You’re opening up for the day and you click on the ACR shortcut and the software won’t load so you check other computers and notice that you’ve lost internet access, or your network has gone down, or the worst of all the ACR server isn’t responding.
So you’ve picked up the phone and called the friendly ACR support team who’ve asked you to locate a particular piece of equipment but you’re unsure what the “router” or “switch” actually are or where they are located.
These handy tips can help speed up the troubleshooting process.
Removal of Unused Hardware
It is a good idea to remove unused and obsolete hardware to prevent confusion and potential conflict issues with newer hardware.
Labeling Current Hardware
Labeling your can help quickly identify the location of key devices and how they relate to the network.
Here are some labeling examples you can use to identify these components:
ACR server:
- A clear and visible label “ACR Server”
- The server IP address
- The remote console IP address
- The server’s main network cable
- The remote console network cable
Router/modem:
- A clear and visible label “Router” or “Modem”
- External IP address
- Internal IP/Gateway IP address
Switches:
- A clear and visible label “Switch”
- Which ports are for the ACR server
- Which port is for the router/modem
UPS:
- A clear and visible label “UPS”
- Which power cables are for the ACR server
- Which power cables are for other key hardware
Hardware Documentation
Keeping up to date documentation on the locations of these key hardware devices which is stored in a central location preferably next to your ACR server can also assist in tracking down those pesky routers and switches.