Server room: temperature monitoring not only for compliance reasons
The importance of temperature and environment monitoring in the server room
In today’s digital world, companies rely on reliable IT infrastructures to keep their business processes running. An important component of such an infrastructure is the server room, which houses the sensitive servers and network devices. An often overlooked but crucial component for smooth operation is temperature monitoring using sensors.
Why is monitoring the temperature in the server room so important?
The importance of temperature control cannot be overstated. The temperature in the server room has a direct impact on the performance and reliability of IT systems. Most electronic devices, especially servers and network equipment, generate a significant amount of heat during operation. If the temperature in the server room is not properly controlled, this can cause the equipment to overheat. On the other hand, too low a temperature can cause humidity, which in turn promotes condensation and corrosion. Careful monitoring and control of the room temperature are therefore crucial to ensure the safety and stability of the server room. To minimise these risks, it is crucial to monitor the temperature in the server room.
Optimal temperature in the server room and effects of overheating
The temperature in the server room should ideally be kept constant, usually between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius. By using temperature sensors, the environmental monitoring system can automatically generate alerts when the temperature exceeds a preset threshold. This allows operators to react quickly and take appropriate action to prevent overheating.
The effects of overheating in the server room can be severe. If servers or network components overheat, the consequences can be dire, with financial and business implications:
- Wear and tear
- Performance degradation
- Hardware failure
- Loss of data (compromised stability of storage media)
- Expensive repairs / replacement of components
- Downtime and reduced productivity
- Fires (more on early fire detection)
By effectively monitoring temperature, companies can protect their IT investments and maximise the lifespan of their servers and network equipment.
In addition, temperature monitoring helps optimise energy efficiency in the server room. By monitoring and analysing the room temperature, companies can manage cooling more efficiently and reduce unnecessary energy consumption. This can lead to significant cost savings, especially in large data centres that require a considerable amount of energy for cooling.
Other important environmental monitoring parameters
In addition to temperature, monitoring other environmental parameters using sensors is also very important. Humidity is another important factor that needs to be controlled. Too high humidity can lead to corrosion of components, while too low humidity can lead to static electricity and electrical discharges. The Kentix Multisensor does just that – and more. The integrated sensors continuously monitor temperature, humidity, dew point, smouldering fire (CO), air quality, air pressure, movement, acceleration/vibration. Thus, the server room is protected against a variety of imminent physical dangers. In addition, environmental monitoring can also improve protection against water intrusion. By installing water leakage sensors, potential sources of danger due to liquid ingress or leakage can be detected at an early stage. The Kentix leakage sensor optimally complements the server room monitoring and can be easily connected to the multisensor. This enables a timely response to minimise damage to the IT infrastructure.
