Ask HN: Where to donate two Dell servers?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9207639

by java-man • 11 years ago

12 25 11 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Hi there,

I have two Dell PowerEdge 1950 servers I bought for a project which now runs in a cloud.

I would rather donate them to a worthy cause.

Any suggestions or takers?

Thanks!

java-man11• 11 years ago

Should probably say this:

Dell PowerEdge 1950 Servers

Intel Xeon 2.66Ghz dual core 16 GB RAM 2 x 250GB HDD redundant power supplies

jkrippy• 11 years ago

Kramden would be my suggestion if you are in North Carolina, USA: http://kramden.org/donate-a-computer/

java-man11• 11 years ago

I'm in California. Used computers are used to prop up open doors ;-)

mdaniel2• 11 years ago

Since you're in California, you may have good luck contacting Green Citizen: http://www.greencitizen.com/locations/

Depending on how one is to interpret the "donate" verb; whether it should be to a charity that will use them, a charity that can sell them or just to not put them in the landfill.

thaumaturgy• 11 years ago

You might check in with OpenBSD, they're always trying to do a lot with very little, but I don't see any items on their want page that match your servers (http://www.openbsd.org/want.html).

java-man11• 11 years ago

Thanks for the pointer! It looks like my hardware is not on the list.

Halfman4• 11 years ago

Hey, we are a french tiny start up making softwares to help doctors healing cancer (Currently in developpement but experimented in public hospitals).

If you don't know what to do with them : they can help us fighting that damn cancer. Tell me if you are interested i'll give you a way to contact me :).

java-man11• 11 years ago

I would love to, but the cost of international shipping will be prohibitive: these things are large and quite heavy. I would imagine the cost of shipping would exceed their price on ebay. Unless you can pick them up in Palo Alto.

Halfman4• 11 years ago

Hmmm, can you give me the weight of one of them please? And no, I don't have friends in California :(. Nearest one from California are in Montreal :p.

phantom_oracle• 11 years ago

Make your own life easy and give them away to the people that are logistically nearest to you.

A public school, a public hospital or some other institution whose prime purpose is to benefit humankind will be your ideal bet.

Or you could also donate your time + the servers by teaching kids at a public school about system administration, etc.

ollybee• 11 years ago

I have 12 of these to get rid of in the UK and it looks like I will have to pay to have them disposed of. The problem with servers of this age is that power consumption is 3 to 5 times that of a modern server. The extra cost of the power would more than pay for a new server over its lifetime.

java-man11• 11 years ago

Exactly what I was thinking. Still, perhaps somebody can use it.

tekknolagi3• 11 years ago

Hi java-man,

I'm Max Bernstein, a student at Tufts University. I am starting a GNU/Linux User Group, the first of its kind at my school. We're currently looking for hardware because we want to offer web and general server space to our members.

We could definitely use these servers. If you're open to it, I would appreciate the donation!

EDIT: Incidentally, I am in California for the next week on Spring Break if that makes pick-up easier!

Best, Max

java-man11• 11 years ago

Will you be able to pick them up in Palo Alto? Also notice their weight and dimensions (somewhere in the comments).

tekknolagi3• 11 years ago

Yes — I live in the area. I would just have to pick them up before Saturday.

hashtree• 11 years ago

Oddly enough, I have two Dell PowerEdge 1850 servers for anyone interested in the Fort Collins, Colorado area. They have been sitting on a bread rack for a while now and could use a good home.

Ask HN: Where to donate two Dell servers?

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