[HN Gopher] Monitoring the vintage server room (and reverse-engi...
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       Monitoring the vintage server room (and reverse-engineering USB
       sensors)
        
       Author : classichasclass
       Score  : 39 points
       Date   : 2021-12-20 05:54 UTC (17 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (oldvcr.blogspot.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (oldvcr.blogspot.com)
        
       | Borrible wrote:
       | I like that.
       | 
       | So, on the right from the Mac, is that fire extinguisher or bug
       | spray?
        
         | classichasclass wrote:
         | Fire extinguisher. We call it the budget halon system. ;)
        
         | ubercore wrote:
         | Fire extinguisher.
        
       | cyberpunk wrote:
       | I find how untidy that room is deeply disturbing for some
       | reason..
       | 
       | We're all different, I guess.
       | 
       | Also didn't know WG could snoop USB, a neat trick!
        
         | [deleted]
        
         | drewzero1 wrote:
         | At least in my own experience, using vintage tech often
         | requires collecting a bunch of ancillary equipment to get it to
         | work, communicate, etc. Often you'll end up needing to keep
         | multiple generations of networking equipment, monitors,
         | peripherals, all only compatible with certain systems due to
         | either age or brand ecosystem.
         | 
         | I've seen a few neat setups where people specialize in one era
         | of one brand. I am not one of those people and my computer room
         | looks a lot like the pictures.
        
         | marcosdumay wrote:
         | Is it possible to gather non-standard hardware and have a tidy
         | room? (Whether you are developing, collecting, studying, or
         | just using it doesn't seem to matter.)
         | 
         | It would certainly oppose all of my expectations.
        
         | classichasclass wrote:
         | Well, we're moving, so. At one stage it was cleaner!
        
           | TedDoesntTalk wrote:
           | Why do you need a 12,000 BTU air conditioner for 3 computers?
        
             | classichasclass wrote:
             | It's more than that, and the POWER6 in particular and the
             | RAIDs run a bit warm anyway. It may be overkill but it's
             | never failed to keep the room cool even during bad summers.
        
         | nebula8804 wrote:
         | Maybe I'm biased but this seem common with all the "retro
         | computer" enthusiasts I have met.
        
       | reph2097 wrote:
       | Portable air conditioners don't work.
        
         | classichasclass wrote:
         | It works fine. The room stays cool in summer because the
         | outflow duct is wide for good flow, plus insulated and
         | separated from the rest of the room so it doesn't radiate its
         | heat back in. I've seen some bad portable A/C installs and they
         | were inefficient because they did something like make the
         | exhaust tube too long, or reduce the calibre (thereby making it
         | basically a partial blockage), or fail to insulate things
         | properly. They're not a panacea, but they do the job.
        
           | R0b0t1 wrote:
           | Are you OP? Have you looked into a minisplit? You can install
           | it through any wall. Some come with linesets long enough to
           | run to an interior room.
           | 
           | It's what I use for my "server room."
        
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       (page generated 2021-12-20 23:01 UTC)