Pre-delivery/Pre-installation Checklist

The Touchpoint team has decades of combined experience delivering IT solutions.

In that time, we have learnt some of the critical things that can be overlooked by customers which have put their project budget and timelines in danger.

To help combat this we have put together the below list of potential pitfalls which we hope will help you avoid any unnecessary delays and extra costs when it comes time to deploy your hardware.

Whilst the list is not exhaustive, we encourage you to run through it with your team to maximise the chance of your project implementation progressing smoothly.

1. General Checks
   • Rack Space – do you have sufficient space in the rack to install the new hardware?
   • PDU Space – do you have sufficient ports on the PDU to connect the new hardware?
   • Cabling – do you have sufficient cabling to connect the new hardware? Ethernet, FC, Power?
   • Cabling – is the cabling of sufficient length?
   • UPS Load – will the UPS uptime be sufficient with the additional load created by the new hardware?
   • Installation – do you have the resources to install this hardware, or do you need assistance?
   • Firmware – will firmware upgrades be required on any connected hardware to add this hardware to the infrastructure?
   • Activations – are there any additional port activations required to implement the hardware, either on the new hardware itself or on any switching it is connecting to?
   • Change Management – do you have a window authorised for installation?
   • Access – do you have the goods lift, loading bay etc booked for the delivery/installation?
2. Server Hardware
   • Software – do you need software pre-installed? (Unless specifically stated in the quote, software installation/setup will not be performed by Touchpoint)
   • Licensing – do you have sufficient device or user licensing for the relevant software products to utilise the new server?
   • Rack kit – if not clearly stated on the quote, does the hardware ship with a rack mount kit included?
   • Redundant Power – if not clearly stated on the quote, does the server have (or require) redundant power?
   • iLO/remote management – has the correct level of remote management been ordered?
3. Networking Hardware
   • SFPs – have you ordered sufficient SFPs to connect the new hardware? For both the end connecting to the new hardware and the end connecting to existing infrastructure?
   • SFPs – are the correct transceivers available or on order? Connection type, optical range and distance?
   • Rack kit – if not clearly stated on the quote, does the hardware ship with a rack mount kit included?
   • Licensing – is any additional licensing required for this hardware to perform as required?
4. Storage Hardware
   • Rack kit – if not clearly stated on the quote, does the hardware ship with a rack mount kit included?
   • Connectivity – are any additional HBAs/NICs required on the associated servers to connect to the new storage hardware?
   • SFPs – are any additional transceivers required to connect the storage, in either the new hardware or in the existing infrastructure?
5. Office equipment (desktops, laptops, monitors, phones)
   • Software – do you need software pre-installed? (Unless specifically stated in the quote, software installation/setup will not be performed by Touchpoint)
   • Licensing – do you have sufficient device or user licensing for the relevant software products to utilise the new hardware?
   • Docking Station – in the case of a Laptop, is a docking station required?
   • Accessories – are there sufficient screens, keyboards, mice etc to support the new hardware?
   • Mounting Hardware – in the case of a monitor, is additional mounting hardware required?
   • PoE Budget – for any items which will draw power from the network, is the PoE budget on your switching infrastructure sufficient to support the additional items?

If any of the topics here may represent a challenge to your project, please let us know and we would be happy to help in solving it with you.