Protection of Computerized Equipment for a Weather-Related Emergency
This general information is provided by OCIO-IS to help you prepare your computer equipment to survive a weather-related emerency. Each department should develop a plan to coordinate these efforts to ensure that all equipment is properly prepared. Check with your department's Information Technology coordinator, or Business Manager to see if there are such plans, which should be the primary source of information for both advance preparations and recovery.Before leaving the office:
- Safeguard Data: If you have important files (letters, documents, spreadsheets) on your computer's hard drive (C:), copy them to diskette or thumb drive and take them with you. DO not copy your hard drive to a server (e.g. Homeroom, LYNX servers); such actions put the entire server and your data (as well as your coworkers') at risk. If you saved any significant amount of work to your file server within the last 48 hours, you may want to take a copy of only those files with you to be sure that they are safe.
- Logout: Follow normal logoff/signoff procedures for computer systems.
- Power Down: Power down (turn off) all computer related equipment including workstations, monitors and printers.
- Unplug Equipment: Unplug power cords of computers, monitors and printers from the wall. Don't unplug telephone or data network cables unless equipment must be moved (see below). If these cables must be disconnected, unplug the "equipment end" rather than the "wall-jack end" of the cable, and affix a label or tag to the cable to identify which specific piece of equipment it was connected to.
- Move Equipment: Move equipment away from windows and off of the floor to avoid possible water damage.
- Cover Equipment: Cover computer equipment securely with plastic sheeting after power-down.
During the Weather-related Emergency:
In order to facilitate communication and support emergency operations, most central servers and host computers will remain operational unless conditions become so severe that we are ordered to completely power-down the computer room.The Network PPP dial-in server, as well as VPN and internet access, will also remain available as long as possible.
If you have any specific, computer-services-related questions, please call Information Services at 792-9700.
Upon return to normal operations:
Assuming conditions are safe and dry,
- Uncover equipment.
- Move equipment back to desired location.
- Plug in the network connections into computers and printers.
- Plug power cords into computers, monitors and printers.
- Power up equipment.
- Follow normal login procedures.
