I have to live with me
So today I was having a conversation with a co-worker from our Portland office and the following emerged from my fingertips:
"Yes well you don't have to live with me so it's hard for you to see :). I have to live with me see... although I keep trying to get me to move out. I'm getting on my nerves."
I'm sure everyone's had a point in their life where they have thought something close to this.
Well I suppose it would be good to let everyone know what's going on...
Nothing! BWAHAHAHAHA!
Okay in all seriousness now, I really haven't been doing much of note lately other than work :). I'm currently finishing up a large refurb project on quite a few computers I've inherited/bought. When the machines are (finally) finished, I'll have loads of computing power and absolutely no clues what to do with it! :) Actually I have quite a few ideas, I'm just not sure which ones I have time to implement. Also from the house of Power Consumption: I just aquired three SMC 8624T TigerSwitch(es). These switches are fantastic devices and SMC's warranty on them is wonderful. They replaced a unit which had the password set to something strange and after five minutes on the phone with them, sent me a brand new RoHS model (which I dig). I'm giving one of these units to Devin who set me wise to their abilities. Thanks D!
Beyond the computers I'm working on a couple of solutions for a renewable power system. Right now my server room circuit is pushing 10A and with all the new machines coming online it will probably be near 25A of constant-load power (this is when they're _idling_). Now that works out to a ton of power consumed each hour and while power rates in Snohomish County are better than Whatcom, they're still moderately pricey. So the plan is to try and implement something solar (I have a relatively reasonable amount of roof-space) to supplement my existing power grid. Currently I'm researching the solutions others have come up with in an attempt to find one that will work easily for me and my budget.
I think it would also be nice to come up with a sort of continuous monitoring system for power and heat in the server room. My summer projects include building a rig to hold at least one air conditioner for the machine room and I want the ability to monitor the room environment and if possible, adjust it remotely. The biggest problem with closing a room to outside air is, if your cooling dies, your machines die with it, literally. I gambled on a heavy-duty Kenmore AC unit up in Bellingham (and won... that time) but I really don't want to do that again, not with so much equipment at stake. The biggest problem will be balancing the heat load with the air conditioner's capabilities. 10K BTUs will not work this time around, so I may have to put two 12K units in to handle the heat load. I have yet to do the wattage computations for the machine room so I can figure out how much heat I'm creating.
Honestly I don't have the slightest clue why I'm putting so much work into this (I'm literally creating my own mini-datacenter). But it keeps me busy and I get to play with computing hardware, which is something I'm very good at.
Finally a shout out to Ryan who just moved into his first house (well first house he owns). Grats man, hope it's a wonderful experience.
And on that note I'm going to get back to work! Have a pleasant day everyone.