General Procedures for working in Hardware

It is important to follow some general procedures while working in the hardware area at Computerbank.

These include:

• We request that all hard disks are wiped before they are booted. Computerbank is committed to protected the confidentiality of donator information, to ensure this we ask that no one boots a donated system.
• Disks that have been wiped are to be labeled wiped and dated. The wiping process also provides some rudimentary disk testing, if a disk fails wiping - please label it DEAD and put it in the hard drive recycling bin.
• Disks over 8 gig should be removed from systems and placed in the valuable hardware cupboard, please notify the Hardware Co-ordinator (s) if you find or wipe a disk over this size.
• Computers are classified according to their CPU speed, Computerbank can generally distributes systems that are higher than a Pentium II 350MHZ (minimum spec). Pentium III's are used for Community Group Builds. From time to time we will keep under spec boxes for use in thin client networks, and to sell in our thrift store.
• Boxes designated for recycling, will be labelled "S" or "Strip" for strip, ask if you are unsure.
• Unless otherwise stated, all stand alone systems are to be built to a minimum specification, this is a minimum PII 350 MHz, with 128MB RAM, 5-6 GB HDD, video card and network card.
• Servers are built as needed, they are generally built up from the higher spec components.
• All systems must have all faceplates, no holes!
• All valuable hardware must be kept secure at all times. If you come across valuable hardware that is not secure, please notify the Warehouse Manager or the Hardware Co-ordinator.
• We ask all volunteers and staff to remember to label, number and sign all paperwork required as part of our system build process. Complete systems should always have a CBV ID number. The CBV ID number is also recorded in the CBV Hardware Register (green folder) and on the white board in the hardware area. The CBV Hardware Register is a registry of all computer systems built to date. If you come across a system that does not have a number, please return it to Hardware for registration.
• We request that all volunteers, as much as possible, clean up at the end of the day and label any unfinished work. Unfinished work should be left in safe condition and should not interfere with the work of other volunteers.

These and additional hardware procedures and information can be found in the Hardware Documents section of our documentation site.

It is important to remember to ask questions and seek additional information if you are unsure about what you are doing.