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Ask HN: How to make a photogenic server room

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Re: Ask HN: How to make a photogenic server room

#11

Post by Vexs »

h2odragon wrote: post #3

Network patch panels with nicely bundled wires might work; switches often have numerous blinky lights. You could dig up some antique gear and make it run: tape loader robots or even 9 track tapes with reels. It's been a long time since they did flashy innards on display stuff like that so its in the uncomfortable range between "scrap" and "industrial antiques" now. Or just admit it's all for show and commission an ar…

You could pretty reasonably hook up a string of ws2812s to be a server load monitor or similar... might be a fun project.

Re: Ask HN: How to make a photogenic server room

#14

Post by qbasic_forever »

Honestly I would go get some gaming PC bling (RGB lights etc) and build a 'fake' server room that's just for marketing or show, but not actually used for anything serious. Whatever makes the silly boss/owner that made the demand happy.

At the same time aggressively build out cheaper cloud or proper on-prem server hosting room. Because ultimately what is the lowest cost to run will be pretty boring with high density racks and absolute minimum of power sucking junk like extra lights, etc. I'd be far more concerned about physical security, fire suppression, backup power and cooling than bling factor for a real on-prem datacenter.

Re: Ask HN: How to make a photogenic server room

#16

Post by kevinventullo »

Minor49er wrote: post #6

Stuff some Christmas lights into some empty computer cases, especially ones that automatically blink and fade. Also, get a fog machine that you can turn on whenever you need a break from work (just remember to keep stocked up on fogger juice)

Fog looks a lot like smoke. I’m not sure that’s what you want to see coming from the server room…

Re: Ask HN: How to make a photogenic server room

#17

Post by Minor49er »

kevinventullo wrote: post #16
Minor49er wrote: post #6

Stuff some Christmas lights into some empty computer cases, especially ones that automatically blink and fade. Also, get a fog machine that you can turn on whenever you need a break from work (just remember to keep stocked up on fogger juice)

Fog looks a lot like smoke. I’m not sure that’s what you want to see coming from the server room…

That's why I mentioned that it should be used when OP needs a break from work

Re: Ask HN: How to make a photogenic server room

#18

Post by lozaning »

Apple at NAB 2007 is peak server room aesthetic to me. https://appleinsider.com/articles/07/04/19/high_quality_phot...

All that gear is EOL now and can be picked up for cheap on ebay. Setup some xserves to just send data back and forth between Xserve raid arrays for maximum blinken lightsen

Re: Ask HN: How to make a photogenic server room

#20

Post by MonkeyClub »

Create a waterproof wall of glass around the room's glass walls, fill the between space with water and aquarium plants, put some fish.

And in the server space proper, put a Cray in the middle, the one that looks like a 60s outer space couch, and hire a couple of str--

I think the fish will do fine.

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