In this time, nearly all business uses some form of server management. If yours is hosted locally, temperature control can be the difference between running efficiently and running into the ground. Learning how to correctly cool your servers avoids data loss. It also ensures the longevity of your hardware’s life.
How does temperature affect your servers?
High temperatures in server hardware could lead to different kinds of damage. A server that completely crashes results in expensive data loss and service disruptions. But as per Uptime Institute, an unbiased advisory organization, overheating doesn’t always cause total failure. Every 18 degrees higher than 70 degrees Fahrenheit, hardware reliability decreases by 50%. This reduction in reliability can be just as, if not more, costly for your hardware budget over time.
Cooling methods can’t just be applied and forgotten. They must be carefully monitored to ensure the health of your server hardware in the short and long term. Choices for temperature management vary from simple low-budget strategies to overpriced outsourced alternatives. Identifying your server management budget will drastically rely on the kinds of methods you want to implement at your SMB.
Cooling Methods
Which system you use to cool your server mostly depends on the amount of power your hardware is using. The more watts a computer needs to run, the harder it’s working. This range will establish the range of your temperature management needs.
For desktops that use between 400 and 2,000 watts, proper ventilation is a necessity. Adding passive ventilation is feasible up to 700 watts. However, fan-assisted ventilation will be required above that and up to 2,000 watts. With the elevated power consumption, temperatures will rise, and air movement must be closely maintained. At this point, simple vent and oscillating fans will be enough.
Anything higher than 2,000 watts demands dedicated cooling solutions. This means air-cooled devices to actively minimize server room temperature. Depending on the size and set up of the space, a super easy self-contained is sufficient to lower temperatures to suitable ranges.
Keeping your servers running at ideal temperatures means better data functions, reduced hardware budgets, and one less thing to think about at your SMB. As your business grows, keep close tabs on increasing server loads. If you need more detailed advice about server management or have any other questions about your hardware setup, give us a call today.