How long will our systems be down?

It depends on how much equipment is moving and how far. We plan the move around the downtime window you set, and large moves can be phased so critical systems come back first. Moves can be scheduled for nights or weekends.

Do you move servers while they are still mounted in their racks?

Sometimes. It depends on the rack, the weight of the equipment and the manufacturer's guidance. Some equipment is removed and packed separately, and some can travel installed. We decide this during the assessment.

Who disconnects and reconnects the equipment?

Your IT team or IT vendor handles shutdown, data backup and power-up. Our crew handles labeling, packing, moving and placing equipment at the new site.

Can you move our lab equipment and IT equipment in the same project?

Yes. Many research buildings have both, and one coordinated plan covers the lab instruments, the server room and the office equipment.

Should we back up our data before the move?

Yes. Always make a full, tested backup before any equipment is moved. Data backup and recovery stay with your IT team.

Data Center Relocation Services

DATA CENTERS • SERVER ROOMS • IT EQUIPMENT

Data Center and Server Room
Relocation

Laboratory Movers, a division of Hingham Moving Services, plans and carries out data center and server room moves for businesses, universities, hospitals and research organizations.

Moving IT equipment is a lot like moving a lab. The equipment is expensive, sensitive to shock and hard to replace quickly, and every hour it is offline costs the organization. We use the same planning, inventory and handling process we use for scientific instruments, and we build the schedule around your downtime window.

close-up of server drives installed in a rack

What We Move

A typical data center or server room move can include:

Servers and server racks
Network switches, routers and patch panels
Storage arrays and backup hardware
UPS units and power distribution equipment
Workstations, monitors and office IT equipment
Lab instruments and IT equipment in the same facility

If your building also has research labs, one coordinated plan can cover both. See our lab equipment moving and laboratory relocation services.

Request a Laboratory Moving Quote

HOW A DATA CENTER MOVE WORKS

Planned Around Your
Downtime Window

Every move follows the same four steps. Your IT team decides the shutdown order and which systems move when, and we plan the physical move around that schedule.

IT technician with a laptop reviewing server racks in a data center

1. Assessment and Planning

We start with a walkthrough of the current space and the new one. We list what is moving, check loading docks, elevators, doorways and floor loads, and agree on a move date and a downtime window with your IT team.

Large moves can be split into phases so critical systems are offline for as short a time as possible.

labeled network cables connected to a switch

2. Labeling and Inventory

Every device is labeled with its rack and position before it is disconnected, and cables are labeled to match. The inventory is checked when equipment leaves and again when it arrives, so nothing is lost or put back in the wrong place.

server room with closed racks and a rolling workstation

3. Packing and Transport

Equipment is wrapped and padded for the trip, with anti-static protection for electronics. Racks and devices are secured in the truck to limit vibration and shifting, using air-ride trucks where the equipment calls for it.

Whether you are moving to another floor, across town or across the country, the equipment travels directly to the new site.

STEP 4

Reinstallation at the New Site

At the destination, equipment is placed back in its racks using the labels and inventory from step 2. Your IT team or IT vendor then powers systems up and tests them before the move is signed off.

Data Center Relocation FAQ

: It depends on how much equipment is moving and how far. We plan the move around the downtime window you set, and large moves can be phased so critical systems come back first. Moves can be scheduled for nights or weekends.
: Sometimes. It depends on the rack, the weight of the equipment and the manufacturer’s guidance. Some equipment is removed and packed separately, and some can travel installed. We decide this during the assessment.
: Your IT team or IT vendor handles shutdown, data backup and power-up. Our crew handles labeling, packing, moving and placing equipment at the new site.
: Yes. Many research buildings have both, and one coordinated plan covers the lab instruments, the server room and the office equipment.
: Yes. Always make a full, tested backup before any equipment is moved. Data backup and recovery stay with your IT team.