Access Grid Room Plan

Once a clear picture of the required layout is obtained, you can begin selection of the appropriate components from the approved equipment list in this document. Whenever possible develop a basic diagram and plan to guide the installers during construction. The plan should detail component placement including any shelving required to support it, cable placement and routing to racked equipment, and technicians' console placement. Thought must be given to how cabling will be routed so that it will be as unobtrusive as possible. This often requires long cable runs and the amount of cable needed must be taken into account when procuring equipment.

Another consideration will be the location of the racked equipment - computers, Gentner, networking gear, etc. This equipment, like any high performance electronic equipment, utilizes fans to dissipate heat generated during operation. These fans generate a significant amount of noise that will have a detrimental effect on sound quality. It is recommended that this equipment be placed in a room adjacent to the Access Grid room to eliminate this problem. Keep in mind that the operators console must be available in the Access Grid room itself. If this is not a practical solution, the equipment will need to remain in the Access Grid room and some form of noise suppression must be obtained that will not impede the flow of cooling air. This may also be accomplished by placing the equipment away from the users in a larger facility.

Once the equipment has been obtained installation may begin. It is recommended that computers be pre-loaded to speed installation but they may be configured once they are in place. This will be determined by availability of time and access to the equipment for staging. Staging simplifies the installation by verifying the condition off the equipment and ensuring all of the components are functioning properly.