=> Ideas + Tips
Idea + Tip 8: Wireless network your Ethernet thermometer
By attaching your Ethernet Thermometer to a simple wireless network base-station, you can place your Ethernet Thermometer in places where you may not necessarily have Ethernet cabling. It works like this...
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๏ Setup your wireless network, with a standard IP address (e.g. 192.168.1.253)
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๏ Give your Ethernet Thermometer an IP address within the range set up on your Ethernet and Wireless network (e.g. 192.168.1.254)
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๏ From a workstation in range of the wireless network (that has a working wireless network card installed), connect to your Ethernet Thermometer (e.g. http://192.168.1.254)
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๏ Whola! You should be able to access your Ethernet Thermometer’s web page, as if it was connected to your Ethernet network directly
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๏ (You may need to turn off DHCP on your wireless network if you are experiencing problems with your configuration)
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(We’ve seen clients use our Ethernet Thermometers with Apple Airport Express network devices, as they are ultra-portable and easy to set up. The same principle will also work with other brands of wireless devices).
So many options
Want to get the most out of your Ethernet Thermometer? Well, we certainly want you to.
That’s why we’ve dedicated this section to innovative ways that you can use your Ethernet Thermometer.
Idea + Tip 1: Get Alerted
Our Ethernet Thermometers are packed with uses. While you may like to just “monitor” the temperature via the built-in web-server, what if you want to get an alert?
Email...
You can get alerts via email; Just configure your email address into your Ethernet Thermometer.
Email a list...
Or, you could configure the Ethernet Thermometer to email a mailing list (e.g. several people) on your mail server.
SMS...
Alternately, configure the device to send you an SMS. You will need to subscribe to an ‘email-to-SMS’ service such as utbox.net. That way, whenever an alert is sent, you’ll get notified, regardless of whether you’re reading your email or not.
All Three...
Or, set up a mailing list on your mail server, that goes to several people, plus goes to an ‘email-to-SMS’ service. That way, should the temperature go outside your set limits, one way or another, you’ll get informed!
Q2G6-84CP-VAFD for a AU$5 discount on signing up to Australia’s Utbox.net (email to SMS service provider)
Idea + Tip 7: Mount AWAY from direct heat-sources - but high up in your server rack
If you mount your Ethernet Thermometer right near a heat-source (such as a fan on a computer or file server), you are naturally going to get an influenced temperature reading, because the temperature probe is receiving the direct heat from that source.
Instead, mount your Ethernet Thermometer in an area where it will be most likely to receive an accurate temperature reading.
And since our Ethernet thermometers have long leads, you can place the metal casing in one spot, and place the temperature probe in precisely the position you want it to go.
Do you have a tip or idea?
With your permission, we’ll happily share your tip with others, so that more people can benefit from your idea!
Contact us with your tips at any time of day or night.
Idea + Tip 2: One per rack
If you have more than one server rack, by putting an Ethernet Thermometer into EACH rack, you will find out sooner if there is a temperature rising incident, because:
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๏ A server failure could occur locally within one server rack, which may not be ‘noticed’ in another rack for some time (e.g. if each rack is self-contained)
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๏ Each server rack will most likely run at a slightly different temperature, depending on the server workload, configuration, and proximity to your air-conditioning outlets.
Idea + Tip 3: Plug it into your UPS
If you have a UPS (uninterruptible power supply), make sure that your Ethernet Thermometer is attached to your UPS. That way, you are covered during temperature fluctuations, whether or not you have mains-power.
Idea + Tip 4: UPS to shut-down your servers
If you have a UPS (uninterruptible power supply), you may want to make sure that it is set to automatically shut-down some of your server equipment, when there is a power-cut.
Why?
Well, if you have no mains-power, you’ll probably have no air-conditioning. If you have no air-conditioning, the more servers that are still running, the hotter your server room is going to get.
Don’t forget to always have your Ethernet Thermometer attached to your UPS. That way, you are still covered during temperature fluctuations, whether or not you have mains-power.
Idea + Tip 5: Charting, graphing, or plotting the temperature from your Ethernet Thermometer
The temperature that your Ethernet Thermometer shows, is the current temperature right now, in the room that you are monitoring. But what if you want to chart, graph, or plot the temperature, over a period of time?
You have several options available to you, depending on your tools and skills available to you.
Some folks use the SOAP / XML to code a solution (see page 25 + 35 of the TME Manual). For example, you can access the current temperature in XML by accessing “tme.xml” on your thermometer. E.g.
You can write a script to grab the ‘temperature’ value from this XML path, to save the current temperature (and date + time), and then chart this file separately.
Or, you can use HTTP GET (page 21 of the TME Manual) to get the current temperature, and save and plot the data from there.
You could even set SNMP traps to grab the temperature on a regular basis, and to save the details to file. (Depending on the capabilities of your SNMP trapping / monitoring software).
Download the ETHERNET THERMOMETER Instruction Manual (PDF) here for further information or to use as a reference guide.
Idea + Tip 6: Work out your IDEAL server room temperature
Most server rooms aren’t designed for humans to work in there for long periods of time... So, it’s best to work out what your “ideal” server room temperature is, to allow your servers to keep cool, without working your air-conditioners too hard.
As a general guide, many people aim for a temperature in the range of approximately 18-21 degrees C. Keep in mind though, that factors such as where your room is located (on the outside edge of a building for example), how often people walk into the room, and the type of doors/windows you have, will all affect how accurately your room maintains it’s temperature range.
