[ILUG] Should I get a new server?

[Patrick O'Connor]

On 16/06/07, Timothy Murphy <tim at birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie> wrote:
>
> I think this is my desktop's 10th birthday.
> It's an Asus PIII (P2B-LS) 450MHz motherboard,
> with built-in SCSI controller,
> purchased from Educom (do they still exist) in Dublin.


Think so ... http://www.educom.ie/

It used to be my only machine,
> but now it functions as a server,
> and in fact is quite hard to access as it is in a linen cupboard.


Given its age it would be an absolute must (is it ever not??)  to have a
backup procedure in the eventuality that it gives up the ghost. Becasue the
box is locked away an off-site backup service like
keepitsafe<http://www.keepitsafe.ie>would probably suit you.


The machine works perfectly, and is my conduit to the world
> via Sir Anthony's excellent ADSL service.
> The only problem I ever had with it was 2 or 3 years ago,
> when the BIOS disappeared.
> Surprisingly (to me) I was able to re-flash it,
> and put in a new CMOS battery.
>
> But I feel slightly ashamed of this ancient piece of hardware,
> and feel it really ought to be re-cycled.


Like everyone else I'm in the "if it ain't broke don't fix it camp".
Sounds like you might just have an itch you want to scratch though, maybe
get some kit to set up a media server or a phone server or even a full home
automation set-up. At the minute I've a bunch of projects on the go ranging
from setting up asterisk, a media server (mythtv), a linux terminal server
(using ubuntu) and replacing my file server with two NSLU2s running debian.
Its great craic problem solving and every time you get something up and
going it makes the next project easier.
Any project like that may be just the rationale you need to get a new toy to
play with ;)

My 2c,
Patrick

Am I right?
> If so, can I find a new server satisfying the following criteria:
>
> 1. Reasonably cheap;
> 2. Takes SCSI disks
> 3. Will last for 10 years
>
> I await the ILUG oracle ...

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