220-1102 Question 725
Select 2Temperature, humidity-level awareness, and proper ventilationA technician is asked to investigate intermittent shutdowns in a small server room that houses several workstations and a network-attached storage device. Users report the problem happens most often in the afternoon. When the technician arrives, the room feels warm and stuffy, a portable humidifier is running continuously, and cardboard boxes are stacked directly in front of the equipment rack's intake vents. Which TWO actions should the technician take first to reduce environmental risk and improve system reliability?
- A
Remove the boxes blocking the rack vents and improve airflow around the equipment
- B
Turn off the humidifier and verify the room stays within recommended humidity levels
- C
Open the server and increase CPU voltage so the fans run at higher speed
- D
Cover unused ventilation openings on devices to keep dust and moisture out
- E
Move high-heat equipment into an enclosed cabinet to contain the warm air
Show answer and explanation
Correct answers: A, B
Explanation
The best first steps are to restore proper airflow and address humidity control. In the scenario, the room is warm, ventilation is obstructed by boxes, and a humidifier is running continuously, all of which increase environmental risk. IT equipment should operate in a well-ventilated area with unobstructed intake and exhaust paths. Humidity should also be kept within recommended environmental ranges to reduce the risk of electrostatic discharge at low humidity and condensation or corrosion issues at high humidity. Best practices commonly reference manufacturer environmental requirements and broader data-center guidance such as ASHRAE thermal guidelines for electronic equipment environments. While A+ candidates are not expected to memorize every numeric range from vendor documentation, they should recognize that excessive heat, poor airflow, and unmanaged humidity are immediate operational risks that should be corrected before considering more invasive hardware changes.
- A. Correct.
Correct. Blocked intake or exhaust paths restrict airflow and trap heat around systems, which can lead to thermal throttling, instability, and shutdowns. One of the first environmental corrections in a warm equipment room is to clear obstructions and maintain proper ventilation space around devices and racks.
- B. Correct.
Correct. Excess humidity can contribute to condensation risk and environmental instability, while too little humidity increases electrostatic discharge risk. A humidifier running continuously in a warm room is a warning sign. The technician should disable unnecessary humidification and verify that the room remains in an appropriate humidity range for IT equipment.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Increasing CPU voltage would raise heat output and is not an appropriate environmental fix. Fan behavior is controlled by firmware, thermal profiles, and hardware design, not by raising voltage as a cooling strategy. This choice reflects a misunderstanding of thermal management.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Covering ventilation openings interferes with designed airflow and can worsen overheating. Although dust control matters, blocking vents is not a valid method for protecting equipment from moisture or particulates.
- E. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Enclosing heat-producing equipment in a cabinet without proper cooling usually worsens heat buildup. Best practice is to improve room ventilation and airflow management, not trap hot air in a confined space.