Setting Up a Server Room on Budget

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Read on for tips on setting up an efficient and reliable server room… even if you’re on a tight budget.

Controlling operational costs is always a challenge, but amid the current recession budgets are tighter than ever. While its possible to make smart decisions and cut a few extras to spend less, one thing most companies cant nix is a reliable server and a cool, secure room in which to keep it. In this day and age, its nearly impossible to do business without a solid network infrastructure, and server rooms have become the nerve centers of our businesses. But despite its vital importance, a server room doesnt necessarily have to break the bank.

Read on for tips on setting up an efficient and reliable server room even if youre on a tight budget.

Choosing the Perfect Server Room Location

Just as all proverbial roads lead to Rome, all structured cabling leads to the server room. This considered, the ideal server room is centrally located, so that cables can be strategically run without the need to cover too much distance, or

take too many twists and turns along the way. Choose a room that is easily accessible to IT staff, but make sure that its also somewhat out of the way, so that you dont have unauthorized personnel wandering in and out. When youre considering space for a server room, be sure to allow for growth. Your company may be starting out small, but when it grows, you could find yourself very short on space. Aside from creating logistical nightmares, overcrowded server rooms are also extremely prone to overheating, which can lower the efficiency of, or destroy, your network components.
General Tips

When purchasing hubs, switches and routers, stick with the same brand for all itll make maintenance and troubleshooting down the road that much easier. Should you ever encounter a problem with a mixed setup, troubleshooting between several manufacturers could prove extremely tricky, and its likely that youd be referred from one companys service department to the ne