As the hot weather continues and forecasts are for an even hotter period, can we spare a moment to think about our poor PCs and servers!
On a serious note, these current high temperatures can have a really negative effect on the components used within the computers and can also affect performance.
This is especially true if you run a server as part of your network. These are often locked away in cupboards or in tight corners of the office with limited airflow.
If your server is not situated in an area or room with air conditioning (and if it is, worth checking that it is working!), if possible / practical a desktop fan should be placed in front of the server and the airflow directed at the front grills.
Also, if you notice the front of the server is full of dust, using a vacuum cleaner hose to remove the dust is recommend and perfectly safe as long as you are careful.
PCs and servers are designed to draw air in through these front grills and across the various components inside to keep them cool and then expel the hot air out the back via the fans. Using a desktop fan in front of the grills greatly increases this airflow and helps reduce the strain on the internal fans.
Many servers are fitted with temperature sensors and if things get too hot, they will shut themselves down and not allow themselves to be turned on until the temperature within the server cools to a safe level to protect the components inside. Obviously if this happens during a busy working day it could cause significant operational problems.
So please take the above action if required to ensure your systems stay fully operational during this hot period.