4 ms·

Ask HN: Where to donate two Dell servers?

12 points by java-man 12y ago

Hi there, I have two Dell PowerEdge 1950 servers I bought for a project which now runs in a cloud. I would rather donate them to a worthy cause. Any suggestions or takers? Thanks!

deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
- java-man 12y ago
  These are 1U rack-mounted servers. Each has redundant power supplies and 16 mini-fans, noisy as hell. Don't want children to go deaf. ;-)
java-man 12y ago
Should probably say this: Dell PowerEdge 1950 Servers Intel Xeon 2.66Ghz dual core 16 GB RAM 2 x 250GB HDD redundant power supplies
jkrippy 12y ago
Kramden would be my suggestion if you are in North Carolina, USA: http://kramden.org/donate-a-computer/ http://kramden.org/donate-a-computer/
- java-man 12y ago
  I'm in California. Used computers are used to prop up open doors ;-)
  - mdaniel 12y ago
    Since you're in California, you may have good luck contacting Green Citizen: http://www.greencitizen.com/locations/ http://www.greencitizen.com/locations/ Depending on how one is to interpret the "donate" verb; whether it should be to a charity that will use them, a charity that can sell them or just to not put them in the landfill.
    - java-man 12y ago
      Yes, thank you. Recycling is the default place they will go if nobody takes them. A pity - they are very well built and have decent specs. I was hoping they might still work for somebody.
      - mdaniel 12y ago
        I think there are a couple of moving parts to that request: shipping is a real thing (at least the servers that I've touched are not something I'd want to put in UPS), a facility would need racks and a place to keep the noise away, plus staff that are used to dealing with rackmounts, and finally the eternal problem of connecting with the audience who haven't read this post. In some ways, giving(?) them to an e-cycler that puts them on eBay is addressing that last problem, it just robs you of the tax write-off.
thaumaturgy 12y ago
You might check in with OpenBSD, they're always trying to do a lot with very little, but I don't see any items on their want page that match your servers (http://www.openbsd.org/want.html http://www.openbsd.org/want.html).
- java-man 12y ago
  Thanks for the pointer! It looks like my hardware is not on the list.
Halfman 12y ago
Hey, we are a french tiny start up making softwares to help doctors healing cancer (Currently in developpement but experimented in public hospitals). If you don't know what to do with them : they can help us fighting that damn cancer. Tell me if you are interested i'll give you a way to contact me :).
- java-man 12y ago
  I would love to, but the cost of international shipping will be prohibitive: these things are large and quite heavy. I would imagine the cost of shipping would exceed their price on ebay. Unless you can pick them up in Palo Alto.
  - Halfman 12y ago
    Hmmm, can you give me the weight of one of them please? And no, I don't have friends in California :(. Nearest one from California are in Montreal :p.
    - java-man 12y ago
      Here is the spec from dell web site: Chassis 1U Rack-mountable chassis 30.4" (77.2cm) D x 16.7" (42.6cm) W x 1.67" (4.26cm) H with bezel attached Rack Weight 35.8 lbs (16.3 Kg)
      - Halfman 12y ago
        Thanks, importing them to France will approximately cost $500 :(.
      - java-man 12y ago
        That's right, sorry. You might take a look at the local ebay listings. Or, perhaps, construct a cluster out of Raspberri Pi's - save on electricity as well. :-)
        Halfman 12y ago
phantom_oracle 12y ago
Make your own life easy and give them away to the people that are logistically nearest to you. A public school, a public hospital or some other institution whose prime purpose is to benefit humankind will be your ideal bet. Or you could also donate your time + the servers by teaching kids at a public school about system administration, etc.
ollybee 12y ago
I have 12 of these to get rid of in the UK and it looks like I will have to pay to have them disposed of. The problem with servers of this age is that power consumption is 3 to 5 times that of a modern server. The extra cost of the power would more than pay for a new server over its lifetime.
- java-man 12y ago
  Exactly what I was thinking. Still, perhaps somebody can use it.
tekknolagi 12y ago
Hi java-man, I'm Max Bernstein, a student at Tufts University. I am starting a GNU/Linux User Group, the first of its kind at my school. We're currently looking for hardware because we want to offer web and general server space to our members. We could definitely use these servers. If you're open to it, I would appreciate the donation! EDIT: Incidentally, I am in California for the next week on Spring Break if that makes pick-up easier! Best, Max
- java-man 12y ago
  Will you be able to pick them up in Palo Alto? Also notice their weight and dimensions (somewhere in the comments).
  - tekknolagi 12y ago
    Yes — I live in the area. I would just have to pick them up before Saturday.
    - java-man 12y ago
      great! reverse md5 hash in my profile to find me.
      - tekknolagi 12y ago
        Can you contact me (email on http://bernsteinbear.com http://bernsteinbear.com) or is this MD5 rainbow tabling necessary?
      - java-man 12y ago
        No, not necessary. Just sent you an email.
hashtree 12y ago
Oddly enough, I have two Dell PowerEdge 1850 servers for anyone interested in the Fort Collins, Colorado area. They have been sitting on a bread rack for a while now and could use a good home.

12 points by java-man 12y ago

Hi there, I have two Dell PowerEdge 1950 servers I bought for a project which now runs in a cloud. I would rather donate them to a worthy cause. Any suggestions or takers? Thanks!

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

java-man 12y ago
These are 1U rack-mounted servers. Each has redundant power supplies and 16 mini-fans, noisy as hell. Don't want children to go deaf. ;-)

java-man 12y ago

Should probably say this: Dell PowerEdge 1950 Servers Intel Xeon 2.66Ghz dual core 16 GB RAM 2 x 250GB HDD redundant power supplies

jkrippy 12y ago

Kramden would be my suggestion if you are in North Carolina, USA: http://kramden.org/donate-a-computer/ http://kramden.org/donate-a-computer/

java-man 12y ago
I'm in California. Used computers are used to prop up open doors ;-)
- mdaniel 12y ago
  Since you're in California, you may have good luck contacting Green Citizen: http://www.greencitizen.com/locations/ http://www.greencitizen.com/locations/ Depending on how one is to interpret the "donate" verb; whether it should be to a charity that will use them, a charity that can sell them or just to not put them in the landfill.
  - java-man 12y ago
    Yes, thank you. Recycling is the default place they will go if nobody takes them. A pity - they are very well built and have decent specs. I was hoping they might still work for somebody.
    - mdaniel 12y ago
      I think there are a couple of moving parts to that request: shipping is a real thing (at least the servers that I've touched are not something I'd want to put in UPS), a facility would need racks and a place to keep the noise away, plus staff that are used to dealing with rackmounts, and finally the eternal problem of connecting with the audience who haven't read this post. In some ways, giving(?) them to an e-cycler that puts them on eBay is addressing that last problem, it just robs you of the tax write-off.

thaumaturgy 12y ago

You might check in with OpenBSD, they're always trying to do a lot with very little, but I don't see any items on their want page that match your servers (http://www.openbsd.org/want.html http://www.openbsd.org/want.html).

java-man 12y ago
Thanks for the pointer! It looks like my hardware is not on the list.

Halfman 12y ago

Hey, we are a french tiny start up making softwares to help doctors healing cancer (Currently in developpement but experimented in public hospitals). If you don't know what to do with them : they can help us fighting that damn cancer. Tell me if you are interested i'll give you a way to contact me :).

java-man 12y ago
I would love to, but the cost of international shipping will be prohibitive: these things are large and quite heavy. I would imagine the cost of shipping would exceed their price on ebay. Unless you can pick them up in Palo Alto.
- Halfman 12y ago
  Hmmm, can you give me the weight of one of them please? And no, I don't have friends in California :(. Nearest one from California are in Montreal :p.
  - java-man 12y ago
    Here is the spec from dell web site: Chassis 1U Rack-mountable chassis 30.4" (77.2cm) D x 16.7" (42.6cm) W x 1.67" (4.26cm) H with bezel attached Rack Weight 35.8 lbs (16.3 Kg)
    - Halfman 12y ago
      Thanks, importing them to France will approximately cost $500 :(.
    - java-man 12y ago
      That's right, sorry. You might take a look at the local ebay listings. Or, perhaps, construct a cluster out of Raspberri Pi's - save on electricity as well. :-)
      - Halfman 12y ago

phantom_oracle 12y ago

Make your own life easy and give them away to the people that are logistically nearest to you. A public school, a public hospital or some other institution whose prime purpose is to benefit humankind will be your ideal bet. Or you could also donate your time + the servers by teaching kids at a public school about system administration, etc.

ollybee 12y ago

I have 12 of these to get rid of in the UK and it looks like I will have to pay to have them disposed of. The problem with servers of this age is that power consumption is 3 to 5 times that of a modern server. The extra cost of the power would more than pay for a new server over its lifetime.

java-man 12y ago
Exactly what I was thinking. Still, perhaps somebody can use it.

tekknolagi 12y ago

Hi java-man, I'm Max Bernstein, a student at Tufts University. I am starting a GNU/Linux User Group, the first of its kind at my school. We're currently looking for hardware because we want to offer web and general server space to our members. We could definitely use these servers. If you're open to it, I would appreciate the donation! EDIT: Incidentally, I am in California for the next week on Spring Break if that makes pick-up easier! Best, Max

java-man 12y ago
Will you be able to pick them up in Palo Alto? Also notice their weight and dimensions (somewhere in the comments).
- tekknolagi 12y ago
  Yes — I live in the area. I would just have to pick them up before Saturday.
  - java-man 12y ago
    great! reverse md5 hash in my profile to find me.
    - tekknolagi 12y ago
      Can you contact me (email on http://bernsteinbear.com http://bernsteinbear.com) or is this MD5 rainbow tabling necessary?
    - java-man 12y ago
      No, not necessary. Just sent you an email.

hashtree 12y ago

Oddly enough, I have two Dell PowerEdge 1850 servers for anyone interested in the Fort Collins, Colorado area. They have been sitting on a bread rack for a while now and could use a good home.