We are nearing the silly season and with only a few weeks until Christmas it won’t be long before we will be rushed off our feet! Although these checks are done regularly (You did them last week, right?) it’s always wise to check everything is in working order prior to any big event and allow enough time to resolve issues.
This is a good time to inspect your servers and and other hardware and check them over to avoid any potential issues or even worse, downtime, during one of our busiest times of the year.
It looks long but this is not a complete list and worth the time to review each item:
Check the ACR server:
- Inspect the front of the server for any error lights. If any amber or red error lights are illuminated, contact support immediately: 02 4725 2020.
- Check ventilation. A server requires good airflow to perform and cool as expected. If the airflow is restricted to a server it can work unnecessarily hard to cool itself and put the server at risk of sudden shutdown or reboot if core temperatures hit thresholds.
- Vacuum any loose dust from the front of the server VERY CAREFULLY to ensure the server can efficiently cool during high load.
- Label the server. Make sure the ACR server is clearly labelled so anyone unfamiliar with its appearance can easily be guided through troubleshooting with our support. This can help reduce time wasted trying to identify where to look if an issue arises!
- Overall server appearance or operation. If something doesn’t look, sound or perform right and you are not sure, call us! We enjoy a little chat so what’s to lose?
Inspect backup media:
- Your backup media (USB hard drives or tapes) should be handled with extreme care which we know you all do. A backup is worth the whole business’ survival in times of last resort! Avoiding high temperatures like the car dashboard in summer and rapid journeys to hard surfaces like the floor, your backup media should be fairly safe.
Signs of damage and wear. If a hard drive is looking a bit dented, worn or looking a bit tatty, this might be a good indicator of a high risk of failure. Damaged disks (or tapes) should be replaced before they have the chance to fail. - Don’t leave all backups on-site at the same time. You should have multiple backup media and at least one copy should be kept off-site. Pro tip: A car’s glovebox subject to heat is not ideal.
- Accidents happen. If your hard disk has become airborne and lands abruptly or the toddler found it and used it as a Frisbee, don’t stress! The best action is to explain what happened to support so we can check the hard drive/tape for errors. Even if no errors are found we may recommend considering a replacement.
Make sure all laser, label and till printers are in working order.
- Look for print quality issues. If printing is not clear, has lines or there are other visual issues, follow the manufacturers recommended maintenance or troubleshooting procedures (eg. Print head cleaning, drum replacements etc.). This gives you time to repair the printer and part orders to arrive if they are required.
- Listen for any unusual mechanical noises. Although printers are not often quiet, loud ‘clunking’ or unusual sounds could indicate old age, wear or failing parts and the printer might need a service.
- Pro tip: It might also be a good time to make sure stock levels of printer paper, shelf/despatch labels and POS rolls will be suitable for the rush.
Computers and POS systems
- Make sure it’s up-to-date and scan. This should be performed at least weekly and if your software allows it, schedule automatic updates and scanning and check it’s functioning regularly.
There are many things to check over on your server and hardware but by doing a regular ‘walk-around’ with a checklist you might be able to avoid or mitigate any serious business disruptions!
As they say “time is money!”, so don’t let downtime cost you when things get busy!
Tech Team