So I wanted to do this IBM server project where I would purchase an older IBM rack-mount server from Ebay. How cool would it be to have your very own 1U rackmount IBM server? Ok, I guess it is just cool for me.
The server:
IBM eSeries x330 1U
RAM: 512MB
Processors: (2) PIII 1GHZ
Hardrives: 0
Ok, so not too bad. Enough power to do some good server tasks. I still don't know what I am going to make this 'box' do. One thing already against me: I'm in the military on assignment in the UK, so shipping can be a bear. I do have access to the APO service, but not everyone on Ebay will ship to an APO address.
I bought the server for a steal at $52.05. Shipping: $49.95, so the total: $102.00. The people I bought it from won't ship to APO, so I had to use the www.shipitapo.com company. Cost to use their service: $56.04, shipped via the slowest method possible.. so another 6-8 weeks to go. Total at this point: $156.04.
So now I have this server coming to me. I check out the pictures online and realize that there is no place to plug a monitor-keyboard-mouse into. Perplexed I started doing research and found some manuals online. I need to purchase a proprietary C2T cable. Damn. So I easily found one on Ebay. The thing, a cable mind you, costs $140.00. I needed this cable or the server will be a large paperweight (keep in mind I still need hard drives). Total for the C2T cable: $155.95 shipped via APO. Total now: $311.99
The server arrives. Beautifully packaged. I also received an IBM keyboard and mouse. How awesome is that? There are no hard drives. No problem, but there are two large holes in the front where the hard drive caddies would sit. I search Ebay for SCSI hard drives w/ caddies. Bid, lose, bid, lose. Engage Auction Sniper and win a hard drive for $5.00 plus $10.00 shipping. Cool. Except no caddie. No Problem... search Ebay and find a lot of 8 for $10.00, no 'buy now' option, so I have to wait. I win. $10.00 plus shipping.
NOw I get some follow-up emails on both these items. One person won't ship to APO and the other doesn't understand how to ship to APO, even though on their Ebay site it states that they ship to APO via USPS. I explain how to do it and they respond with 'no problem'. The hard drive caddy guys won't ship to APO so now I am have the $10 item shipped internationally. Total price for the caddies: $56.99. Sucks. Total for the hard drive: $15.00. Total at this point: $383.93. This $52.00 server isn't looking like such a good deal after all.
At this point it has been about 10 weeks since the initial server purchase on Ebay. I am waiting on the C2T cable and the SCSI hard drive. Patience.
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