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Questions tagged [hardware]

Computer hardware is the collection of physical elements that comprise a computer system.

There are multiple, physical components that are required for a computer to function. This is collectively referred to as the "hardware". The most notable components inside of a computer system is the RAM, Hard Disk (or hard drive), CPU, and Power Supply.

Outside of the case, however, hardware exists as well. Some of these components include the keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

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Enabling VMware EVC on Westmere E5645 CPU only accepts "Nehalem" mode

Take the following system, a Supermicro VMware ESXi host with Intel Westmere E5645 CPUs. Part of our deployment process is to set the appropriate Enhanced vMotion Capability (EVC) level for the vSphere cluster to avoid problems during possible…
ewwhite
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What causes hard disk failures?

What causes hard disk failures in general. I would like to know the common causes and how to prevent such incidence.
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10GBASE-T shielded cable switch-to-server connection

I'm venturing for the first time into the 10 gigabit (over copper) realm. Likewise, I have never worked with shielded CAT-5/6 cables previously. From my own research, I understand the types and benefits of shielding when it comes to long runs of…
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HP D2700 enclosure and SSDs. Will any SSD work?

I've got an HP D2700 enclosure that I'm looking to shove some 2.5" SSD drives in. Looking at the prices of HP's SSD drives vs something like an Intel 710 and even something less 'enterprisey', there's quite a difference in price. I know the HP…
growse
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Are branded backplanes useable without specific controllers?

I can't find a disk enclosure which I like, so I'm going to build a custom one (if nothing else, that'll teach me to be picky...). I've got a few HP SAS backplanes lying about, but I'm wondering if they would require the "right" (ie HP branded)…
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MegaRAID JBOD substitute

It seems that certain MegaRAID chips don't support JBOD (unfortunately). I've read online that to make these controllers act as a pass-through, I should configure the disks in RAID0. What RAID0 settings do you recommend?
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Where to purchase a server capable of 512GB of RAM?

Where can I purchase a single server capable of 512 GB, yes GB, of RAM? The most I've seen is 256 GB (32 DIMM x 8 GB per stick)
Timk
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What to do with an out-of-warranty Barracuda Spam/Web filter?

I'm working with an organization that would like to start using a old Barracuda Spam Filter 300 unit. I've sold and configured plenty of these, but was surprised to see that this unit's warranty lapsed by 6 months. The company was acquired and this…
ewwhite
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How can you reduce ambient noise from servers?

I have recently installed a IBM x45 with two DS4100 (SAN) and due to space constraints it is generating too much noise in adjacent rooms. Are there any good ways to isolate the noise from servers? There doesn't seem to be much vibration, but the…
Tedd Hansen
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Rack layout for future growth

We're getting ready to move to a new colo facility and I'm designing the rack layout. While we have a full rack, we only have 12U worth of hardware right now: 1x 1U switch 7x 1U servers 1x 2U server 1x 2U disk shelf The colo facility requires us…
bleything
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Why Do Hard Drives Fail?

I'm just quite interested in the reasons why hard drive failures occur. Some people say that it's because it was handled poorly during the shipping and transportation processes while others say that it is due to the heat/prolonged intense usage, yet…
JFW
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What is the oldest hardware still in production use? How is it kept running?

In the spirit of the question What is your oldest hardware that still works?, I'd like to ask: What is the oldest hardware you know that is still in production use? And what challenges did you (or someone else) face in keeping it running (scarce…
sleske
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Effecient organization of spare cables and hardware

As many of you also likely do, I have a growing collection of cables, hardware, and spare parts (screws, connectors, etc.). I'm looking to find a good system of organization so that everything isn't a tangled mess, mismatched, and potentially able…
Jake Wharton
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How to correctly apply thermal compound to the CPU?

Every now and then I have to work with hardware, be it assembling a new box, or just cleaning it a little bit, and I always have this question: how should I apply the thermal compound to the CPU? When should I have to do it (should I clean it and…
Flávio Amieiro
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What does it mean, if all LEDs of an LTO-6 drive are flashing?

All LEDs of an half height LTO-6 drive are flashing with ~ 4 Hz. An LTO-5 tape is still inside, the drive does not react on commands, the flashing continues after a power cycle. I could not find the error code in the Tandberg manual. The drive is…
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