Abstract: A method and apparatus features a system for automatically monitoring the operating environment and other physical conditions around and in which a host computer system operates. Sensors located around a computer system, including inside equipment cabinets and under the floor where cabling and air are ducted, are used to collect data that is frequently and periodically collected and stored along with an indication of the time and data of collection. The stored data is checked against a list of environmental parameters for the location of each sensor and an indication given when measurements indicate an environmental condition is outside discrete limits and rates of change of conditions. The stored parameters may be changed at any time from a console of the computer system.