Tag: dell

hardware, Soapbox, Software, technology

Finally retiring my last legacy windows box!

| be3n

Final transfer from an ancient windows

This particular ancient server has stood as the glue holding several ancient record keeping systems together.  Today marks the last day that it was operating.  I supported this computer for almost it’s entire lifespan.  This Dell ran consistently for over 10 years with very little trouble.  Now your watch is over.

I have been retiring or upgrading unsupported systems all year. it’s to know that all the critical systems are up to date.  Let this be yet another warning if you are running Windows XP, Vista, 7, or 2008 Server (or anything earlier), you should upgrade immediately if you are online in any capacity.  Same goes for macs older then 10.13 (High Sierra). Seriously, don’t let it become a problem.

hardware, pointless, Raspberry Pi, retro, technology

Cleaning out my office I found an ancient Asterisk Box!

| be3n

Found Ancient Asterisk System - Digium TDM

Originally my router/PBX this Dell P4 was installed with some of the earliest Digium PCI analogue cards.  This card supported both FXS and FXO modules, and i used them both in various configurations. One of the FXS modules is what allowed my housemate’s old rotary phone to connect to the house phone system.  I loved testing the system by ringing his phone.  The ringing of its actual bell, was a delight. That dell survived the infamous flood (by already being decommissioned).  I think I paid over $200 for this card alone. Now i run Asterisk off my Raspberry Pi with a total hardware cost considerably less than that.

Found Ancient Asterisk System - Digium TDM (back)Found Ancient Asterisk System - Digium FXS Module

hardware, Internet, technology

Retired my router after nearly a decade of service

| be3n

My router/firewall for years, NitrogenFor nearly 10 years, all my home internet traffic has flowed through the capable interfaces of Nitrogen.  Through the years linux routing grew increasingly more powerful, but this little Dimension PC did not.  It’s 700Mhz Celeron CPU and PCI network interfaces (literally nothing onboard) had always met my needs.  However in these times of ever increasing speeds, i began to wonder.  After a few pesky error messages, “eth0: Too much work at interrupt” i knew it was time for an upgrade.  From ipfwadm through ipchains, and eventually to iptables, this unit continued to teach me the linux kernel firewall.   QOS, Network monitoring, intrusion detection, even Tor’s anonymous proxy relay, we’d been through it all together.  What am i going to do with him now? Replaced with a newer (but far from new) PC.  Rebuilt from the ground up to be tighter, faster, and i don’t even mind saying… prettier.  Now i have Phosphorus.  Nitrogen will receive the most honorable sendoff i can give it.  To be stripped of its few remaining useful parts and recycled.  No moment of silence for this one.  It was recognized with a 5 minute internet blackout.  While i reset my cable modem.