Getting silly at work...

[johno]

I just submitted a RFC (request for change), to decommission some old servers.

For one section titled: Describe impact if change not implemented/fails

Old systems will continue to use excess space and power. Contributing to the Data Center's inability to expand services, and contribute to global warming & the energy crisis.

Comments

[drewkitty.livejournal.com]

*cracks knuckles*

"There are substantial security risks with maintaining obsolete computer equipment in service. Servers not kept up to date with security patches can easily be compromised and thereby compromise the entire connected network. The total cost of ownership of a computer system must include not only purchase cost, power usage, etc. but also maintenance costs including labor costs. If the systems are kept running, the choice is between investing time in keeping obsolete equipment secured, or tolerating a serious security exposure for the other mission-critical equipment."

"Unnecessary computer equipment left powered generates waste heat, which is a 'double whammy' because the air conditioning / HVAC system must then remove this unneeded heat from the server room -- wasting energy twice in heating and then cooling the area."

"Powered computer equipment, left to its own devices for long enough periods, will eventually collect a great deal of dust. The mechanical parts (fan bearings, hard drive motors) will eventually fail. Either scenario can cause the equipment to overheat, causing a short or even a fire. This would occur over the course of months or years, but has happened with abandoned equipment."

[Did I mention the smoking switch I found when we started providing security for a building that had been a dot.com casualty in 2003? They'd just left it on. Small smouldering fire in the network switch room. Based on the smell, probably for weeks.]

[nagasvoice.livejournal.com]

Also, are there capacitors in there which might accidentally discharge if said dust includes a significant magnetic component, *as one might expect in a computer- and wire-heavy area?*
Just a thought...
We decided not to leave a dead microwave out in the downpour last night where it might discharge its capacitor all over our silly wet selves.