This page contains some information about my computers. Currently, I use 5 machines.
You might wonder why somebody needs (or wants) 5 computers ?
Like most people, I started with just 1 machine. But, as newer and faster hardware became
available, I couldn't resist the temptation of upgrading and I also needed additional machines
to fullfill my LAN setup.
The second reason is of course networking : as I learned more about computers and networking, I needed
additional machines to test all this stuff out.
Afterwards, I started using one machine as a 24x7 server, another box as 24x7 firewall/router, yet another
box to learn other OS'es (FreeBSD, NetBSD, . . . ), machines to test things out without compromising
my "production" machines, . . and so my collection grew.
All machines (except the Webserver) are connected to an 8-port 100Mb switch (SMC EZ108DT).
Four machines are connected to a KVM-switch (Blackbox ServSwitch Jr). The laptop usually accesses the network
through a LevelOne WBR-3406TX wireless access point, which itself is connected to the SMC switch.
I never bought a complete new machine. Partially, because I didn't have the bucks to spend, because I don't like
so called A-brand products due too their use of proprietary features which often make it hard to use
regular parts and/or tools to service them, but also because you can find a lot of nearly new hardware on
the 2nd hand market. But maybe more important, I like building my own machines from scratch.
Here they are :
Here are some pictures of my computers.
The first machine is I'll talk about is my server. This machine provides following services to my LAN :
Normally, you would not host that many services on a single machine, but in case of my small lan, it's perfectly
acceptable, since the machine has more than sufficient resources to deliver all of these services.
The table below shows you the technical specifications:
| CPU type |
Intel Pentium IV |
| CPU speed |
2.8 GHz |
| Memory |
1.5 GB DDR SDRAM |
| Mainboard |
Intel D865GLC |
| Harddisk #1 |
Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9, 80 GB |
| Harddisk #2 |
Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9, 80 GB |
| Video card |
S3Trio64V+, 2 MB memory |
| CDWriter |
Plextor PX-W1610A, 16x10x40x |
| Network card |
Intel Pro/100 |
| Printer |
HP Laserjet 4000TN |
| OS |
Slackware 12.1 |
| Current kernel |
2.6.26 |
This machine provides following services :
- Firewall - IP-Masquerading (NAT) - Router
- Secondary DNS server
- Time server (NTP)
- VPN server [OpenVPN 2.x]
| CPU type |
Intel Pentium IV |
| CPU speed |
2.4 GHz |
| Memory |
512 MB DDR SDRAM |
| Mainboard |
Intel D865GLC |
| Harddisk |
Maxtor Diamondmax VL40, 20 GB |
| CDROM |
Sony CDU5221, 52x |
| Video card |
Sis 6326, 4MB |
| Network card #1 |
Intel Pro/100 |
| Network card #2 |
3Com 3c905B-Tx |
| Installed OS |
Slackware 12.0 |
| Linux kernel |
2.6.25.4 |
This one currently acts as my main workstation.
| CPU type |
Intel Pentium IV |
| CPU speed |
3.0 GHz |
| Memory |
2.5 GB DDR2 SDRAM |
| Mainboard |
Intel D945GT |
| Harddisk |
Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 10, 80 GB |
| Video card |
ATI Radeon X300 SE, 128 MB |
| DVD-RW |
Sony DW-U18A |
| Network card |
Intel Pro/100 |
| Sound Card |
ES1371 (SB 128 PCI) |
| Installed OS |
WinXP SP2
|
My laptop is a Dell Latitude D610.
| CPU type |
Intel Pentium M (Dothan) |
| CPU speed |
2.0 GHz |
| Memory |
1024 MB DDR2 SDRAM |
| Harddisk |
Hitachi, 40.0 GB, 5400 rpm |
| CDROM |
CDRW/DVD-ROM, 24x |
| Display |
14" Color TFT, 1024x768 |
| Video card |
Intel 915GM Graphics Express |
| Network card |
Broadcom NetXtreme BCM5751 Gigabit controller |
| WLAN |
Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG |
| Sound Card |
Intel 82801 AC97 |
| Installed OS'es |
Slackware 12.1 + WinXP Prof. |
| Linux kernel |
2.6.26 |
This is my dedicated Web server. It's serving the webpage you are staring at right now :).
| CPU type |
Intel Pentium IV |
| CPU speed |
2.8 GHz |
| Memory |
1024 MB DDR SDRAM |
| Harddisk #1 |
Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9, 80 GB |
| Harddisk #2 |
Maxtor DiamondMax VL40, 20 GB |
| Video card |
ATI Rage 128 Pro AGP, 32 MB |
| CD/DVD-ROM |
Sony DDU1621 |
| Network card |
Intel Pro/100 |
| Installed OS |
Slackware 12.0 |
| Linux kernel |
2.6.25.6 |
