time sink 42

Thu Feb 16 21:45:49 UTC 2012

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Majdi S. Abbas [mailto:msa at latt.net]
> Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 16:35
> To: Randy Bush
> Cc: North American Network Operators' Group
> Subject: Re: time sink 42
> 
> On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 01:08:46PM -0800, Randy Bush wrote:
> > ok, this is horribly pragmatic, but it's real.  yesterday i was in the
> > westin playing rack and stack for five hours.  an horrifyingly large
> > amount of my time was spent trying to peel apart labels made on my
> > portable brother label tape maker, yes peeling the backing from a little
> > label so remote hands could easily confirm a server they were going to
> > attack.
> 
> 	Randy,
> 
> 	Personally, I got tired of buying batteries, and expensive label
> tapes, and tend to stick with Avery labels from the office supply store
> (or Brady labels for cabling), and preprinting.  Either can be run
> through a typewriter, and the Avery labels tend to run through a standard
> office printer just fine.
> 
> 	Then I just have to peel a standard label off of wax paper, which
> is much easier than dealing with plastic tape that appears to be fused
> to its backing at the factory.
> 
> 	The split back variety is a little better, but even then it can be
> hard to get your fingernails under the other side.  We haven't really
> improved much on labeling technology in decades.
> 
> 	--msa

No mention of good (*detailed*) documentation based on model/serial number and facility rack ID/rack position in case the label were to inadvertently be removed/fall off/etc.?

Only issue with that approach is that if the colo facility moves your hardware at some point you need to ensure that they let you know that so you can update your documentation to coincide with (hopefully) their documentation of where your equipment is located.

Justin