I'm getting ready for a big move—my company is relocating 1,200 miles to a new building! I have about eight rack-mounted and standalone servers that need to be moved. While I've got the logical and network planning down, I'm looking for some advice on the physical aspect of this move. My plan so far includes: 1) Carefully removing everything and taking a lot of photos for reference; 2) Wrapping the machines in anti-static coverings and bubble wrap; and 3) Transporting them in a minivan with ratchet straps to keep them secure. Am I thinking this through correctly, or should I be more cautious?
4 Answers
One thing to add to your list is to document your connections. Taking photos is great, but you should also note which devices connect to what ports, and be sure to take configuration backups just in case something goes wrong during the move. Better safe than sorry!
From personal experience, I've done a few of these moves, and they always make me a bit anxious! For a long distance move like yours, I would really recommend setting up new servers at the destination and getting everything working there before you shut down and move the old systems. It minimizes the risk of something going wrong during transit. Just my two cents!
I really don't think a minivan is the right choice here. You should absolutely consider hiring specialized and insured movers for this kind of job. It's not just about getting the servers from point A to point B; if something goes wrong, the costs can be monumental. Also, keep the hard drives in the servers if you can—they’re safer in the chassis and designed to handle vibrations during transit. Before you power down for the move, make sure to back everything up completely! And don’t forget to check that your movers are bonded and licensed; it will be worth it for peace of mind.
Couldn't agree more! When I moved two servers not too long ago, I didn’t trust the regular moving company to handle them. I moved them myself and wouldn’t recommend doing the kind of distance you're planning on without some professional help. If you can't set up new equipment at the new site, definitely look for experts who know what they're doing.
You should really consider the potential downtime risk if a server fails during transit. How much would that cost your business? Explore hiring specialized movers or think about getting redundant servers set up at the new building before you break down the old ones. Your current plan is valid, but don't forget to weigh the potential risks against just the cost!
Exactly! Why risk moving everything when you can spin up new servers and handle the migration more carefully? It gives you time to test everything before the cutover, rather than spending days troubleshooting issues from the move.