Sounds like the server room at my last IT job
(slight repostage here)
It was in the foyer and surrounded by glass so it looked EXCELLENT for arriving clients.
In fact the whole front bank of servers were the newest and best, with matching monitors all pouring down the Matrix screensaver.
It really did look cool.
But... The UPS was plugged in so the lights were on, but nothing was actually plugged in to *it*. All the (working) servers, monitors computers etc were running off two powerboards, themselves connected to a double adapter plugged discreetly under the floorboards. At least 50 percent of the equipment in the room wasn't working at all, it was purchased at dumps, cleaned up and put in to look good (there was even an old Silicon Graphics box on one rack that caused a few double takes from anyone who knew what they were looking at). the airconditioning water tank was in the ceiling above the racks - and it leaked - so there was a plastic bucket on top of the highest server we had to empty every morning (someone had to come in on weekends to do it). They all ran illegal copies of the software we'd charged clients for, the "auto back-up" server (for so it was labelled) was in fact the office itunes jukebox and none of the cabling was marked so only the guy who set it up knew how to change anything at all.
Overheating problems? Oh yes. It was basically a sealed box with about 20 working servers in it and no aircon. Any security was completely compromised by the fact you had to wedge the door open to stop them all melting.
When this was pointed out by an incoming sysad, who did an audit of the room and noted it was all way below what was promised in various contracts, the MD shrugged and walked off.
( difficultchild, Tue 15 Jun 2010, 1:03, Reply)