Knowing what you have.
WHAT TO RECORD FOR EVERY ITEM
What it is Serial number
Where it is: room, rack, position
What it connects to Who owns it When it was installed Warranty status What it does
THAT LAST ONE
The most valuable field, and the most commonly missing.
WHY IT MATTERS
Equipment whose purpose nobody knows is never decommissioned, and consumes power indefinitely.
WHAT AN ACCURATE INVENTORY ENABLES
Capacity planning Rapid response during incidents Knowing what is affected by any work Verified decommissioning
WHAT TO RECONCILE
The record against physical reality, periodically.
WHAT YOU WILL FIND
Equipment not recorded Records for equipment no longer present Positions that have changed
WHAT TO LABEL
Every item, matching the inventory.
WHAT TO UPDATE
The record, at the time of any change.
WHY AT THE TIME
Records updated later are not updated.
WHAT TO TIE TO IT
Monitoring, so anything not monitored is visible.
