How do you cool a server room when the air conditioning unit isn't working? While emergency cooling solutions like portable air conditioners or fans might seem unconventional, they're exactly what our colleague Michael used when facing an overheated computer room crisis that threatened mission-critical functions.
Server room cooling failures and outages cost businesses an average of $740,357 per incident, according to Ponemon Institute research. While emergency cooling measures like fans can provide temporary relief, professional temperature monitoring with proper cooling systems prevents these costly emergencies and downtime from occurring in the first place.
We all know those days that start off badly and then proceed to get worse. That's exactly how one particular day started for Michael when he arrived at work to discover that the security siren of his office building was going off. And then he found out that his server room was the cause of it.
Watch: Michael tells his story
Turns out, the server room had overheated overnight. One of his early bird colleagues had opened the server room window in desperation - a common but risky emergency response. Professional temperature monitoring with PRTG Network Monitor would have detected the rising temperatures hours before reaching critical levels, allowing time for proper AC repair rather than triggering security alarms.
The server room's HVAC system and cooling unit had failed during the night. With no monitoring system in place to track ambient air temperature and cooling capacity, the temperature steadily climbed until it reached dangerous levels. By morning, servers in each server rack were at risk of permanent damage from overheating.
Faced with potential equipment failure and no immediate AC units repair available, Michael implemented a creative interim cooling solution. He positioned multiple industrial fans throughout the small server room to create proper airflow, move hot air away from equipment, and bring cool air circulation to reduce ambient temperature around critical server racks.
While unconventional, this emergency cooling measure bought valuable time. The fans helped circulate cold air and prevent hot spots from forming around critical equipment in the computer room. However, this was clearly a temporary fix with limited cooling efficiency requiring constant temperature control and adjustment.
The fan solution worked for several hours, keeping equipment operational while permanent repairs were arranged. But Michael knew this wasn't sustainable - professional monitoring would have prevented this crisis entirely.
PRTG Network Monitor offers comprehensive environmental monitoring sensors specifically designed for server room cooling management:
PRTG supports multiple environmental monitoring systems including SNMP Poseidon Environment sensors and interSeptor Pro devices for continuous temperature, humidity, and airflow monitoring of HVAC systems. These sensors track environmental measurements with very low performance impact while providing critical data for data center cooling and air conditioning management.
Configure instant notifications via email, SMS, or push notifications when temperatures exceed safe thresholds or cooling requirements aren't met. PRTG's alerting system prevents air conditioning failures before they impact your mission critical infrastructure by detecting early warning signs of cooling systems problems, including compressor issues, evaporator malfunctions, or refrigerant leaks.
Track temperature trends to identify cooling system inefficiencies and optimize HVAC monitoring performance before emergency situations arise. This data helps predict cooling needs, BTU requirements, and maintenance schedules for high efficiency operations while preventing future failures of AC units, dehumidifier systems, or heat exchanger components.
PRTG's environmental monitoring capabilities include SNMP Poseidon Environment sensors that track environmental measurements on Poseidon hardware via SNMP. The interSeptor Pro Environment sensor integration allows monitoring of Jacarta interSeptor Pro environmental monitoring systems via SNMP, providing comprehensive environmental oversight. These sensors support IPv6 and have very low performance impact, and can be configured with custom thresholds for immediate alerting when environmental conditions exceed safe parameters.
IIndustry standards recommend no less than 6 temperature sensors per server rack for comprehensive monitoring of cooling efficiency and proper cooling distribution. PRTG's environmental sensors can be deployed at:
Rack intake points (front: top, middle, bottom)
Rack exhaust points (back: top, middle, bottom)
Room ambient monitoring locations
HVAC unit proximity for failure detection
Ambient room temperature: 18-27°C (64-80°F)
Rack intake temperature: 18-27°C (64-80°F)
Temperature differential: Less than 20°C (35°F) difference between inlet and outlet
Humidity levels: 40-60% relative humidity
| Approach | Response Time | Cost | Reliability | Prevention |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency Fans | Hours | Low | Temporary | None |
| Professional Monitoring | Minutes | Moderate | Continuous | High |
| Portable Air Conditioners | Hours | Moderate | Temporary | Low |
| No Monitoring | N/A | Very High | Reactive | None |
Michael's fan solution worked as an emergency measure, but proper monitoring would have prevented the crisis entirely. Here's how to implement professional server room cooling monitoring:
Deploy PRTG-compatible temperature sensors at critical monitoring points throughout your server room, including cold aisle and hot aisle locations, near rackmount equipment and cooling units.
Set temperature and humidity thresholds based on ASHRAE recommendations for your equipment class, considering cooling capacity, BTU requirements, and proper cooling distribution across your computer room.
Create escalation procedures for different alert levels, ensuring rapid response to cooling system issues including air conditioning failures, condensate problems, or chilled water system malfunctions.
Regularly review historical data to identify patterns and optimize cooling system performance, including HVAC systems efficiency, liquid cooling effectiveness, and water cooling operations.
"Professional temperature control and monitoring isn't just about preventing emergencies - it's about optimizing cooling efficiency, managing cooling needs, and reducing operational costs before air conditioning problems occur."
While emergency cooling solutions like fans can provide temporary relief, they're no substitute for professional monitoring:
Don't wait for your next cooling emergency or HVAC system failure. PRTG's environmental monitoring sensors can detect temperature problems and cooling capacity issues before they impact your mission critical infrastructure, saving thousands in potential downtime costs and preventing overheating damage.
Prevent server room cooling emergencies with PRTG's professional temperature monitoring. Start your free 30-day trial and protect your infrastructure before the next AC failure strikes.