What should I do with this server?

[ces160]

Hi Everyone, 

 

Recently I was lucky enough to get one of my companies old servers that they were discarding. 

 

The exact model is a Dell PowerEdge XS23-SB.

 

The important specs are as follows (the server has 4 nodes with the following specs in each node);

 

- 2 x Intel Xenon L5420 quad core cpu's

- 32Gb DDR2 ECC Ram

 

The exact model can be found here;

 

http://unixsurplus.com/product/dell-poweredge-xs23-sb-8x-l5420-25ghz-quad-core-128gb-4x1tb-4-nodes-server-w-rack-kit

 

For a few months now this has been sitting under my bed for a multitude of reasons ( 1. It sounds like a JET engine when it is on, and in a one bedroom apartment I really have no where to put it).

 

So I come to you, what should I do with it? My options are;

 

1. Break it down into 4 separate commuters and use a more traditional ATX type cases where I can control the noise better? This would involve getting 4 LGA 771 motherboards, 4 cases and 4 power supplies.

 

2. Sell it? As I live in Australia there is not to many of these types of things available. I am confident I would be able to sell if for around $2300 AUD.

 

3. Refurbish it and get some where to host it (its a little beat up and missing all but 4 of the drive caddies)? Again, Australia. Hosting will cost allot and my home upload speed is almost non existent, so trying to upload anything to if from my home would be extremely slow.

 

And if I were to keep it, what are some of the things I can use it for?

Is there anything the LTT community could use this for? Let me know what you think. 

 

Thanks for the help.

 

-Cameron

 

[TheKDub]

1. There are only two CPUs, not four, so you could only break it into two different servers/computers.

 

2. If you need the money and have no use for it then sell it and upgrade/build your rig.

 

3. Wouldn't bother with it.

[ces160]

1. There are only two CPUs, not four, so you could only break it into two different servers/computers.

 

2. If you need the money and have no use for it then sell it and upgrade/build your rig.

 

3. Wouldn't bother with it.

There is a total of 8 CPU's. 2 x CPU per node x 4 nodes.

[givingtnt]

if you lived in canada. id buy it

[Destroyer]

I would just sell it TBH

[TheKDub]

There is a total of 8 CPU's. 2 x CPU per node x 4 nodes.

 

Ah alright.

[Enderman]

1. There are only two CPUs, not four, so you could only break it into two different servers/computers.

 

2. If you need the money and have no use for it then sell it and upgrade/build your rig.

 

3. Wouldn't bother with it.

You cant really break one server into 2 separate computers without buying two new motherboards and PSUs, one for each CPU.

[ces160]

You cant really break one server into 2 separate computers without buying two new motherboards and PSUs, one for each CPU.

I was thinking of getting 4 of of these Intel S5000XVN SATA boards and running them as 4 separate computers.

 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-Intel-S5000XVNSATA-motherboard-2-X-LGA771-S5000XVNSATAR-RAID-7-x-USB-/251253679680?pt=Motherboards&hash=item3a7fe2e640

 

I would also have to get 4 new cases and 4 new PSU's

 

Do you think its worth it?

[TheKDub]

You cant really break one server into 2 separate computers without buying two new motherboards and PSUs, one for each CPU.

 

1. Break it down into 4 separate commuters and use a more traditional ATX type cases where I can control the noise better? This would involve getting 4 LGA 771 motherboards, 4 cases and 4 power supplies.

[Enderman]

 

What you said was to divide one server into 2 computers since it had two processors.

I know the OP means something different.

I was talking to you, not the OP

[Enderman]

I was thinking of getting 4 of of these Intel S5000XVN SATA boards and running them as 4 separate computers.

 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-Intel-S5000XVNSATA-motherboard-2-X-LGA771-S5000XVNSATAR-RAID-7-x-USB-/251253679680?pt=Motherboards&hash=item3a7fe2e640

 

I would also have to get 4 new cases and 4 new PSU's

 

Do you think its worth it?

not really unless you want a rendering farm or can sell those computers, I dont see how else you would use them...

[ces160]

not really unless you want a rendering farm or can sell those computers, I dont see how else you would use them...

I considered the rendering Idea. Ran some tests when I got it and my 2600K rendered the same content in about half the time one of the nodes did.

[Enderman]

I considered the rendering Idea. Ran some tests when I got it and my 2600K rendered the same content in about half the time one of the nodes did.

Then I wouldnt use them for anything.

 

Sell them if possible, or put them on display somewhere

[Kingofpants]

Try Proxmox to break it into a lot of Virtual Machines.

[TheKDub]

What you said was to divide one server into 2 computers since it had two processors.

I know the OP means something different.

I was talking to you, not the OP

 

He had corrected me on the number of CPUs.

There is a total of 8 CPU's. 2 x CPU per node x 4 nodes.

[ces160]

Then I wouldnt use them for anything.

 

Sell them if possible, or put them on display somewhere

Thanks, kinda thought is was a bit old. Might sell it and use the money to build a new home media / file server.

[ces160]

Try Proxmox to break it into a lot of Virtual Machines.

OK, so what can I do with a bunch of Virtual Machines?

[Enderman]

He had corrected me on the number of CPUs.

I replied to you at almost the exact time he did, so i didnt see his reply until after I had posted mine. Thats how the forum works

[Kingofpants]

OK, so what can I do with a bunch of Virtual Machines?

It's basically just a whole bunch of computers, you could lease them on rent if you have a Static IP and a good internet connection.

*Static IP is not completely necessary.

[Lingrah]

JUST SELL IT! then you can use that money to upgrade your currnet PC

[swagfag]

Hi Everyone, 

 

Recently I was lucky enough to get one of my companies old servers that they were discarding. 

 

The exact model is a Dell PowerEdge XS23-SB.

 

The important specs are as follows (the server has 4 nodes with the following specs in each node);

 

- 2 x Intel Xenon L5420 quad core cpu's

- 32Gb DDR2 ECC Ram

 

The exact model can be found here;

 

http://unixsurplus.com/product/dell-poweredge-xs23-sb-8x-l5420-25ghz-quad-core-128gb-4x1tb-4-nodes-server-w-rack-kit

 

For a few months now this has been sitting under my bed for a multitude of reasons ( 1. It sounds like a JET engine when it is on, and in a one bedroom apartment I really have no where to put it).

 

So I come to you, what should I do with it? My options are;

 

1. Break it down into 4 separate commuters and use a more traditional ATX type cases where I can control the noise better? This would involve getting 4 LGA 771 motherboards, 4 cases and 4 power supplies.

 

2. Sell it? As I live in Australia there is not to many of these types of things available. I am confident I would be able to sell if for around $2300 AUD.

 

3. Refurbish it and get some where to host it (its a little beat up and missing all but 4 of the drive caddies)? Again, Australia. Hosting will cost allot and my home upload speed is almost non existent, so trying to upload anything to if from my home would be extremely slow.

 

And if I were to keep it, what are some of the things I can use it for?

Is there anything the LTT community could use this for? Let me know what you think. 

 

Thanks for the help.

 

-Cameron

make a NAS with a million movies on it!