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Is there any kind of tool to assist in loading an unloading servers? I realized that I lack both height and upper body strength to remove servers from the upper tiers of a rack? I could not find the name or type of equipment that folks are using to do this kind of work safely?

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12  
Isn't that what interns are for? – EBGreen Aug 10 '09 at 19:09

6 Answers

up vote 32 down vote accepted

Why is everyone giving the wrong answer?

It's called a scissor lift:

They make servers that are hundreds of pounds. Lots of storage arrays are far more than that. There comes a time when you don't want to rely on hands that were, most likely, just reaching for greasy potato chips.

Use the actual tool if server lifting is an issue.

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err... look above, first the obvious then the tool :) – stuart Brand Aug 10 '09 at 19:44
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They also make ones that are operated by cranks; we have one and it's been invaluable. Just make sure your rack is level (or at least is even with the table of the lift) before you try to mate a 200 lbs unit with it's rails, which are invariably built with the most delicate plastic and pot-metal components known to man. (I'm looking at YOU, Sun Microsystems!) – Karl Katzke Aug 10 '09 at 19:59
thanks this has been helpful – MikeJ Aug 10 '09 at 20:03
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Potato chips? Potato chips? Everyone knows that the sysadmin salty snack of choice is the cheeto... preferrably puffed. :-) – RascalKing Aug 10 '09 at 20:29
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Agreed, we use them to fill racks with blade enclosures, nobody's strong enough to do the tops ones on their own. – Chopper3 Aug 11 '09 at 10:53
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up vote 2 down vote

Assuming you can't find any interns or colleagues to help, the name of what you are looking for is a server lift. Googling for rack mount server lift should point you in the right direction.

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up vote 2 down vote

Google search for "server lifts" gives lots of results: link text. That type of lift will go to the top of a rack. We have a few in our DC, and they are invaluable.

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up vote 0 down vote

interns, coworkers, friends and step stools.

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3  
I'm not sure why this one has been downvoted so often (4 times as I type this). In smaller organisations that is exactly what you do, with the exception of the step stool, which is just plain dangerous. If you only fit a server every year or two it's hard to justify large sums on fancy equipement. – John Gardeniers Aug 11 '09 at 2:36
+1 for this one – dubRun Aug 11 '09 at 12:32
This is what you might do but its hardly safe. lifting a 25 drive raid sever into place (even empty) to a particular bay is difficult and sometimes backbreaking. I am looking for tools to not do this - technology chagnes all the time and economies of scale make a rare tool common place in a few short months. – MikeJ Mar 7 '10 at 19:19
up vote 0 down vote

My tool is named Mike.

Seriously, you just need to ask for help... some of the Dell RAID arrays we have need 3 or more people.

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Well, one can generally judge the quality of a craftsman by the quality of his tools :) – Michael Lang Aug 10 '09 at 19:32

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