A friendly guide to understanding refurbished servers and their capabilities

If you’ve ever thought about buying a server for heavy-duty computing, like running computational simulations, you’re probably wondering where to start. When it comes to buying a server, especially a refurbished one, there are some practical details to know before you jump in. Let’s talk through some basics to help you decide if a refurbished server is right for your project and what exactly you’re getting.

What Does Buying a Server Really Mean?

Buying a server doesn’t usually mean you’re getting a computer you can just plug a monitor, mouse, and keyboard into like a desktop. Servers are often designed to run headless, which means they operate without a direct display or input devices connected. Instead, you typically access them via a network from another computer.

For example, a server like the HP ProLiant DL380 G9, which is common on sites like eBay, is packed with powerful CPUs (like those Xeon processors) and lots of memory, perfect for computational simulations. But it might not come with a GPU or a typical graphics output setup. This is because servers prioritize processing power and reliability over multimedia features.

Will Your Server Have a GPU or Direct Monitor Access?

In most cases, buying a refurbished server doesn’t include a GPU that supports a standard monitor setup. These machines usually have basic integrated graphics just enough for the server’s own setup process, but not for running a desktop environment with high-quality visuals.

That means if you want to interact with the server, you usually do it remotely through your local computer using a protocol like SSH (Secure Shell) if it’s Linux-based. If you run Windows Server, you might use Remote Desktop.

What about Hard Drives and Other Hardware?

Refurbished servers generally come with hard drives installed, but it depends on the seller and the listing. Most servers will have storage included, but always check the details carefully to ensure you get the amount and type of storage you need.

How to Connect and Use Your Server

Because servers are typically headless, you connect over a network:
– Use Ethernet to connect your server to your home or office network.
– From your personal computer, use SSH (for Linux/Unix systems) or Remote Desktop (for Windows) to log into your server.
– Manage and run your computational simulations remotely.

This setup might sound intimidating if you’re new to servers, but it’s really just like having a powerful computer somewhere else in your building or even in another city.

Should You Buy a Refurbished Server?

Refurbished servers can be a great way to get lots of CPU power for your simulations without the cost of brand-new hardware. Just remember:
– They might be loud and power-hungry compared to a laptop or a desktop.
– They may require a place with good ventilation.
– You need to be comfortable managing computers remotely.

If this sounds like your kind of project, buying a server can unlock serious computation muscle. And there’s plenty of community advice and tutorials online to help you through the setup.

Useful Resources

• Learn more about remote server access with SSH here.
• For a deep dive into server hardware, check out HP’s official ProLiant DL380 G9 documentation here.
• Need tips on running computational simulations? This overview from Research Computing is a good start.

Buying a server for computational tasks is a rewarding challenge once you get the hang of it. So if you’re curious to boost your project with many CPUs, buying a server might be worth exploring more.