[mdlug] linux hardware

[Aaron Kulkis]

Dan DeSloover wrote:
> Wow Aaron, spot on.
> 

I should hope so after all the time (all-nighters programming
and doing nasty nasty nasty calculus problems) and paying out
of state tuition to attend Purdue's College of Engineering to
study Computer Systems Engineering.

> A few of mentions:
> 
> A lower end AMD Phenom Processor (64x4) should be more than sufficient: $100.
> 
> A good stable motherboard might run you: $75
> 
> Starter kit of RAM, 4GB (I'd recommend ECC, but both the RAM and the M/B
> are way out of your price range.) $100. Make sure not to fill all of the
> slots and you can upgrade later.
> 
> Good M/B (integrated video): $75.
> 
> Good Power Supply: $75
> 
> Adequate case: $50
> 
> Two 1T hard drives run in a software RAID 1 mirror: $200
> 
> brings the total to $575.
> 

Buy a couple extra fans and blade guards,
mount them all blowing inwards,

If need be, use a Dremel tool, cut holes in
appropriate places.

Fans are EXTREMELY cost-efficient insurance.

Will it look great? Probably not.
Will it last longer/be more stable? Definitely.

> It is possibl,e but don't mistake any of this hardware for server class
> hardware. In particular I'd recommend that the first upgrade is a backup
> solution with off-site storage capability. This will save your cheese more
> often than most admins often realize because of the ubiquity of it in
> common business server systems.

This is what I ask whenever someone balks at the cost of
a reliable back-up solution:

One day, when I was in high school, I glanced out the
window during 2nd year algegra, just in time to see
lighting make a direct hit on the transformer near the
top of a utility pole -- and the shopping center across
the street IMMEDIATELY went dark.

Now, suppose, lighting struck the power line outside
and absolutely destroyed every surge suppressor in the
computer room microseconds before destroying your
computers... Insurance would pay for all of your
equipment losses.  But how much would it cost you to
re-create the data you just lost on your hard drives?

Would you even be able to recover, or would you
have no choice but to go out of business?

No, no... don't answer me now..  Spend a couple
nights in bed thinking about it.