Server Room Monitoring - Not Just for the Big Boys

Even small server rooms can benefit from environmental monitoring devices.  Proper server room monitoring can provide warning of impending disaster that threatens availability and up-time.  Temperature sensors can alert IT professionals of over-heating situations, humidity sensors can alert to overly dry/moist conditions, fluid detection  sensors can alert to flooding conditions, and intrusion/security sensors can help protect data and valuable IT investments from theft.

Temperature Monitoring
Probably the most widely monitored metric, proper operating temperature plays a crucial role in server availability and up-time.  When a cooling failure happens, it does not take long for temperatures to rise and mission-critical equipment to fail.  With real-time monitoring, IT professionals can be instantly alerted via e-mail, audible alarm, or other advanced alarm notification system to take immediate action.

Humidity Monitoring
While temperature is closely watched, humidity is often over looked in the server room.  Of concern to IT managers are dry conditions that can lead to a build up of static electricity, as well as overly humid conditions that can lead to condensation buildup.  To combat electrostatic discharge, cooling systems often add moisture to the conditioned air.  Add too much water vapor, though, and IT equipment will collect condensation that may lead to rust and electrical shorts.  Real-time monitoring can provide IT professionals and facility managers the information to get the balance right.

Fluid Detection
Little needs to be said about the dangers that fluids pose to IT equipment, yet many small server rooms ignore this ever present danger.  Safe from flooding on the third floor? Not from the burst pipe on the fourth.  Properly placed fluid detection systems can provide advanced warning of liquid infiltration, allowing ample time for mission-critical systems to be protected.

Security/Intrusion Monitoring
Physical security is paramount to any serious data security program.  Beyond external building security, server rack intrusion detection and server floor monitoring offer another level of security that is just as important as firewalls and virus protection.  If an intruder can physically access the servers, no data is safe.  Intrusion detection systems and camera monitoring solutions can provide another deterrent to data and equipment theft.

Server Room Monitoring Available for All Budgets
Stand-alone sensors need not require huge initial investments and can actually reduce IT expense in the long run when the replacement cost for expensive server room equipment is taken into account.  Moreover, many of today's state of the art server room monitoring systems do not need additional computer hardware or software systems and can often be integrated into existing building management and  network monitoring systems.

Leak Detection Cable by RLE Technologies

RLE's SeaHawk sensing cable has been installed in over 10,000 locations across the globe using over five million feet of the patented fluid leak detection cable. Data centers, health care facilities, universities, and clean rooms take advantage of the sophisticated leak detection technologies to protect mission-critical infrastructure from water leaks and other conductive fluids such as alcohol and glycol.

The ultra durable sensing cable is easy to clean, fast drying, and resists damage from most contaminants. The cable’s abrasion-resistant polymer core increases its strength and durability while the use of non-conductive polymers help eliminate false alarms.

When connected to a SeaHawk single- or multi-zone controller, the sensing cable detects the presence of water in each zone and indicates which zone is in alarm. When connected to a SeaHawk distance read controller, the sensing cable can pinpoint the actual location of the leak along the cable route saving critical time in locating the source of the leak.

Sensing cable is available in standard and custom lengths. Each end of the cable contains mating connectors to make installation and expansion of existing leak detection systems quick and easy. RLE’s sensing cable offers a reliable leak detection solution that mitigates potential water damage, costly business outages, and downtime.

Proven leak detection and data center monitoring solutions by RLE Technologies now at 42U.