I just have to ask, some of you reply to messages saying "that is so outdated" and other such lines about a Raq3 or an Intel celeron 400.

Let me ask, for most users would a p100 not work well enough? Unless they are using PHP+MySQL a p100 can host many websites and be one of the most reliable connections around.
I know of several Pentium 90-150's that have many months of uptime, and run PHP and CGI quite well. Basically, if the price is right why is this such a bad thing?

I ask this because I am considering making a section of my future datacenter for co-lo and cheap dedicated servers ($20-$40 range). I think using those old Pentium and Pentium Pro servers is the best thing to do, as they can serve much better than they can be an everyday desktop these days.

I agree. I don't think they server better but they perform well.:D

Sure, just try loading WinXP on there like many "consumers" would, and if you could get it past the install, I KNOW you would be crying it would be so slow.

But put a BSD or some flavor of Linux on it and you have a bit tossin machine.

Agree with you on that, please drop me a line when and if you do get around to having your datacenter with servers for $20. Would be nice for some backups and then some.

They still charge a arm and a leg for some servers that are outdated. LooK at some IBM servers. What the hell could be in this for them to charge so much?

http://www.codemicro.com/store/prod_results.cfm?mode=5&srchparm=86807RY


SVR7000 M10 FS RM P3/500 1MB 256MB NO HD 32X
$15,500.00

Upgrade parts for IBM servers are even more scary

Yeah they quality is just so good you have to pay 5x more for it than a good server today.

Anyway, thanks for the replies, I will hopefully be posting more info in the next year (no the datacenter won't be opeing SOON, but it will be paid for), maybe by then someone else will have stolen my idea, but I don't really care, go for it! I might even use you if you offer it first (but I will still have follow through with my plans).

Having a cheap server for backup is often the best solution. It can also provide you a DNS/mail server, an ftp for storage, and a non-mysql http server. If you used to be for many years around you could remember that you had a Pentium (or a 486) for your Web server.

Also these machines are great for personal use. You could have an IRC server, use them as an online storage, have a shoutcast server to play music online etc. Of course you can't expect much from that.

Andrew