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Hardware Maintenance

       Computer hardware maintenance involves taking care of the computer's physical components, such as its keyboard, hard drive and internal CD or DVD drives. Cleaning the computer, keeping its fans free from dust, and defragmenting its hard drives regularly are all parts of a computer hardware maintenance program.

       Maintaining hardware helps to extend the computer's lifespan. It helps to prevent wear and tear, and keeps the system functioning smoothly

      Keeping computers away from dust and dirt, keeping them clean and avoiding extreme temperature changes all help to maintain hardware, according to Gateway.com. Keep liquids away from the computer. Brainbell.com says that solvents should never be used to clean a computer; rather, you should wipe the monitor and keyboard regularly with a soft cloth.

5 steps to establishing a flexible hardware maintenance plan

1. Start Keeping track on warranties

   Carefully identifying which systems are on their initial warranty, when those support plans run out, which solutions are covered by an OEM extended warranty, those termination times, what infrastructure is supported by a third party and what the details of those plans are is integral to getting off to a good start in managing maintenance plans. IT managers who want to establish effective maintenance plans need to make sure they are able to effectively track when systems go off of different warranty types and make sure they have a solution in place for the next support contract.

    Managing warranties can be overwhelming, but some third-party hardware maintenance providers offer specialized services in helping clients handle warranties and avoid a gap in service.  

   
   2. Make sure you understand all of your support options

    Third-party hardware maintenance services are still relatively young in the marketplace, and different alternatives to the OEMs are emerging to meet industry requirements. However, many IT managers are not familiar with all of their support options because OEMs tend to make arguments that sound like any alternatives will not be able to get the job done. This is not the case, however, as third-party specialists are often able to offer benefits that OEMs cannot match. Understanding the current alternative support options, and keeping track of the market moving forward, is key for IT leaders trying to make effective support plans.

 3.  Take a close look at the budget

   Most IT budgets are split between capital and operational expenses, but maintenance issues touch on both areas. On one hand, a decision to not support systems and refresh hardware creates considerable new capital costs. On the other, turning to extended support plans creates more operational fees to deal with. Regardless of which type of support plan IT teams prefer, understanding the relationship between how maintenance decisions impact every phase of the budget is critical to ongoing success.

 4. Be ready for unexpected issues to arise

       Anytime an IT manager is trying to make plans for hardware that has reached legacy status, he or she needs to be ready for surprises. At this stage in a hardware item’s life cycle failure could happen at any moment and significant changes could become necessary. Having a hardware maintenance plan in place that is flexible and adaptable is key.

 5. Understand how long hardware can last

Different types of systems have different life cycles. Furthermore, some individual components are easier to repair or replace than others. A storage array may be capable of functioning well for 10 years or longer, while a server may be too limiting from a performance perspective to last longer than four or five. Incredible variance is possible in this sector, and IT managers can maximize value if they understand how long systems can be used and maximize their value.