I have a single server rack (31 of the 42U occupied) in a small (about 10'x10') basement room in a building that is seeing some light renovation… nothing huge, but some non-load-bearing-walls going up in what used to be a cafeteria to create a hallway and rooms, with associated drywall, dropped ceiling, and new floor tile work. Specifically, there will be a mudding/sanding crew coming fairly soon for finish work on the drywall. I can't move or disconnect the equipment in the rack. What can I do to protect my switches and servers from the resulting dust?
Specifics on the room: there is a dedicated air conditioner just for the server room, but it's not by any stretch a clean room. Workers will not have access to the server room, and there is no drywall work in the room itself. I already have a small home air purifier in the room that is getting a new filter prior to the work, and I'm planning some extra down time in late May when I can open up individual machines for cleaning (think PC vacuum and canned air). Is there anything else I can or should do to protect the equipment from dust? I'm most worried about it getting in the bearings of cooling and power supply fans.
Best Answer
In this situation, I'd tend to go the cheap/easy route - head to your local home improvement store and pickup a couple cheapo furnace filters. Then fasten them somehow (bungee cords?) to the front of your server rack. If you're unable to get a good "seal" between the filters or around the edges, just seal it up with packaging tape.
The filters will restrict airflow a bit, but it shouldn't be so much as to cause a problem.
(I have to credit Alton Brown's Beef Jerky recipe for the inspiration to use furnace filters in an unconventional way)