[Cialug] inexpensive file/print/terminal server

[Nathan C. Smith]

Kendall,

I've seen this kind of thing when the CPU gets too warm and is actually
insulated from all the dust around it or a bad fan.  It may just need to be
blown out or vaccuumed.  

-Nate

-----Original Message-----
From: Kendall Bailey [mailto:krbailey at gmail.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2005 10:42 AM
To: Central Iowa Linux Users Group
Subject: [Cialug] inexpensive file/print/terminal server


A friend has an old/slow laptop (256 MB though) which runs Linux, but modern
browsers are slow.  I set up a 1 GHz pIII running debian, headless in her
basement and it runs (ran) as a terminal/file/print server.  But now it
seems to be dying.  It runs fine for minutes or hours after a power cycle
but then just stops responding.  I put a monitor on it, which just goes
blank on failure.  No response to keyboard or network.  Power light, HD and
fans stay on though.  Any clue how to diagnose it?

I run the same kind of setup, with a fairly old Athlon 1GHz.  Both the
Athlon and pIII I picked up on ebay for about $100 each.  Searching for just
the right basic hardware is not easy though.  Anyone have advice for finding
a 1GHz or faster machine with 128MB or more at reasonable price?  No need
for CD-RW or graphics card or even sound. 
I put a new 80 GB drive in the pIII, so I don't even need a HD this time.
Just USB, ethernet, and preferrably a CD drive to install from.

So is ebay the best place to look, or is there something more local that
does not impose a MS tax, and might have good used hardware?  Or have you
all found that new hardware is worth the cost?  If so, where to get
bare-bones systems?  I've never built one from parts but if someone in the
group would like to provide ongoing advice on what to buy, I'd be willing to
try...

Thanks,
Kendall
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