What does one do with a server?

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The server that is serving this blog is a monster.  It’s also connected to a monster connection.  I purchased a Dell PowerEdge 1950 thinking Cellarspot would succeed, and I colocated it on a 100mbit connection.  Well Cellarspot didn’t succeed, and now I have a dragon with nothing flying on its back.  I need some advice on what I can do with this thing.  Here are the options:

  • Purchase a DreamHost or SliceHost account, take my machine out of colo, and sell it
  • Sell my machine and internet connection as a packaged deal
  • Sell services such as game server hosting (CS, BF2, etc), FTP, etc
  • Install SETI@HOME and stop complaining, knowing I’m helping science
  • Something else?

I’m inquiring about this because I’m tired of spending a lot of money on a system that isn’t used to its fullest potential.  However, I love having the freedom of my own machine.  Plus just being able to say I have a colocated rack-mount scores points with the ladies.  Haha.

What do you think?  Do you need a service that requires a practically dormant monster?  Do any of your friends?  Reply in a comment or shoot me an email: alexloddengaard -at- gmail -dot- com.  Here are the specs just in case:

  • Dual 2-core Xeons @1.6GHz w/ 4MB cache
  • 4GB Buffered ECC DDR memory
  • 2x250GB SATA, hot-swappable HDs in hardware RAID1
  • Redundant, hot-swappable power supplies
  • 100mbit connection, hosted in Issaquah, WA
  • 20GB monthly transfer
  • Currently running Ubuntu
  • http://goodmorningeconomics.wordpress.com jsalvati

    Whatever you do, don’t do SETI. If you want to do charity, sell it and donate it to GiveWell (which researches other charities and donates to the most effective (in terms of lives saved or a few other measures) one). Not that SETI is bad or anything, but you should get the most out of your charity dollars that you can.

  • rob

    I got a small project. How much?

  • http://www.alexloddengaard.com Alex Loddengaard

    Thanks for the idea, jsalvati! Rob, I’ll shoot you an email.

  • http://arcanius.silverfir.net Ryan

    bash.org needs a new server……..

  • http://www.alexloddengaard.com Alex Loddengaard

    Interesting, Ryan. Thanks for the info!

  • http://www.linode.com/ Tom Asaro

    Check out Linode.com and browse your current provider’s forum — there may be someone already colo’d there that needs a new server.

  • http://www.tuftsmania.com chris nguyen

    selling hosting services requires too much of your own time to run on a smaller scale (support, stupid users, etc etc). –i should mention that i’ve tried doing it.

    note: i’ve been on dreamhost for like 3 years now and you can’t beat the features. their reliability is a weak point, but i’m willing to accept the tradeoff.

  • http://www.alexloddengaard.com Alex Loddengaard

    Thanks for the link, Tom.

    Chris, I totally agree that running services will be time consuming, though I don’t think I mind so much. I almost like playing sysadmin :). We’ll see what happens. Thanks for your feedback, though!

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