Lee Kimber

  • Linux and Windows Consulting
  • Low-Power Computing for Renewable Energy Environments
  • Software Program Management

    • Hardcore renewable energy fans note... I increasingly favour LinkSys NSLU2s for further reducing file and print server power consumption. At less than 10Watts per server, you might want to try one!

    Currently using five NSLU2s as standard office-style - but low-power - servers, including:

    1. Anti-spam IMAP/POP3 email server (using SpamAssassin, Postfix, Cyrus-Imap, Cyrus-SASL) and filtering proxy server. How to: Set up a low-power anti-spam email server.
    2. Lighttpd and MySQL-based web server with PunBB forum and Wikka wiki
    3. Primary Bind9-based Dynamic DNS server, with DHCP updates. How to: Build the Primary DNS Server. How to: Configure DHCP to update Dynamic DNS
    4. Windows file server (two 160Gb HDDs)
    5. Asterisk telephony/VoIP server (running on slugosbe)

    So this office is running a email server, proxy server, intranet web, Dynamic DNS and DHCP server, and file server on around 40 Watts. Contrast that power consumption with a single, traditional office server's power consumption of around 300 Watts minimum.

    All four NSLU2s are running Unslung 266MHz.

    Reference

    Battery interconnect metrics for low-power servers:
    Rated Capacity (Amps)Continuous Capacity (Amps)Cross-sectional Area (mm2Notes
    30011216Use for 12V systems up to 1.35kW; 24V systems up to 2.7kW
    60022525Use for 12V systems up 2.7kW; 24V systems up to 5.4kW

    Phil's real-world experience of running low-powered NSLU2s in the UK is detailed here.