[GRLUG] Net-top as server?

[Michael Mol]

Steve Romanow wrote:
> Benjamin Flanders wrote:
>> My server at home exploded this morning.  Pretty sure it was the power
>> supply, but I just unplugged it and went to work so I'll know more
>> when I get a chance to look at it.  Exploded is a bit of an
>> exaggeration. It went pop, loud enough for me to hear it from one
>> floor away, and died.
>>
>> Anyway the question is would a net-top be powerful enough to setup as
>> a file and media server.  I had plans on setting up Apache as well,
>> but I hadn't around to it yet.  I used sockso, but I might setup a
>> more powerful media server in the future when/if I setup an
>> entertainment PC next to the tv.
>>
>> Those small, power sippin' little boxes really look appealing as
>> compared to what I did have, which was a full mini-tower scrapped
>> together with the remains of past desktops.  I would put ubuntu server
>> on it, I wouldn't need X.  How powerful are those little atom chips?
>>
>>   
> I personally think it is worth it.  There is one web mention on a blog I 
> frequent that someone mentioned doing the same.  Let me see, umm.  The 
> byobu dev mentioned setting up a dell mini9 at his parents as a little 
> server.
> 
> I think the machine would be fine for serving up existing files, but I 
> would draw the line at any transcoding. 
> 
> The Radio Shack on 28th has a couple of models for ~350 and abc 
> warehouse had the HP model in their sale paper last month for 200 I 
> think.  Worth a shot.

There's a small computer shop on the corner of Ivanrest and 28th st 
that's selling tiny refurbished DeskPros with 2.4GHz P4 processors for 
$125 apiece.  Might be worth looking into.  I couldn't tell you what 
their power consumption is, off-hand.  They might be willing to cut a 
deal if you ordered several of them without an operating system; They 
might be able to take those keys and use them on something else.