[tech] Power situation in Machine Room

[mattman at ucc.gu.uwa.edu.au]

Well howdy ya'll,

As most of you would be aware by now I imagine, the University/Guild  
conducted surprise RCD testing the other day (grrr).

The outcome of this was that:
    a) an RCD does in fact need replacing;
    b) the electrician was of the opinion that we really did need to  
sort out the power situation in the MR - he was happy to turn a blind  
eye, but did strongly urge us to fix it to improve safety.

So, to address (b), here are some ideas for discussion:

   1) Power distribution strips in the racks to stop the power boards  
dangling around
     - doesn't even have to be proper ones, could be just some longer  
power boards cable tied into the rack
   2) Hooks on the roof to carry extension leads coming off the boards  
to get them up off the floor
   3) Racking up Mermaid and Merassu to:
     (a) Improve airflow around them
     (b) Keep them with all the other servers where we have networking  
gear and power
         - this in theory should make them easier to put on the UPS  
should we want to.

Not power related, but some other things I've been pondering while in  
the clubroom today:
   - tidying up the cat5 spaghetti - can utilise the same hooks on the roof
   - given that the MR is an enclosed space with a higher risk of fire  
due to its contents, it should probably, in theory, have a A:B (E)  
fire extinguisher.

Anyway, as I said, ideas to discuss - ideally some of this could be  
carried out before Wednesday when the RCD gets replaced (or at the  
same time if the powers going to be off anyway) - I fly out to Sydney  
on Tuesday but can try and action some of this stuff either today  
(Sunday) or Monday morning if people are happy.

Cheers,
Matt [MRD]