MARY HELP COLLEGE

HARDWARE AND NETWORKING SERVICING

LEVEL IV

UC: CARE FOR NETWORK AND COMPUTER HARDWARE

MODULE CODE: EIS HNS2 M05 0322
NOMINAL DURATION: 30 HRS.

UNIT TWO: ESTABLISH LOCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR HARDWARE AND

PERIPHERALS
 ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

 Just like the environmental conditions affect us as

humans, computer equipment can also be
affected.
 In order install and maintain equipment to gain
the maximum useful life, the environmental
conditions need to be considered.
 Factors such as temperature extremes, humidity, dust,
electromagnetic interference (EMI), and so on.
 TEMPERATURE

 One of the single most important factors in

prolonging the life of your computer
hardware is the temperature of the
components.
 Components that run hot, have a much
shorter life than those that stay cool most of
the time.
 TEMPERATURE

 A rule of thumb for room temperature is that

computers like the temperatures that most people
like.
 That is temperatures between 15 and 24 degrees
Celsius.
 Having computer equipment operating in a hot
room that is over 25 degrees Celsius will make
general cooling equipment, such as fans.
 TEMPERATURE

 The colder the equipment is, the longer it

needs to sit to ensure that it comes up to a
reasonable temperature before turning it
on.

 In temperatures down 5 degrees, then you

might want to wait up to 12 hours.
 TEMPERATURE

Note:

 If the device has been allowed to go to

below-freezing temperatures, then wait
24 hours for the device to acclimate
before plugging in the power.
 HUMIDITY

 As with temperature, computers prefer

moderate humidity as opposed to either
extreme.
 While computer equipment is not as sensitive
to humidity as temperature, they can still be
affected by it.
 Obviously, computers are best kept dry.
 HUMIDITY

Keep your computers away from

places or things that can get it wet.
Consider the inappropriate
positioning near a window if it is
frequently opened.
 DIRTY ENVIRONMENTS

 Computers operate best when they are used in a

clean environment, and when they are cleaned
regularly.
 Computer systems that are going to be used in
dirty environments should be protected or
cleaned often.
 Cleaning would also mean taking the covers off
and cleaning the inside.
 ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE (EMI)

 Electromagnetic interference (EMI) refers

to unwanted electrical noise or disturbances that
disrupt the normal functioning of an electronic
device, caused by electromagnetic fields emitted
from other sources.
 EMI emissions are a two-way problem; emitted
by the computer system, and EMI received by the
computer system.
 ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE (EMI)

 PCs can be affected by electromagnetic

interference from other devices, in two major
ways.

 One is direct effects through proximity with

other devices; another is electrical
interference over the power lines.
 ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE (EMI)
THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO REDUCE EMI

 Physical isolation:
 Devices that emit electromagnetic radiation
should be kept a reasonable distance from your
computers, peripherals and media.
 This includes television sets, radios, lights,
kitchen appliances, and stereo speakers.
 ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE (EMI)
THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO REDUCE EMI

 Use dedicated circuits:

 Keeping your computer on a circuit that is separate
from the circuit running your refrigerator, air
conditioning unit etc.
 Power conditioning:
 The use of a line conditioner or uninterruptible
power supply can filter out interference caused by
other devices that share a line with your computer.
 KEEPING YOUR COOL

 Keeping your system cool is very important.

 A cool system runs more reliably and lasts longer
than one that runs hot.
 Overheating of the internal components can lead to
data loss or even damage to your equipment.
 As processors in particular have become faster and
hotter, cooling has become more important than
ever.
 POWER CONDITIONING

 There are many issues with computers

that are ultimately related to power
problems.

 Providing a good, reliable power source

to your computer, and peripheral, is
another aspect of system care.
 TYPICAL POWER PROBLEMS

 There are a number of terms related to

power and problems, some of the most
common are:

 Blackouts:

 When power levels drop to virtually zero,

or in other words there is NO power.
 TYPICAL POWER PROBLEMS

 Brownouts:
 It is also called sag.
 A brownout occurs when power levels drop below
that which is supposed to be delivered, for a
sustained time.
 For example, if you have a 230-240-volt power
outlet, but the measurable level drops below 230
volts.
 Typically experienced in switching on of heavy
equipment.
 TYPICAL POWER PROBLEMS

 Surges:
 Is the opposite of a brownout.
 It is where voltage levels increase above that which
is specified at the outlet e.g. above 240 volts
 Spikes:
 A short sharp and very sudden increase of voltage,
that also drops just as quickly e.g. a 240-volt supply
jumps to 1000 volts or more for a period of as little
as 20 milliseconds (1/50th of a second).
 This is typical of a lightning strike.
 TYPICAL POWER PROBLEMS

 Line noise:
 Line noise consists of small variations in the voltage
level.
 A certain amount of line noise is normal (no power
generation circuits are perfect) and for the most
part power supplies will deal with them without
difficulty.
 Noise that the power supply cannot handle can
cause it to malfunction and pass the problem on to
your motherboard or other internal devices.
 PROTECTION FROM POWER PROBLEMS

 When power problems strike, they can cause

permanent damage.
 The damage could be to your equipment or
your data.
 The only effective way to deal with power
problems is to prevent them from happening
in the first place.
 PROTECTION FROM POWER PROBLEMS
STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO GREATLY REDUCE THE CHANCES OF POWER
PROBLEMS WITH YOUR COMPUTER

 Use power protection devices

 Check protection devices regularly

 Use dedicated circuits

 Turn off power during a blackout

 Turn off and disconnect the power cord during an

electrical storm
 ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (ESD)

 Electrostatic discharge or ESD is caused by the

build-up of an electrical charge on one surface that
is suddenly transferred to another surface when it is
touched.
 This discharge is actually typically several thousand
volts.
 As there is very little current passed, the zap doesn’t
kill you.
 ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (ESD)

 While ESD won’t kill you, it can certainly kill your

computer components.
 Especially sensitive to ESD are integrated circuits:
processors, memory, cache chips, and expansion
cards.
 You can deal with ESD in two basic ways:
1. Reducing its build-up.
2. Draining it away so it cannot cause any damage.
 ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (ESD)

 One way to reduce the build-up of ESD is

to increase the relative humidity of the
room where the computer is located.

 Static builds up more readily in dry

environments than in moist ones.
 ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (ESD)

Another way to reduce static is to

avoid doing the well-known things
that cause it, such as wearing socks
on carpeted floors, etc.
 ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (ESD)

 Draining static is usually a simple matter of

touching something that is grounded, such
as the metal of your case when it is plugged
in.
 This will drain off any static build-up in your
body that might cause damage to your
components.
 ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (ESD)

 Protection from ESD is important

enough when performing repairs on
computer systems that it is
recommended that you wear an anti-
static wrist strap.
 STORAGE AND HANDLING
MANUFACTURER’S REQUIREMENTS

 When handling computer equipment, it is

advisable to follow the manufacturer’s
guidelines on handling and storage.
 The most obvious place to find that
information would be the User
Guides/Manuals that accompany the
product.
 STORAGE AND HANDLING
MANUFACTURER’S REQUIREMENTS

 Your supplier is the other main avenue for valid

information.
 A good supplier will already be aware of
specific issues that relate to your product
purchases.
 If your supplier is reluctant to provide relevant
product information, find a new supplier.
 LOCATING EQUIPMENT

 Sometimes when determining the most

appropriate location, there are competing
interests.

 From a security viewpoint, it may not be

advisable to locate important network servers
within easy access from the general public, or
even unauthorized employees.
 LOCATING EQUIPMENT

 But from an accessibility viewpoint, it may be

convenient for service personnel to have easy and
unsecured access to all equipment.
 Still, there are the physical services (such as power,
phone, network communications etc.) where
equipment could be placed in the most convenient
and cost-saving location close to outlets and
connectors.
 SECURITY

 When locating equipment, you would need to

determine the priorities and adjust or compromise
the competing interest accordingly.
 For example, if you have a network server that
contains sensitive accounting and/or payroll data,
you would not want general staff (meaning those
that should not be handling account/payroll data) to
be able to gain access.
 SECURITY

 You could of course restrict access by software such

as username/passwords etc., but that would not
stop someone from physically taking the hard disk
drive in order to steal or copy it.
 Where sensitive or critically important hardware is
concerned, it would be advisable to locate the
equipment in a secure location, such as a lockable
cupboard or room.
 ACCESSIBILITY

 When locating equipment, take into account that from

time to time someone will need to physically access it.
 If a service person arrives to such a welcome then the
chances are that that person will simply walk away
without doing whatever needed to be done.
 It is not reasonable to expect them to perform their
work under such conditions, especially when you
consider they may have a dozen other jobs to go to.
 So, when locating equipment, you will need to ask
yourself the question ‘Is this site easily accessible?’
 SERVICES

 The term services relate to the parts of infrastructure

like, general power outlets (GPO), phone, facsimile and
network connections.
 It is generally easier to design and install all the services
to be located you need (want), when you are starting
with an empty room or building.
 It’s an extremely bad practice to have cabling (of all
sorts) running around a room, across floors, under
chairs etc., rather than having it encased in a protective
covering.
 STORING EQUIPMENT

 When storing equipment, you must consider

the factors of temperature, humidity, dust
etc.
 Although if equipment is not in use then such
factors as temperature are less of an issue
than if the equipment were in service i.e. in
current use.
 PROTECTION DEVICES
 To provide protection for computer hardware devices from
electrical problems, the following devices can be installed.
 Surge protectors
 It is a device designed to protect against electrical surges
and spikes.
 It provides no protection against blackouts or brownouts.
 Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
 It is a device designed to protect against blackouts.
 A UPS provides power automatically during a blackout
and is designed to provide battery power for a relatively
short period of time.
 PROTECTION DEVICES

 Generators
 Where an organization requires the computer
hardware to be powered for an extended length of
time, a generator may be installed in addition to a
UPS.
 This is a relatively costly option and would be
considered where the operation of the computer
hardware is considered critical to the organization.
 BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS

 When selecting computer hardware, it is important to

firstly identify the tasks the computer hardware is
required to perform.
 For example, a workstation required for video editing
will have different requirements to a workstation
required for standard office applications, such as word
processing.
 Another example is a server - the processing power and
storage capacity of the server will be determined by
the number of users it is required to service.
 WARRANTY

 When computer hardware devices are purchased,

the supplier provides a guarantee that if a fault
develops in the equipment within a certain time,
they will repair or replace it free of charge.
 Organizations need to consider the warranty
conditions before purchasing to ensure their
business needs will be met.
 A Service Level Agreement (SLA) is an agreement
which sets out the level of service and maintenance
to be provided.
 SAFE ELECTRICAL WORK PRACTICES

 Computer hardware should be located close

to a suitable electrical outlet.

 The use of long extension cords is a trip

hazard.

 If no power outlet is available, a new fixed

power outlet may need to be installed.
 SAFE ELECTRICAL WORK PRACTICES

 Any fixed electrical installation is required by

law to be installed by a licensed electrician.

 Cables should be kept away from the floor,

and a person’s workspace.

 Cables on the floor are easily damaged by

trolleys and chair castors.
End of Unit #2