Upsizing your company and moving into a better space is an exciting step. While there are many challenges associated with making this move, moving your data center may be one of the most daunting. If done carelessly, you risk damaging equipment and injuring people. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to move your electronics racks safely and efficiently. To start, take the following steps to make the moving process go smoothly.
- Find the right moving crew
When it comes to moving this fragile and heavy equipment, it’s best to have professionals on your team. Rather than hiring a general moving company, try to find those with experience moving IT racks. This way, you can ensure that they have the right equipment to secure the equipment while you move. - Decide what you are going to bring
Not all companies choose to transfer their entire data center when they move locations. If you have been wanting to update some of your data racks, this could be a prime opportunity to do so. Make a list of the equipment you are bringing and label accordingly. - Plan before you load
Prior to loading your electronics racks into the moving truck, plan how you are going to organize them. This way, you can get everything in without having to rearrange. Communicate your plans with the moving crew. - Know the new space
Before you make the move, visit the new space and consider any obstacles. Are there ramps or ledges that could make moving a challenge? If the data center is on a lower level than the rest of the company, requiring you to lower the equipment down the stairs, you may want to locate the elevators. This way, you can stay ahead of any challenges. - Test the new data center
Once you get all of the equipment in place, test it. Remember that the power density of a data center is 100 times higher than that of a large commercial office building. That’s about the same as nine small-sized shopping malls. So, it’s important to make sure all of this power is going to the right place before you settle on a layout.
By taking these steps to safeguard your electronics racks, you can make your move as efficiently as possible. This way, you can get your new data center up and running without any damage. Just be sure to have an emergency plan in place in the event of an emergency.