A systems administrator is tasked with installing four new, heavy 4U servers into a mostly empty 42U server rack. To ensure the stability of the rack and prevent accidents, what is the MOST important procedure to follow during the installation?
Position the servers in the middle of the rack to centralize the weight.
Confirm the floor's load-bearing capacity can support the fully populated rack.
Install the heaviest servers at the bottom of the rack and work upwards.
Ensure at least two people or a server lift are used to place each server.
The correct action is to install the heaviest servers at the bottom of the rack and work upwards. This practice creates a low center of gravity, which is the most critical factor for ensuring the rack's stability and preventing it from becoming top-heavy and tipping over. While having assistance for lifting is an important personal safety measure, it does not address the stability of the rack itself. Confirming the floor's load capacity is a crucial planning step that should be completed before the installation begins, not during the physical act of mounting the servers. Placing servers in the middle does not create the lowest possible center of gravity and is not the recommended best practice for stability.