7-4 Maintenance
Cleaning the Interior
One of the most important items in a good maintenance program is regular and thorough cleaning of
the interior of the server, especially around the baseboard.
Dust buildup inside the server can lead to several problems. As dust acts as a thermal insulator, a
buildup can prevent proper system cooling. Excessive heat will shorten the life of server
components. Also, dust may contain conductive or corrosive materials that can cause short circuits
or corrosion of electrical contacts.
How often you should clean the interior of the server depends on the environment in which it is
located. For most office environments, you probably should clean the server every 12 months.
For more severe environments, clean the interior every 6 months.
Cleaning the interior of the server entails powering off the server and removing the left side cover.
You will need a small vacuum cleaner (with plastic tipped nozzle and electrostatic protection),
computer grade canned air, and a small brush for cleaning the interior.
Follow the procedure below to clean the interior of the server.
WARNING
Unplug all power cords.
Unplug all power cords before performing any maintenance. Voltage is present
inside the server and display unit even after the power is turned off. All voltage
is removed only when the power cord is unplugged.
1. Turn off the server and unplug all power cables.
2. Remove the top cover. (See Chapter 9.)
3. Use a small brush to loosen any dust and debris on the baseboard.
4. Use computer grade canned air to blow dust off components on the baseboard.
5. Use a small vacuum cleaner with plastic tip to vacuum out dust and debris from the
interior of the server.
6. Reinstall the top cover. (See Chapter 9.)
7. Reconnect all power cables and turn on the server.