I keep a couple of RJ45 line joiners, a short crossover cable (for dealing with older gear that doesn't auto-MDIX, can be extended with a longer eth cable and one of the line joiners) and when I was dealing with fibre a lot, appropriate line joiners for the interfaces I used (SC-SC, LC-LC, ST-ST) or short lengths of patch leads with appropriate adaptors. In an emergency I want to know that I have the ends I need and the length I need to get stuff connected, even if I have to schedule a routine change later on to swap in the 'right' type of cable. I also found that the Nortel gear I used to work with, had the right serial cable pinouts that I could use a pair of Cisco OEM console cables, joined with an RJ45 line joiner, as a serial console cable, so I always carried at least two of those. A Media Converter was also useful in my fibre days, in case I didn't have any spare SFP's or appropriate fibre modules. I also carried an IEC-to-conventional-mains ("3 pin" but it's country specific obviously) to allow me to run up said media converter when the only power outlets were of the IEC sort (where the power brick was inevitably one for 'conventional' mains outlets. I used to keep CDR's (where USB wasn't always permitted) with useful software, including packet capture software, tftp server software and some other basic apps, including plenty of Portable apps. OpenOffice Portable saved me in terms of an ability to get access to documentation (in .xls, typically) when working on the console of a server without Excel installed. But yeah plenty of good sources and I do feel this should indeed be wikified somewhere. I assume http://www.as30950.net/index.php/Main_Page is a useful location? (Just found it, no idea of it's pedigree etc.) Mark. On 10/03/13 22:18, Aaron Glenn wrote:
Greetings My Ten Thousand Closest Friends,
I have a requirement to stock an actual, physical toolbox with power tools, drill bits, and other useful accoutrements one would use in a 'typical' datacenter. Can any one recommend brands/models of (preferably cordless) power tools they've used successfully? Reading Amazon reviews is killing my few brain cells that remain. Any "and you should think about stocking $X, $Y, and a couple of $Zs in your tool chest" you could impart on the list (besides the right kind of cage nuts and enough rj45 jacks)? I have that sinking suspicion my comprehensive list is not comprehensive enough. I get one true shot at this as the datacenter is very, very far from any 1st-world suppliers[1]
Very grateful for any cluebats you are able to spare on this (marginally off) topic.
Best, aaron.glenn
[1] Hargeisa, Somaliland; if you must know.