if the genset have enough power and can handle it.

Otherwise, if possible, install a simple exhaust fan to eject hot air from the server room during a power failure.

We lost about 8 major servers when the power went down and the servers stayed up.

[Kameelperdza]

Im going to remove both sides of my server boxes to see if it operates cooler when the aircon is off.

[The_Librarian]

We lost about 8 major servers when the power went down and the servers stayed up.

>.<

ouch

that probably was a nightmare

[Nerfherder]

Not my nightmare :)


It was during the days of loadshedding.

[The_Librarian]

office is moving to new premises

gotta check out the new server room and plan ahead.

[Kameelperdza]

With the covers remove i get 45'c motherboard and cpu(duelcore). I used to get 57'c in the evenings when the aircons are switch off.

[schumi]

OP?

Original Poster: The person who begins the selected thread in that particular forum.

[HavocXphere]

Original Poster: The person who begins the selected thread in that particular forum.
Why resurrect a 5 month old thread to answer a question that has already been answered?