This is a listicle of things you need if you don’t want to die cold and alone on your first datacentre trip.

Good luck. You’re gonna need it.

1. Headphones

Unless you like the monotonous drone of thousands of servers whirring away at once, headphones and some music are essential. Just be careful, there’s nothing more scary than zoning out to music whilst removing on a rack only to see a face looking back at you from the other side! Especially if you’re listening to a Stephen King audio book.

2. Labelling device

Dynamo labeller, fancy printing device, duct tape and a sharpie, doesn’t matter what it is. Get one and use it everywhere. I guarantee you won’t remember which box is which out of the 40 identical Servers you’ve racked today next time you visit. Not labelling things also means you hate your fellow coworkers, which in turn, makes them hate you.

3. Velcro cable ties

Think the plastic ones are more secure? You’d be right, but enjoy the rats nest you’ve just made for yourself when you want to do something as simple as moving a cable. It also looks much less dodgy if you happen to have your bag searched when you get there, and you’re also carrying item 4…

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