Essential Post-Holiday Ops Checklist: Keep Your Infrastructure Healthy

1. Comprehensive Hardware Inspection

Different enterprises have varying IT equipment standards; some allow partial shutdown during holidays while others require 24/7 operation. Begin by thoroughly inspecting hardware.

PC inspection should cover:

Check power supply, hard drives, and network cards.

Install the latest OS patches and update antivirus definitions.

Backup the latest applications and data.

Note 1: UPS inspection

Verify UPS age and condition, ensure it can safely shut down servers during failures, and understand failure probabilities and automatic mitigation measures.

Note 2: Cable and wiring check

Inspect all server connections, ensure proper socket‑to‑plug matching, and address any irregularities by contacting the cable contractor.

2. Server Inspection and Preparation

(1) Perform a controlled cold shutdown, then examine power supply, hard drives, NICs, fans, etc.

(2) If RAID is used, verify RAID controller and hot‑swap drive status.

(3) Clean up filesystem history to maintain sufficient free space.

(4) Clean up database history to keep adequate free space.

(5) Backup applications and configuration parameters.

(6) Ensure backup servers have enough disk space.

Note 1: System patch completeness

Apply all released patches promptly; many critical security fixes appear after long holidays.

Note 2: Data backup must not be neglected

Implement robust backup strategies—prefer external dedicated devices or cross‑backup methods, and protect backup media with passwords.

Note 3: Strengthen local file security levels

Restrict user access permissions, enforce strict file format security, and use network monitoring tools for continuous oversight.

3. Switch/Router Inspection and Preparation

(1) When possible, reboot switches/routers and conduct interface, performance, protocol consistency, and network‑management tests, preferably remotely.

(2) Clean dust from circuit boards and peripherals to prevent failures.

(3) Backup configurations (e.g., Cisco IOS) to a dedicated location such as a UNIX host or external hard drive.

4. Maintenance of the Operations Platform

During holidays, rely on the monitoring platform for real‑time system health. Identify any bugs or shortcomings, consolidate requirements, and submit improvements. The platform should provide comprehensive monitoring, set alerts, and support real‑time SMS notifications for anomalies.

5. Close Remote Maintenance Channels

Remote maintenance remains essential, but after the holiday it is advisable to close these channels for security, while remembering to restore them before the next long break.

6. Review Holiday Work

Summarize emails and documents from the holiday period, analyze achievements and shortcomings, and create a concise report. Tools like X‑mind (free version) are recommended for creating mind maps and summaries.

7. Create an Action Checklist

After the review, list immediate follow‑up tasks (e.g., unanswered emails), categorize complex issues, prioritize communication and coordination tasks, and prepare for upcoming weekly meetings.

Hope these experiences help fellow operations engineers.