Just yesterday I was commenting on how machines do not define me…but I have to admit, I do sort of dig technology too. Just to be clear, I plan to use a lot of buzz-words and mumbo jumbo to astound you with my computer savvy…isn’t that what computer people do? Anyhow, I think there may be some interesting bits for computer neophytes as well.
I had been running this blog on an old 1.4 ghz desktop machine with 512 mb of ram and a 20 gb harddrive. This machine was pieced together from parts we had laying around the office and was never supposed to be exposed to the public. But, as with most computer projects, the prototype became the product and sure enough, this blog was turned on with the power and support of “ole Bessie”.
By trade, I am a software engineer…I write computer software for a living. I don’t know a lot about computer hardware. I just assume the hardware works. Asking me to choose computer hardware is like asking your autobody guy to rebuild your engine…it might be successful, but it is probably not ideal. So, a few weeks ago, Dell had a sale on Poweredge SC440 small business servers. A hardware friend/coworker of mine mentioned that it was a good deal and might serve as a good replacement for “Bessie”. The sale price of the machine was $199. I upped the memory a little and got the whole thing delivered for $252.! It has 2 gb of ram, a dual core 2 ghz pentium processor and an 80 gb harddrive. Ahh, much better! So I migrated the blog from “Bessie” to “Vader” (more about that later).
Now, let me tell you, 8 servers in a 10×10 room put off a powerful lot of heat. Yup, I have 8 servers in my office. My current project needs 4 servers to function. I have a couple of extras for testing, etc. Adding this new server raised my heat by one machine. I am somewhat worried about going through a Bruce Banner change. I don’t think these machines put off gamma rays, but I’d also rather not turn into the incredible hulk either.
Anyhow, migrating a wordpress blog from one machine to another is really pretty simple also. I spent about 4 days making it complicated but it need not be. Basically, I installed WAMP which is the webserver and database programs that run the website. I just installed it with all of the default settings. I did not install wordpress on the new machine. Instead, I copied the entire WAMP directory (c:\wamp\…it includes the web server, database and wordpress files) from my original machine to the same directory on my new machine. Restart the webserver and we’re in business. I read all sorts of opinions on how to do backups and migration plans and how to properly sacrifice a chicken over the old and/or new servers. I tried some of those things (well, not the chicken part) and none of those options really worked. WordPress and WAMP will run on windows but are not really Windows-based so I figured that they probably didn’t have the invasive installation mess that most Windows programs have (i.e. I figured I would just copy stuff over and hope it works). Sure enough, I was right! So, after fooling around for 4 days with no success, I punted and in 8 minutes, my blog was migrated! I don’t know if you can tell the increase in speed, but please humor me and say you can! Wahoo!
Wow!! Not only did your blog post zoom onto my screen this morning with incredible speed, my coffee was already made for me, too! Wahoo!
Ahhh…Farmgirl_dk…don’t tell anyone but you’ve always been my favorite!
After I downed 4 pennies with 11 shots of irish whiskey (didn’t have the ginger brandy, which BTW sounds pretty awful), I don’t have any cold symptoms. I actually didn’t have any to begin with, but I wanted to be like you.
At least you can turn down the thermostat in the office.
I wonder, I think the comic book world is ready for a new super-hero. All the old great ones either came from another planet, or were the victims of the new technology. How about “Laptop man” (that sounds better than “laptop girl” who would probably be in one of those magazines you don’t have under your bed.
Sorry, it must be the Irish whisky mixing it up with the lincolns…
Vader and Bessie, too funny. We need an upgrade on our desktop too. I just bought a used laptop cause my old one crashed. Can’t live without one!
don – I am not sure you’ll be able to keep track of how many pennies you down if you hit too much irish whiskey. A co-worker tells me that God invented Irish whiskey to keep the Irish from ruling the world! As far as superheroes go, we sometimes call my son “Captain Underpants”! Not sure what sort of trouble he would get into at the Hall of Justice though!
Kim – I usually keep computers like I keep cars…until they are dead. I probably would have happily kept the blog on Bessie but the deal on Vader was too good to miss. I think it was either $400 or $500 off. Either way, a $6-700 computer for $200! Wahoo! My laptop is around 6.5 years old but still going pretty well. It was top of the line then and is still roughly equivalent to the low-end ones folks get at Wal Mart now. I am starting to get the itch though…we’ll see…
It is amazing what sort of speed and performance one can get for cheap nowadays…
After trying to share our desktop amongst the 3 of us, I finally ordered a motherboard, CPU and memory so I could speed up Abby’s computer to decent speeds. Now, I have an extremely quiet computer that runs very cool and efficiently. I spent $80, but sure did pull out some hair trying to compare all the options nowadays! $250 for the whole package is quite a deal.
Ron
Your blog is now so fast-I can barely read it 🙂
Don’s comment is hilarious!
Ron – we were just laughing…our first computer was $2500 and was nothing. I was surprised to get this one so cheap. I guess that reminds me of when I used to go to school…I had to walk barefoot in the snow, uphill both ways! Am I old enough to be talking like that? Egads!
tipper – don’t tell farmgirl_dk but you are really my favorite!
Your a software engineer, when did this come about?
Alright Slatton…you know me too well. I am a professional web surfer in real life. I browsed the computer science department’s web site at my school one time though and figured that was good enough to make me a sw engineer! It’s on my card afterall!
LOL…are all men geeks? I’m thinkin’, yes they are!
Enjoy your new toy…and yes your blog seemed much faster today! Kim
Kim, don’t tell farmgirl_dk and tipper, but you are my favorite!