I got a server, what should I do with it?

[Valkaiser]

Well, the professors here know that I am crazy, so when they decided that they didn't need this anymore, they knew who to call. It's an AS/400e model 720, has 15 hard drives (possibly 5GB each), and needs a 250V outlet. It's only about 7 years old, so if I figure out how to run it, what should I do with it?

[Puritan]

Create a free MUD server for CAA, so we can bring the chat to a whole-new text-based RPG level.

[Valkaiser]

Hmmm, I've heard of those. Sounds fun, I'll look into it.

[Puritan]

Wow...you might actually make a MUD. I thought people wouldn't take me seriously... Mad props for actually knowing what a MUD is and even considering setting one up....I'd certainly play some if I knew of a reasonable server...

[Valkaiser]

Heh, I looked it up once, but never tried one because I'm internet shy (the CAA is a first and only for me). Granted figuring out how to use this thing is going to take me a while (spent hours reading up on it already and I still don't know how to start one up and login properly), but a MUD would certainly be within it's capabilities, as far as I understand them.

[Raiden no Kishi]

Overtax the thing and use it as a cooking surface.

.rai//

[Valkaiser]

Overtax the thing and use it as a cooking surface.

.rai//

Well, there is an empty compartment in the middle (next to the hard drives), I bet that if I set it to write to all of the hard drives simultaneously I could cook stuff in it......

[Icarus]

Create a free MUD server for CAA, so we can bring the chat to a whole-new text-based RPG level.

Oh my gosh, that SWINGS. On multiple levels!

...

To those who have not encountered me before, "swing" means really, really good. The verb form loosely translates to "is awesome."

[Mithrandir]

/me stays out of one part of this discussion.


So... do you have a 250V outlet for it?

[Valkaiser]

So... do you have a 250V outlet for it?

Nope, I'm going to have to wire it up to a transformer. I just need to make sure that it won't flip the breaker for my room (might need to run cables from another room with a separate breaker). Large gauge wire may be needed for that.

[Mithrandir]

O.O

You're going to... Uh... Have you ran that by an electrician yet?

[Valkaiser]

O.O

You're going to... Uh... Have you ran that by an electrician yet?

Don't worry, I'm not going to do it without thoroughly researching it first. Plus, I'm almost 3 years into a degree that includes lot's of Electrical Engineering stuff, and I'll probably run it by a family friend who is an actual electrician.

[Mithrandir]

That's good. If you can tap off a 250V line at the breaker, it would be easier, but otherwise - you'll just wanna be sure you've talk to your guy.

Luck to you! Have you thoroughly researched the OS and hardware? What's it currently running? Will you have to do a full install?

[Esoteric]

I dunno..I think making a toaster oven woud be preety cool. You'd have the only one like it...anywhere.

[Valkaiser]

That's good. If you can tap off a 250V line at the breaker, it would be easier, but otherwise - you'll just wanna be sure you've talk to your guy.

D'oh, good point, I'll look into it.
EDIT: Right now I'm living in a dorm, so tapping a 250V might not be possible. It's a good idea for when I get it home though.

Luck to you! Have you thoroughly researched the OS and hardware? What's it currently running? Will you have to do a full install?

I'm still researching, there's a lot of material left to cover. I think it's running OS/400 V5 R3, I have the install CD's for that one anyway. I think that it is already installed, but if I can get stuff going then I'll want to do a fresh install so that I can understand the process better. The base system specs show a PowerPC architecture, possibly with multiple processors.

I dunno..I think making a toaster oven woud be preety cool. You'd have the only one like it...anywhere.

But, I don't really eat toast....

[QtheQreater]

You're going to try and hook that friggin thing up at our HOUSE?!?!?! MADMAN!!!

Although, making a server out of it for CAA stuffs...interesting idea.

But I'm still wondering how you plan to get it home.

BTW: Please don't burn down the dorm. I've got 2 friends that live in there...not to mention yourself, bro...

[Warrior4Christ]

So... do you have a 250V outlet for it?

You could... send it to Australia!

[CreatureArt]

You could... send it to Australia!

I'd hate to see what the postage would look like for something of that magnitude.

Kudos to you on the project, Valkaiser. I'm impressed by your craziness and vision!

[Zilch]

Find a high window.

Create a server crash.

OMGRANDMOTHERROFLDINOSAURSRUNNINGTHROUGHLAZARSPEWPEWPEW!

Other than that, go MUD so I can get eaten by a grue or anything of that text goodness.

[Valkaiser]

BTW: Please don't burn down the dorm. I've got 2 friends that live in there...not to mention yourself, bro...

And when was the last time that I accidently set something on fire?:eyebrow:....
Wait, don't answer that!

You could... send it to Australia!

Sure, just give me your latitude and longitude so I can crank up the old catapult and send it to your house in style.

Kudos to you on the project, Valkaiser. I'm impressed by your craziness and vision!

Thank you, most of the other students think that I've lost it (even my own siblings....).

Find a high window.

Create a server crash.

OMGRANDMOTHERROFLDINOSAURSRUNNINGTHROUGHLAZARSPEWPEWPEW!

You know, I wouldn't be surprised if it continued running after hitting the ground. Lifting it through the window would be quite a challenge however.

Okay, I made a bit of a breakthrough today. I've been attempting to get a smaller server of the same series (acquired from the same source, model 170) running before I start messing with the 250V issue on the other one. Mere moments ago, man had communication with machine! Our conversation went something like this:
Valkaiser: *finally finds the proper power on sequence*
Valkaiser: *turns on the machine*
Machine: Whhhhrrrrrr, hummm.
Valkaiser: *waits 30 min*
Machine: *lights Attention LED*
Machine: *displays "B9003121"*
(roughly translated this means "Help! Help! My brain is missing!" or more succinctly"Software installation error")
Valkaiser: ...
Valkaiser: ...
Valkaiser: *finds appropriate recovery procedure*
Valkaiser: *implements procedure and restarts machine*
30min later
Machine: *displays "B9003121"*
Valkaiser: *sighs and finds alternative procedure*

I am still working on that last bit, but this is real progress!

[Warrior4Christ]

Can I ask how the power was supplied to the machine in it's original location?

[Valkaiser]

You mean the bigger machine? It was just sitting in a storage room. If you mean wherever it was last plugged in, the utility room in the CS department has a 250V plug, I assume that would be how they powered it.

[Valkaiser]

I'm still working on this.
The smaller server I mentioned previously is up and running. The professor that provided me with these came by and determined that I was missing the proper cable for my console, so we searched until we found it, and now it displays. I did a complete wipe and reload of the OS and discovered some interesting tidbits about the hardware (4 4GB disks, 384MB of RAM, and possibly a 200Mhz RISC64 processor). Now it sits purring behind my desk 24/7 awaiting a free moment.

Work on the big server will have to wait as I have been disuaded from trying to rig a proper outlet, but when I get home I have one in the garage that I can use.

(Nuts! As I typed this I managed to get myself locked out.... *sigh* I think I can fix it without reloading, maybe....)

[Mithrandir]

Ouch. Getting locked out of your own system sucks. Some OS's have root PW wipe utilities that can be run from removable media. You might look and see if yours does. Good luck!