Use for old server

[Whitewalker]

Hi all.

I recently received a old Intel server as a gift since it was just laying around someone's house.

Unfortunately they can't help me to configure it.

What good uses can I get out of this server?

Can it be used to manage a network(eg divide adsl line speed into 10 partitions and cap the data)?


What other uses?

It will be hidden away in a small room, so noise and power usage will not be a problem.

Where do I turn to get better parts for it? Looking for cheap used parts since my student allowance must be divided into 2/3 brandy and 1/3 food.

Specs of the server:

Running Windows server 2008

INTEL SC5300LX SERVER
INTEL SE7520BD2 SERVER BOARD
2 x INTEL XEON E5 3.6GHz PROCESSORS
1.346TB HDD (2x ST373207LC 73GB HDD, 4x ST3300007LC 300GB HDD)
2GB RAM
1 x DVD/RW
2 x 730W POWER SUPPLY UNITS
1x LSI MegaRAID SCSI 320-2X 256MB
1x LSI Logic LSIU320 Ultra320 SCSI Card
1x Intel PRO/1000 F Server Adapter


Will I ever have uses for the 3 last named add on cards?
If not.... Where do I sell them?

Where do I get cheap extra ram.... Because more ram is always better.

My other challenge is with this I received two 1tb drives with sata connectors. The board only has two sata ports, but is there a good add in card to add more sata ports and USB?

Thinking of just using it as a secondary pc, I've seen a project where this kind of server makes a decent light gaming rig. But I know it will need a very good graphics card and that this isn't the main reason the machine was designed.

Also can I make a Nas pc with a WiFi card as I don't have a hard line system in place?

Sorry for any wrong information.

I'm just a noob.

Greetings

 

[WAslayer]

* you can use it to split your dsl line and cap each split portion, you need the correct app though.. pfsense should work here..
* file server
* if you play games, host a game server for the uni lan if you in res or host one for the interwebs
* dont know your field of study, but make it a development/web/app server to learn and test on
* run a hypervisor to host a bunch of different other servers

for spare parts, go ebay..

you wont have any use for the add on cards you asked about..

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

It's very good at increasing your power bill, but that's about it.

 

[Mr Scratch]

If you dont pay for power, then I guess you could find something to use it for, otherwise consider donating/selling it.

 

[OCP]

It's very good at increasing your power bill, but that's about it.

This

Great for testing/learning/playing but I would not want that beast to run 24/7 on my electricity account.

 

[The_Librarian]

Keep in mind some Intel stuff (especially old server), once EOL, is very, very hard to find spares for. Especially power supplies. Trust me on that, been there, done that. Ebay should be your port of call for things like that.

But it is a nice server, and a great way to learn stuff as long as things work.

You say SCSI? :erm: you won't get any SCSI hard drives anymore... SATA rules the roost. Unfortunately you will need to get a compatible RAID controller or SATA controller for that...

And it guzzles power. You'll need a hefty UPS for that, should you decide on an UPS.

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

If you dont pay for power, then I guess you could find something to use it for, otherwise consider donating/selling it.

@Thor187 might want to take it off his hands - I gave an old server to him that he uses for something or the other.