We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Hardware

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Server Room?

By Melissa Barrett
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 19,415
Share

A server room is essentially an area to store a large amount of connected computer hardware. These interlinked computers create a server network, which provides memory and operating speeds that far exceed the capacities of a single computer. The server may be used to manage massive databases or host specific large or multiuser computer software programs. Server rooms are the smaller siblings of data center facilities and often have all the accompanying headaches on a much lesser scale.

The most common use of a server room is to hold equipment that contains information that will be available on the Internet. Every web page, music download, or game available on the Internet is housed within a server. An intranet within an organization works largely on the same principle as the Internet and often requires its own server.

Creating a server room is much more complicated than putting a few computers on a table and wiring them together. These rooms can contain hundreds of hard drives connected by thousands of feet of cable. Organization is critical as are procedures to ensure the correct temperature and humidity of the room. Power supply is also a consideration as many servers require large amounts of electricity and must maintain reliability even during a power failure.

Generally, server room equipment is placed on 19-inch (48.3-centimeter) wide racks in cabinets or shelves that are several units high. It is advisable to securely attach each unit to the rack to avoid accidental breakage. Cables must be cut long enough to allow for adjustment but not so long as to cause tangling. Groups of cables should be bundled and bound together. Wiring for power and connectivity is usually at the back of the units, so rolling racks are often used to provide easy access for repairs.

Another benefit of racks in server room design is increased airflow around individual units. This helps to keep hard drives cool and prevent water condensation. In addition, the racks themselves may be fitted with fans or even individually air-conditioned. Frequently, large room air-conditioners are also used to further prevent malfunction of server equipment due to overheating. As most server rooms are unoccupied, lighting is kept to a minimum to eliminate additional ambient heat.

Designing the power supply for a server room can be extremely complex. At the very least, wiring and circuit boxes should be refitted to handle the increased electricity flow without shorts or power surges. Supplementary surge protectors should be installed on wiring into individual hard drives. Backup generators are, of course, highly recommended. In addition, a battery operated device called an uninterruptible power source (UPS) can usually provide power so quickly that no interruption in operation is noticeable.

Share
EasyTechJunkie is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.easytechjunkie.com/what-is-a-server-room.htm
Copy this link
EasyTechJunkie, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

EasyTechJunkie, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.