Planning for Server Downtime 325 planning for Server Downtime It's time for a reality check. You simply can't keep a server running forever. Eventually, it will have to be taken offline for repair or replacement. As the server administrator, you must be prepared for server downtime. After a server is down for repair or updates, you'll need to reboot it to put it back in service. To be effective, you'll need to understand the boot process so you can trouble- shoot problems that may occur during boot up. In this section, you will review important actions required when you're planning for server down time and you'll learn about the server boot process for Windows servers. executing the planning actions for Downtime It is essential that server administrators carefully plan server downtime. Unexpected downtime is very frustrating to users and can cost more in time and money than properly planned downtime. Anytime you must temporarily remove a server from the network, you should perform the following actions: 1. Determine the best time to take the server offline. This is typically a time when fewer users are accessing the services the server offers. It may be late at night or on the weekend, so be prepare to schedule your time at work. 2. Announce the server downtime with as much advanced notice as possible. At least a week is usually suggested. If you announce the downtime more than a week before the scheduled procedure, be sure to remind everyone one week before and again one day before the event. 3. Inform the appropriate technical support staff ahead of time of their responsibilities during the downtime. These individuals may include help desk personnel who must communicate with users who may call to report issues because they did not receive the advanced notifica- tions. They may also include the administrators who will perform the procedure during the downtime. 4. Make sure to spend time evaluating and estimating the amount of time the procedure will require. You do not want to schedule an event only to have insufficient time to complete the process. O Many organizations also announce server downtime an hour before the event via email or another method of mes- sage delivery in the organization.