Facility

Establishing and maintaining a network infrastructure is a significant monetary investment. Guidelines for housing and caring for servers and networking components (e.g., switches, routers) include the following:
 * The network components should be housed in secure climate-controlled areas; racks or cabinets can alleviate space constraints.
 * Keep the room climate consistent. The temperature generally should not go below 55°F or above 82°F; ideally, the temperature should be close to 68-71°F (Laverty, 2003).
 * Remember that wiring closets should not be used to store janitorial supplies; corrosive chemicals, equipment, and humidity can cause significant damage. Consider purchasing servers that contain internal sensors that monitor temperature, air flow, and humidity. These servers send e-mail or paging alarms along with audio alarms when conditions warrant.
 * Provide adequate space for a technician to gain easy access to the front and rear of network equipment and servers.