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I admin a small business network with a poorly cooled server room. Currently I must leave the door open to use the A/C from the rest of the office. I really would like to be able to close and lock the door. But are there any feasible options for cooling this room short of installing a complete air conditioning system. I know there are small portable A/C's from APC. Does anyone have experience with these?
OK here we go:
Go to you nearest pet store and purchase a "cat flap" cat door?.............install it down the bottom and use a deadlock.................problem solved :DQuote:
. Currently I must leave the door open to use the A/C from the rest of the office. I really would like to be able to close and lock the door
What kit are you running?
What is the ambient temperature in the room?
:cool:
:D I've been trying to train Toonces on server maintainance but he's a little slow.Quote:
Go to you nearest pet store and purchase a "cat flap" cat door?.............
I've got 4 Intel SR2300 servers w/ Dual Xeon chips and RPS on each. Got 2 SmartUPS 3000XL, HP ProCurve 4108 w/ 4 10/100 24 port mods and 1 8-port Gb mod, Quantum SuperLoader, small router, all in a rack mount. I also have an old PII Novell box. Our phone system is in the same room and produces some heat.
My biggest prob is on weekends they shut the A/C down in the building. During the summer it gets probably over 85 in the office. Even pulling air from outside is gonna leave my servers in some elevated temps. But forking over 10,000 clams for a dedicated A/C unit is a bit steep.
I guess what you have to ask yourself, and the people that control the money in your shop is, how much would it cost the company if you baked one or more of those devices?Quote:
Originally posted here by PacSec
But forking over 10,000 clams for a dedicated A/C unit is a bit steep.
If the risk is great than the cost, then the answer is a no-brainer ;)
Cheers:
I know where you are coming from... I work in a small business and the "bean counters" are trying to get the AC shut totally off on the weekends. I basically told them that they could not do this because they would end up frying all the servers processors. Its an ongoing fight. (I just make sure all my data is backed up before the weekend) If you do get one of those units, I would be interested in how well they work.Quote:
Originally posted here by PacSec
:D I've been trying to train Toonces on server maintainance but he's a little slow.
I've got 4 Intel SR2300 servers w/ Dual Xeon chips and RPS on each. Got 2 SmartUPS 3000XL, HP ProCurve 4108 w/ 4 10/100 24 port mods and 1 8-port Gb mod, Quantum SuperLoader, small router, all in a rack mount. I also have an old PII Novell box. Our phone system is in the same room and produces some heat.
My biggest prob is on weekends they shut the A/C down in the building. During the summer it gets probably over 85 in the office. Even pulling air from outside is gonna leave my servers in some elevated temps. But forking over 10,000 clams for a dedicated A/C unit is a bit steep.
I wish it was that simple. That's the ole logic vs. tight pocket book battle. :argue: Somehow those in charge of the money see actual cost much better than potential cost.Quote:
If the risk is great than the cost, then the answer is a no-brainer
Well, now what you have to ask yourself is, if the company is not going to be supportive of your efforts to secure & protect their systems, maybe it's time to take your talents elsewhere.Quote:
Originally posted here by PacSec
I wish it was that simple. That's the ole logic vs. tight pocket book battle. :argue: Somehow those in charge of the money see actual cost much better than potential cost.
Cheers:
Are you offering me a job? :D
I wouldn't want to insult you by having to pay you in Canadian funds. :pQuote:
Cheers:
Hey PacSec,
I was actually serious about the pet door...............I run a cable from the safety supply socket in the garage through our cat flap to vacuum the car and mow the lawn............... with the North East winds we get it is the only logical solution...........they are strong and VERY cold!!!.........OK you won't have the additional problem of dead leaves and discarded candy wrappers like I do........but using the flap solves that as well.
The "deadlock" is one that is key only operated.............no latch at the back, so long arms and coat hangers don't work.............it is secure.
OK, now for your main problem.............the beancounters...................you say that you get up to 85 in the summer, I assume that you are talking F not C. I realise that your kit generates a certain amount of heat, but it should be able to run at about 120F (50C) without much problem.
It needs to remain powered up? so I guess you might consider installing some extra exhaust fans if the racks are in cases, or fans blowing across an open rack system?
Does the room have any windows (the glass sort :)) and ventilation grilles................I am kind of thinking of an outrageous suggestion that would obey the laws of physics and beancounters?.............hell that has to be worth a consultancy fee
:D
Cheers
OH, my Tigger says he would like to help, but he has only been taught how to write malware :eek:
I can't say for sure how warm it will get with the door closed over the weekend during the summer. I'd hate to find out the hard way it went over 120 F although I don't think it will get that high. The ventilation is actually through the light fixtures and there is no window. I could put a grill in if need be. Thnx nihil
Hi Pac Sec..................I guess I am getting annoyed..........I never could tolerate fools and you seem to have cornered the World market in them as your employers? Well, I will comment that it is over 30 years since I was at university, but "micro-meteorology" was a part of my degree.........that's the climate of small spaces :D
When you go to your hardware store to buy the pet flap...........spend about 5-10$ on a "maximum/minimum thermometer"...........it has a couple of little wire "dumbells" in it and will show you what temperature range you are having to deal with. You can smash it after you are done..........just use a beancounter's head as a suitable blunt instrument.........be sure to hit it several times, just to be on the safe side...........? You can stick the little resetting magnet to your fridge door :)
Now, for a few $ you can buy these fans, they are usually about 8-10" and mount into a circular hole cut in glass.............but it could be metal or wood?. They are generally used in bathrooms to get rid of steam............temperature inside > temperature outside so the fan spins (air presure only) and sucks the hot air out. If you have grilles lower down, then cold air will be drawn in to fill the partial vacuum effect that you have created? This would give you a primitive air conditioning without electricity.
Hey, the last time I came up with a solution like this it was for my friend's dad's bakery!!!
I do not know your building, orientation, position of external walls, external climatic conditions.......hell, I cannot build you a model, but I will try to suggest a $500 or less solution if you are still interested...............they should still spend the ten grand, but................
Good luck, and keep this going until you are satisfied...........you can always use the PM system for particular details.........sorry I need to find a new e-mail right now
Cheers,
I'm gonna try out the min/max thermometer. I'll hold off on smacking the bean counter for now. After all, I was allowed to basically get the system I wanted (within reason) almost without question. Of course that may be why now I'm having trouble getting another 10K.
Our ventilation system works on the same principle as your fan idea. One thing lacking right now is a vent on the door of the room to let in cooler air, thus the reason I have to leave it open. But I feel certain the room will reach 90 F during the summer (even with the vent in the door) and I'm afraid it may produce more wear on the hardware than I'd like.
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll PM you if I have any more specific questions. CXGJarrod, I'll let you know how it goes.
Hi,
Yes, there are aluminium grilles that fit into doors to provide ventilation.
Awwwwww..............that was the bit I liked bestQuote:
I'll hold off on smacking the bean counter for now
:)
You might also look for a simple hygrometer (wet&dry bulb) I would also be looking at relative humidity.............can be more damaging than straight temperature?
Can you let me have some idea of local temperature and humidity profiles (external, monthly)
Cheers
During the dog days of summer (mid-June - mid-Sept) the temp regularly goes over 90 F (32 C) with humidity often in the 80-90% range. We're also on the 3rd floor of the building so we get the heat from lower levels. :mad:
Well, I have come across similar conditions over here, but only because the project room was in one of those portable cabin type buildings........in summer the temperature would reach 95F with an r/h of about 85%. It did not affect the kit................but I did check, and 95 was as hot as it got.
I managed to get a portable air conditioner, and it was very effective, but you do need to be able to get rid of the hot air they generate, or they are a waste of money. Typically this requires an outlet to the atmosphere.
My argument was that people cannot function efficiently working on intellectual tasks in those conditions............I wonder if you could get any mileage out of that, you should certainly get the support of other managers/staff, and slide your requirement in as part of the whole package?
I think that you need a few fans to keep the air circulating around your kit. Pockets of "stale air" are a real killer, as they can reach temperatures well above the average. Actually, you can look on your computer room as being a huge PC case, many of the physical considerations are identical :)
Good luck
EDIT: You might like to look into "expanded metal" screens. Over here they are fitted inside windows, so if a thief breaks the glass, they still have this mild steel grille to get through. If you had a large panel of that in your door and no glass, you would get both ventilation and security. Same principle as those insect screen doors, but stronger metal and bigger holes?
yeh tell me about high humidity..
had two weeks of 80% plus humidity, and 38deg c temps and the pc probs during that time.. ouch
HDD's/videocards/ RAM/ PSU's and not in that order... and that was b4 the lightning had a go at the show.. being in the sales I missed the real fun
cheers
That's an interesting idea, I'll look into it.Quote:
"expanded metal" screens
One thing about the portable A/C: obviously it is going to produce water due to condensation. How often did you have to empty the pan?
I didn't,
The guys modified it so it drained through a hole in the hut wall. In your situation I would place it on a table with a tube draining into a bucket below.............then you can easily see when it needs to be emptied?
All you have to do is intercept the tube that drains into the pan............attach some flexible hose to it, and drain the water to where you want to?
I guess you will need a tape measure to get the distance to the bean counter's department.......after all, we don't want to waste money on too much hose :D
Cheers