Server Maintenance Checklist

1. Visually inspect servers for error indications. Most of the popular server-class hardware
systems have intuitive lights, LEDs, or other indicators that provide basic status information. Amber, orange, or red indicators may signal failed or prefailed components or disconnected devices. Green generally indicates good status.

2. Update antivirus package definitions. Ensure that your antivirus engine is up to date with the
current standards for your package. But be careful about updating scan engine and program versions.

3. Perform a supplemental virus scan. A virus scan lets you verify the effectiveness of the
Installed antivirus package. defragmented can optimize disk 4. Perform/schedule disk defragmentation. Keeping hard disksis being executed and that the I/O performance. Ensure that your scheduled defragmentation schedule is in line with operational requirements of the system(s). to assess the 5. Inventory operating system service packs and updates. Use dynamic tools Windows environinstalled and currently available versions of operating system configuration. For ments, a popular stand-alone tool is the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA). This tool can assess the operating system risks by its current mix of installed service packs and updates. MBSA can help 6. Inventory critical application service packs and updates. TheServer, and otherwith this task. You can inventory SQL Server, IIS, Internet Explorer, Exchange top-level Microsoft programs in the same fashion as the operating system reporting. Tools are available to inventory all installed software.

7. Test your backup and restore mechanism. Even if you have a reliable backup system or

confidence in your backup mechanism, ensure that your processes in place are familiar and that they execute correctly.

8. Review operating system logs. For Windows systems, review the event log for suspicious or
unexpected entries.

9. Audit the active accounts. Review the user accounts and groups on the server (and critical
applications) to ensure that theyre still needed. Look for accounts that are for individuals no longer using the system.

10. Check password integrity. Ensure that complex password configuration is enabled
in alignment with your security policies.

11. Check the uptime. Check the uptime of the server(s) with the Windows Uptime Resource Kit tool

or other similar mechanisms. Reconcile this with your server logs or what you expect to be the uptime. This can warn you of problems or security breaches that may have gone unnoticed during performance observations.

12. Check available disk space. Ensure that all disk drives have adequate free space on the drive. A
recommended amount of free space is at least 25 percent of the total drive size. Defragmentation tools may alert you that their effectiveness is compromised if less space is available.

13. Verify UPS battery performance. Test the power protection mechanism to ensure that it is running
correctly

14. Ensure that memory and cpu use is normal. Verify that your systems have adequate memory
installed for the current usage.

15. Examine RAID configuration. If RAID is used, be sure the configuration is correct and does not
contain any errors

16. switches and that the cables are free from defects and damage and servers have not been
plugged into incorrect locations

Examine your networking equipment connectivity. Verify that servers are plugged into correct

17.

Inventory network configuration. Double-check your full networking configuration to make sure the desired protocols are running, the subnet mask and default gateways in TCP/IP are correct, the DHCP and DNS primary and secondary server entries are in the right order.

18.

Inventory Windows services. Examine the Windows services that are set to start automatically. Verify that the list of services is correct and that no unnecessary services are starting. Also look to see whether any services are set to Automatic startup type but arent running.