What's new with the Web Action Team
- Author: Karl Krist
Published on: December 20, 2010
Power.
Power to the People.
Not Power to the Machines.
Anyone who has seen the Terminator movies knows 2 things:
#1- Our current governor is the greatest cyborg killer that will ever be created.
#2- If we let the machines get too powerful, they will end up taking over the planet and hunting humans for sport.
Personally, I'd like to avoid that ever happening. (you decide whether or not I am referring to both items.)
So it is up to us to keep the machines from being too powerful. And we do that by destroying the machines whenever we can. Here's some photographic evidence of our work. This server is going to that great colo rack in the sky, and I couldn't be happier.
When the machines take over, Paul will be their first target.
Let me translate all of that nonsense into something better.
We're consolidating services. We're getting rid of servers. We're buying new, highly efficient servers. We're making the world a better place for our offspring (who may actually be our fathers, but that's Terminator 3, and things really went downhill with that one).
The University spends tons, and tons of money on electricity. Much of it goes to computers, and servers. We've made it a priority to reduce the number of servers we run, and to reduce the overall power load they require.
We're going to take a lot of servers offline in the next two months. Some will be replaced by faster/more efficient servers. But our overall power draw will be less than it is now.
That's the entire message of this post. We're working to reduce our energy consumption by making better use of the servers we have.
But really, don't be standing near Paul when the robot overlords descend upon us to extract their revenge...he's got silicon on his hands, and they won't like that.
Next week: an analysis of your office chair and the Maximum Overdrive effect.
Tags: IT Today (11)
Comments: 5
If anything, he'll be made into a Borg.
We take a look at a lot of factors when determining what happens to an old server:
First, can we re-purpose the server for our own uses? We do that a LOT. We're currently in the process of adding two new servers, and through an intricate series of trickle-down changes, we'll get rid of 4. We move services to the best appropriate server.
Second, we check to see if any other units on the UCD campus can use the servers. We do this through the TSP (Technology Support Program) email list. Typically a 'decent' server will be snapped up in seconds. AND, the new owner will come and pick it up. Path of least resistance for us!
Third, assuming that nobody on TSP wants to give a server a new home, we'll attempt to sell it through the Bargain Barn. We don't really make much money doing it that way, but it is a good way to allow someone else to repurpose the equipment. We need to make sure every scrap of data is removed from the server (same with option two) but seeing it go to a good home makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside.
Lastly, we will send it to the UCD salvage group. They'll dispose of it as e-waste. AND, they'll charge us money to do that. So this is our option of last resort. It's also a sure-fire way to be a target whenever the machines rise up...which is why this is Paul's job.
So to answer your question...NO, we don't throw these in the garbage!