Scored some servers at auction - not sure what to do with them reddit / selfhosted ---------------------------------------------------------------------- tootallfortheliking · 2023-10-19 19:20 I know, you get this post all the time. Perhaps additional context will help separate me from all the other posts. I won some great equipment at a local City auction recently, most notably a couple of PowerEdge R430s. They have dual Xeon E5-2620 procs in them with 32GB RAM. They pulled the drives, but my buddy is dropping by a handful of old server SSDs that I can throw in them. Now, I'm trying to get some ideas on what I can use at least one of them for (will probably resell the remaining equipment I got in the score. Current focuses are on learning web dev (learning Angular and JS right now). I have gig internet from Spectrum with my own modem/router. I have access to Windows licenses etc. I'm just not sure what to do with this thing now that I have it. I welcome your suggestions, both serious and in jest. Thanks in advance. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- dazchad · 2023-10-19 19:29 I'd resell the servers since you don't actually know what to use them for. They suck up a lot of energy and are noisy. With your profits, I'd buy a quiet miniPC or a not-too-old desktop PC. Any modern laptop is enough for web dev. If you still want to keep them, then: https://github.com/Kickball/awesome-selfhosted ---------------------------------------------------------------------- tootallfortheliking · 2023-10-19 19:34 Thanks for your response. I've been in IT for 15 years now or so, but only a wide berth of knowledge, but no depth in any one topic. That said, I'm sure I can find a use for one of them, I'm just a bit directionless on what to do, so I'm looking for input. I'm installing a minisplit in my office, and have no issue racking up one (or multiple) devices and dealing with the noise and heat outputs. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mrkesu · 2023-10-19 20:00 What did you intend to use them for when you bought them, and what made you abandon that idea? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- onlyati · 2023-10-19 20:08 I think that server is overkill for you. If you would like to learn webdev, you can simply use your PC. But it is up to you, having dedicated development machine has its advantages. But regarding selfhost, you are now would like to see solutions and you can find your problems for them. This is not a good approach, this is not how the world should work, in my opinon. First find problems, then find solutions for them. So as advice, just start learning webdev and try to host your stuff (even for yourself only as practice). As you do it, you will meet with a lot of problem then, you can finf solutions for your problem. What kind of problems? Few example: * At some point you may thing that you want your own repository (git server) to host. * Or you don't want to remember port numbers just use subdomains, you need a proxy. * You need databases, how to backup and restore them? * Database query seems slow so you want to use some distributed cache? * Needs running multiple instances? Need proxy, load balancer, and so on But these things are solutions for something that you do not have yet, problems. It is not sure that you need all of the things from list and you probably will need others. So just do something on your machine, you will find your problems, then you can find solutions. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- tootallfortheliking · 2023-10-19 20:08 Great question! I actually didn't have any specific purpose when buying them, I saw an opportunity to pick up a server and have some fun learning ---------------------------------------------------------------------- thekrautboy · 2023-10-19 20:13 [What next](https://www.reddit.com/r/selfhosted/search?q=what+next&res trict_sr=on&include_over_18=on&sort=relevance&t=all) [What should i host](https://www.reddit.com/r/selfhosted/search?q=what +should+host&restrict_sr=on&include_over_18=on&sort=relevance&t=all) [Get started](https://www.reddit.com/r/selfhosted/search?q=get+started &restrict_sr=on&include_over_18=on&sort=relevance&t=all) [Beginner](https://www.reddit.com/r/selfhosted/search?q=beginner&restr ict_sr=on&include_over_18=on&sort=relevance&t=all) [Bored](https://www.reddit.com/r/selfhosted/search?q=bored&restrict_sr =on&include_over_18=on&sort=relevance&t=all) > I know, you get this post all the time Hmmm > Current focuses are on learning web dev Development isnt exactly the focus of this sub. Maybe ask /r/webdev or similar subs. > Perhaps additional context will help separate me from all the other posts. It did not, sorry. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- dazchad · 2023-10-19 20:39 That’s alright. I bought a thinkcentre m910s off Facebook marketplace for $40 and I have no idea what to use it for, since I already have a synology and a beefed up Intel NUC. Sometimes getting the deal is too good to pass up lol ---------------------------------------------------------------------- tootallfortheliking · 2023-10-19 20:59 For sure! I got the 2 R430s, an R340, 2 rack mounted UPS systems, 2 Cisco 2900 routers, and a Cisco 7800 MCS for $170. Couldn't pass it up. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TheNodeRunner · 2023-10-19 21:28 Jesus christ that's a score ---------------------------------------------------------------------- tootallfortheliking · 2023-10-19 21:32 Right - couldn’t pass up. Just don’t know what to do with it. Will probably keep one and put esxi on it, and then 🤷🏻. Will probably sell the rest ---------------------------------------------------------------------- chansharp147 · 2023-10-19 23:13 Proxmox virtualization and grow from there ---------------------------------------------------------------------- uprightanimal · 2023-10-20 20:27 Agree with dazchad. Unless you really like noise and heat, still them at a profit, load up a couple decent microPCs (HP elitedesks are good when they have vPro). Stick 32GB in each and run a 2-node cluster with your preferred hypervisor. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- tootallfortheliking · 2023-10-20 20:27 Thanks for the rec! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- MrFlibble1980 · 2023-10-21 21:03 ESXi ftw!