How to Label a Data Center and IT Equipment
To properly maintain a data center and network facilities, you need to establish what is being deployed, where it’ll be deployed, the purpose of each component, and what the component connects to. By using labels, you will be able to increase the efficiency of data center troubleshooting or management.
Benefits of Data Center and IT Equipment Labeling
Labeling is a beneficial way to simplify troubleshooting or management activities in a data center. Data center labels increase reliability and maximize uptime, which is essential for maintaining a data center and network facilities. Benefits of labeling IT equipment and a data center include:
- Troubleshooting: a labeling system shows you exactly what you’re looking at and what it’s connected to. You can locate cables and components that can be traced back to specific floors and rooms for faster maintenance.
- Reduce Downtime: cable labeling prevents accidental outages such as power outages, caused by moving the wrong components in a data center.
- Costs: server labels save time and upfront cost by cutting down labor expenses if changes or repairs need to be made.
- Inventory Loss: barcode labels track of computer equipment stock and prevent inventory loss. It can streamline warehouse management for easy tool retrieval, accurate depiction of consumption rates, and a higher rate of inventory turnover
- Prevent Theft: a common cause for retail inventory lost is theft. Labels increase security measures, which prevents theft or inventory misplacement.
- IT Asset and Inventory Control: IT asset tracking systems identify network problems, secure correct replacement parts, and coordinate the activities involved.
What is the Data Center Labeling Standard?
ANSI/TIA-606-B establishes the labeling and record keeping standards for telecommunications and network systems. This standard identifies the network components that need to be labeled and provides an identification scheme for data centers.
ANSI/TIA-606-B Labeling Principles
- Labels need to be logical and consistent across all data center and project drawings. Those who work on the cabling will be able to understand the labels at all times.
- Labels need to identify all cables, connecting hardware, and associated physical locations (building, room, cabinet, rack, port, telecommunications spaces, etc.).
- Labels need to be easy to read and durable to last long periods of time. The labels need to be resistant to environmental conditions (moisture, heat, or light).
ANSI/TIA-606-B Labeling Requirements
- Labels should use a permanent identifier that can be easily traced. It needs to be organized, such as using alphanumeric characters for ease of reference.
- All cables and pathways must be labeled on each end. The label should identify the termination points of both ends of the cable.
- Labels must meet requirements for legibility, defacement, and adhesion.
- Labels for station connections may appear on the face plate.
- The jack, connector, and block hardware may be labeled on either the outlet or panel.
- Labels that are recorded need to match the permanent record. Technicians will be able to get additional information if needed.
What are the Key Components of a Data Center?
A data center is a physical facility that houses a company’s IT operation, networking equipment, and computing equipment. They are designed to support computation, data storage, network and business applications for the enterprise. The key components that make up a data center are the facility, IT infrastructure, electrical equipment, and mechanical equipment.
| Facility | Physical location, physical space, data room (server rack and cabinets), physical access (security control or surveillance) |
| IT Infrastructure | IT servers, communication equipment, core switch/router, ISP equipment, patch panels, storage equipment (storage area network and network attached storage), environment sensors |
| Electrical Equipment | backup generators such as prime power rating type, standby type, ATS (automatic transfer switches), UPS, PDU (power distribution unit) |
| Mechanical Equipment | Cooling containments (cold aisle type/hot aisle type), computer room air conditioner units (CRAC), chiller plants to support cooling system, raised floor to allow cold air to reach the IT equipment |
How to Label a Data Center
Organization and efficiency are crucial aspects to have in a data center. To properly manage complex data centers and its core components, you need an effective labeling system. Barcode identification strategies are used for telecommunications and network systems. By using barcode labels, you can identify and keep track of internet servers, server racks, routers, cables, and navigation signs.
- Internet Server – you will be able to locate and pinpoint technical issues if something happens to the internet server.
- Server Racks – server rack labels allow you to identify and arrange server racks and cabinets without sacrificing rack space. This ensures that vertical and horizontal cables provide a fully adjustable solution for storing cables on a sliding rack shelf.
- Routers – labels for routers will deliver flexible pathways for overhead, under-floor, and wall-mount applications in the network infrastructure.
- CAT 5 Cables – category 5/5e cables (specified by the bandwidth requirements of the system) should be tested to ensure proper performance. Using barcode labels for computer equipment allows you to efficiently track CAT 5 cables.
- Power Cables – labeling power cables (PDU) will indicate the power source and trace the location, making equipment upgrades or replacements easier. This will also provide for easy on-site installation and quick isolation if the power needs to be shut down.
- Navigation – industrial labeling tools provide navigation and functionality that helps data center component identification and labeling quick and effortless.
How to Label IT Equipment
To keep track of your IT assets, barcode labels for computer equipment incorporate a cloud-based tracking system that are attached to each individual asset. The barcode tags can be scanned to check items in or out of the asset tracking software.
Furthermore, barcode labels are an integral part of improving accountability and making audits easier. You can determine the equipment that has gone for repair and who received the equipment in the past. This will help you save time and reduce data-entry errors. You can identify and keep track of computers, laptops, tablets, keyboards, computer mouse, and more.
Different Types of Labels
- Server Labels – server labels deal with the data that is being filtered. This is typically the URL and additional information from HTTP request headers. This allows them to concentrate solely on filtering, offering much higher performance.
- Network Labels – network labels are essential for a structured cabling system. It will ease the troubleshooting process, ensure quality assurance, reduce human error, save time, and save money over the network’s lifecycle.
- Cable Labels – cable labels are used for identification, assembly and repair of electrical control panels, wire harnesses, and data/telecommunications systems. This includes heat-shrink tubing, wrap-around labels, laminated labels, cable flags, and non-adhesive tags.
- Computer and Laptop Labels – computer and laptop labels protect the asset acquisition or investment of a company against theft. These labels include: vinyl asset labels, polyester asset labels, destructible tamper evident labels, tamper VOID labels, laminated labels, asset tracking labels, mini mark asset labels, aluminum plates, ID plates, QR codes and data matrix labels, labels for industry, and micro labels.
- IT Equipment Labels -IT equipment labels improve the accountability of valuable IT equipment. It’s used to track and monitor important equipment with reliable asset tags, barcode labels, and a secure RFID tag.
What You Need to Label a Data Center and IT Equipment
- Labels – labels, such as print modules that use precision print technique, including a wide variety of modern sensors to produce labels.
- Scanners – scanners are used to identify and trace products, which improves workflow and increases productivity.
- Inventory Management Systems – you can pair the inventory software with barcode scanners, printers, and labels for a complete inventory tracking system.
RackSolutions Server Racks, Cabinets, and Accessories
Data centers with efficient barcode identification strategies are essential for business applications and networking services. Ultimately, data center labels are a beneficial way to track and identify issues as they arise. By utilizing data center labels, you can increase reliability and uptime for any data center operation. An efficient labeling system allows you to reduce downtime by immediately tracing and initiating problem-solving measures and repairs.
If you’re looking for additional server rack or rack accessories to buy for your data center, feel free to contact us. RackSolutions provides a variety of server racks, colocation cabinets, and rack accessories that are ready to order. With our high-quality, in house manufacturing, you can be confident that you are buying the best rack possible!
