Vehicular LCD for Server Monitoring

Pete writes "The guys over at Extreme Overclocking have show how to put a car LCD inside a computer. The article shows how to install VNC remote computing software onto the server, how to manage the server from another computer, and how to use the color LCD to manage the server locally. They also included a video at the end which shows the setup process, and the LCD in action."

Comments

What is the point?

[Moderation abuser]

"If you are running a server and do not want to waste money on buying a monitor that you will only use probably once a week then you will definitely see the value here."

Yeah, $60 for a 15" CRT vs $130 for 12" LCD screen.

That statement certainly makes sense.

Re:What is the point?

[taliver]

Truly, I think the only place this may make sense is in a clustered environment where you don't want to be changing a monitor cable around between systems. However, even then it doesn't make sense since you should get a KVM controller.

As with 95% of all machine hacks, cute, but ultimately pointless.

Re:What is the point?

[wordisms]

Exaclty what I was thinking. I suppose the whole "It would be fun at a LAN party" idea works, but in now way is this effective for server management in my opinion.

Re:What is the point?

[Surak]

Umm, actually it's a 5" screen. It takes less space (since the monitor sits inside the case) and it consumes much less power than that 15" CRT.

Re:What is the point?

[cyclist1200]

Given that the article is written by and for people whose server needs begins with their mp3 collection and ends with games, that statement might make sense.

I got the feeling that real-world practicality wasn't much of a concern. This is nothing more than "We did it because we could, and we had money to burn."

Re:What is the point?

[abhisarda]

I hope some companies start marketing this LCD screen as an aftermarket kit for desktops and make installation easier.

In another article, a similar type of 5 inch LCD screen was fitted on the side of the desktop after cutting a hole there.[Mikhailtech].

Re:What is the point?

[Mark Trade]

What I don't get: why would anybody want to shell out money for an LCD if he ends up using VNC to remote admin the server?

Re:What is the point?

[fubar1971]

Actually I would like something like this because of space restraints. All of my servers are crammed into a small corner of a small room. I do my best to keep it need and tidy, but I have to hook up a 15 inch monitor to a KVM switch. Even with the best cable managment system, it is a nightmare of KVM cables. If I could have these screens in the servers, then I could eliminate the cables, KVM switch, and monitor making a cleaner work environment. Not to mention by removing the monitor, KVM, and cables Now I have enough room to add another server. Right now I would have to start a second area of servers. Don't get me wrong I would love a new spcae that was large enough to house all of my servers and have room for expansion, but in these trying economic times the money to properly renovate a new space is non-existient. Remeber, by saving space you can save money.

Re:What is the point?

[Beatbyte]

its a "because we can" article & modification.

anyone serious about being headless and saving space would get a rack and use 1u/2u servers.

also voids the warranty. kind of pointless to do all this besides just being a case mod (which we all know case mods aren't pointless.......uhh......)

Re:What is the point?

[AssFace]

I thought the same thing - but even more to the point - why any monitor at all?

I have a cluster and I am too lazy to set up a kvm on it (right now a monitor and keyboard just gets plugged into the newest node when I set it up, and then I never use it after that).
*although I should note that if you don't have fixed IPs setup on those nodes, if they reboot or change their IP via dhcp, it gets annoying to track them down again if you want to connect to them. That should be an obvious point, but I'm retarded - some of mine still have the dynamic addresses and some are static - I like the challange after power outages, which seem increasing in frequency the past 2 months here in Cambridge (between Harvard Square and Central Square).

If it is a linux box, just ssh into it, and if you really need the UI - do as they did and use VNC - VNC is a great client!

I don't get why they use VNC *and* the little flatscreen monitor - other than the "money and time to burn" factor, which I suppose it a good enough reason if you care about such things.

Re:What is the point?

[j_kenpo]

Id have to agree with you. There isnt very much real world praticality in this, since you can get a KVM switch and switch to a particular server you want to monitor. Also, not remember off the top of my head how the Composite out on the Raidon works, but dont you have to be in a GUI for any display to come out, so wouldnt things like, oh say a Linux server or BIOS editing be kind of a moot point... Now this would have been a REALLY cool hack if the guy had built a small scan converter, but since most QUALITY scan converters cost more than a new monitor anyhow, and I doubt you could build a good scan converter with off the shelf parts its kind of pointless.

Re:What is the point?

[Cpt_Kirks]

I am building a mini-itx machine into a cheap tool box. I plan on putting a small, color LCD screen into the lid, and make it removable.

It will be kind of like those PSX systems with the screen. Except it will also be a portable Tivo, DVD player, MP3 player, emulator machine...

I have all the bits except the motherboard and screen. The prices on both of those continue to drop, so I can't decide when to order.

Re:What is the point?

[Graff]

All of my servers are crammed into a small corner of a small room. I do my best to keep it need and tidy, but I have to hook up a 15 inch monitor to a KVM switch. Even with the best cable managment system, it is a nightmare of KVM cables. If I could have these screens in the servers, then I could eliminate the cables, KVM switch, and monitor

Why use a KVM switch and cables at all? I assume that these machines are on a network so just put a VNC client, keyboard, monitor and all on one of them (or any convenient computer) and a VNC server on the rest. Whenever you need to do something on those other servers just connect via the VNC client and do what you need to do.

I'm not saying this mod is useless but it is kinda costly for something you'll probably only use once in a while and can be duplicated practically for free.

Here's that link for the VNC stuff, same as the one used in the story.

Re:What is the point?

[computechnica]

I used a multi-compartment fishing box for my LAN system. Just put the Mini-ATX board and DVD+RW drive in the large center area and all the Misc cables in the outer compartments. Also put a $199 7-inch LCD in it for quick gaming and video editing.

Re:What is the point?

[ncc74656]

Here's that link for the VNC stuff, same as the one used in the story.

Newer versions are available here (for Win32, Linux, and Solaris, anyway...a version for Mac OS (classic, either 68K or PowerPC) is at the site you mentioned, and you can google for VNC ports to other OSen, such as Palm OS).

Re:What is the point?

[ncc74656]

Id have to agree with you. There isnt very much real world praticality in this, since you can get a KVM switch and switch to a particular server you want to monitor. Also, not remember off the top of my head how the Composite out on the Raidon works, but dont you have to be in a GUI for any display to come out, so wouldnt things like, oh say a Linux server or BIOS editing be kind of a moot point...

I have an All-In-Wonder Radeon at home. I can leave the monitor off, switch on the VCR and TV on the composite-out port, switch on the computer, and do everything with the TV as the display...at least until Win2K flips the screen resolution to 1280x960. I used to have an STB Velocity 128 (a 4-meg PCI card built around nVidia's first accelerator, the Riva 128) in a Linux box underneath my TV, and you could boot into command-line Linux and work with it through the TV as long as nothing was plugged into the VGA port during POST.

I think most cards with TV-out capability will produce NTSC-compatible video with nothing special done to them in at least text and 640x480 graphics modes. You should be able to (for instance) go into CMOS setup and twiddle settings through your TV. The text quality won't be the best in the world, though, especially for the usual white-on-black text...

Re:What is the point?

[Anonymous Coward]

If I could have these screens in the servers, then I could eliminate the cables, KVM switch, and monitor making a cleaner work environment.

How does this lcd solve the K and M part of the KVM? Video, sure, but you haven't replaced the KVM solution.

what you really want anyways is serial console.

can't have that due to OS limitations? that sucks. There are also KVM-over-IP devices.

Re:What is the point?

[j_kenpo]

Wow, that interesting. I remember earlier STB cards and cheap scan converters had a problem where they wouldnt display text consoles and they would clip off about 10% off each side of the display. At least that has been corrected. Id expect text quality to be pretty poor since the dot pitch of a TV is so much less than a monitors. There were some Sony Scan converters, however, that made the display quite usuable on a regular TV. But at a heft 5000 price tag they wouldnt even be concievable for this type of project. Thanks for the insite to the All-In-Wonders, its been a while since Ive used one..

Re:What is the point?

[Firehawke]

Sure, fine, up until the point an upgrade breaks VNC, network functionality goes down, or one of a hundred other things that can kill VNC connectivity outright.

VNC is nice, yes-- I use it myself-- but it's not perfect. In the end, the LCD might prove to be a lifesaver in a very small package.

Re:What is the point?

[Trepalium]

Except, this mod involves using the NTSC output on the video card, which means things will be generally unreadable on the screen.

Re:What is the point?

[Cpt_Kirks]

I'm working on a similar design. The toolbox has a removable upper tray. I put the wireless keyboard and cables there for easy access, with the MB, PS, drives and ATI TV-Wonder VE in the bottom. I have a big section of copper clad PC board to put in the bottom as a common ground.

Re:What is the point?

[legojenn]

I'd love to get a 9" screen so that I could use my old mac SE for a server type device. It would be kind of cool to have an old Mac on my stereo stand with a more modern computer on its inside.... Maybe if prices drop enough sizes will increase on these small LEDs.

Re:What is the point?

[TuballoyThunder]

Reminds me of the SGI Origin 2000's that have the LCD panel on each rack. The display would show the system load or some such thing. Never really saw the utility of it, but I was not the admin on the system so maybe I am just obtuse. Maybe people walk up and down the computer room with a clipboard (paper or otherwise) and check things off.

For admin purposes, my preferences tend towards KVMs, ssh, or a remote X application. The only real utility (as I see it) is if the computer is an appliance: Media player, home automation, bartender, etc. Even so, it probably would be more useful with a touch panel.

looks like an osborne

[stonebeat.org]

only much better resolution.

Re:looks like an osborne

[Klugheitsucher]

When running a dedicated server, what use is resolution? The only andvantage I can see is increased viewing area, but is it worth an extra 70 to 100 dollars to avoid using your scroll wheel every now and then? Not to mention that for the price of a small LCD you can purchase a modest sized CRT.

Too small

[dirbinhas]

Good luck reading your log files on a 5 inch screen.

The gps idea sounds pretty cool though.

Of weather and viewing angle..

[stephenisu]

With an operating temperature of 32 - 104 degrees Farenheit, make sure you park your car in the garage. Furthermore the viewing angle it 10 degrees from the top and 30 from the bottom. Mounting it upside down and running the signal appropriately might be a good idea.

Re:Of weather and viewing angle..

[twitter]

We have an IT department that probably codes more than some software companies. Some of our software is licensed out to other companies, with some of my co-workers providing consulting on it.

As you generally don't have control of where you park or of who breaks your windows out, you should make the screen removable.

The situation is similart for a PC. If you follow advice from Extreem Overclocking, you know the inside of your PC will surpass 104F and Windows might break it.

Re:Of weather and viewing angle..

[evilviper]

"Put out an A.P.B on Uosdwis R. Dewoh, better start with greek town."

"That's Homer J. Simpson, chief. You're reading it upside down."
"Err.. Cancel that A.P.B. But, err, bring back some of them gyro's."
"Eh, chief.. You're talking into your wallet!"

--The Simpsons

Video footage?

[citroidSD]

I hope they are also capturing video footage of their servers thrashing in pain; as the Slashdot effect goes about downloading their 10meg .wmv file that they have made available.

Smaller Form Factor Needed

[jot445]

When they do this on a watch then I will buy. Images of Rick Tracy, computer private eye, float through my mind. (Rick is, of course, Dick's older and better looking brother).

Better yet, when I can do this with my Captain Midnight Decoder Ring, then I will be even more ready to buy.

Reality comes from above: God is calling, there's no bigger love.

Re:Smaller Form Factor Needed

[Anonymous Coward]

too late... m$ never got over their longing for the dick tracy watch either:

http://www.wired.com/news/wireless/0,1382,57116, 00 .html

Re:Smaller Form Factor Needed

[unitron]

Isn't that supposed to be Captain Midnight Secret Decoder Ring? Or was that Captain Video?

Nice 'proof of concept' BUT

[Lysol]

- this does not scale well for > 1 server.

- only works if you have some sort of ATX type case

- with any sort of non-gui mgmt tools, this becomes irrelavent

that said, it's a neat idea for a web page article, but this would never fly for the typical mgmt of servers that i've seen. and, i prefer non-gui tools because gui tools tend to slow and a pain in the ass to deal with.

Re:Nice 'proof of concept' BUT

[entrigant]

You forgot the other reason to use it! The idea of using it for a HTPC is pretty slick. One of the most important things to me for a good looking htpc (needs to look like a stereo component imho) is the status display. A full color lcd screen would work perfect for this! I'd much rather use that than a small black and white LCD only capable of displaying numbers and letters mounted in a 5 1/4" drive bay. You'd of course have to end up writing your own software for the status display, but if you did this could look extremely slick, especially with custom software to drive a nice remote control, like ATI's RF remote.

Re:Nice 'proof of concept' BUT

[unitron]

Well, technically you could use an AT board and an AT case with two unused 5.25 bays, you just can't use a much smaller than average case.

Re:Nice 'proof of concept' BUT

[alech]

- with any sort of non-gui mgmt tools, this becomes irrelavent

nack. man bios.

Alech, who just dragged his 17" to the server just to install an ISDN card. /me wants a network bios :-)

Console Server?

[turgid]

Why not just connect up your machines to a console server via thier serial ports? If you need graphics, use X over the network.

Re:Console Server?

[Anonymous Coward]

Windowz sucks!

Re:Console Server?

[Fembot]

Yeah that allways served me well with GNU/Linux, but that isnt really do-able with windows servers is it?

But with Linux servers I tend to find the "install, configure, setup and leave and use ssh occasionaly to check" approach works fine

Re:Console Server?

[turgid]

You mean people are still trying to run Windows on servers in this day and age?

Re:Console Server?

[Anonymous Coward]

What is a "Windows Server" anyway ?

cool idea

[tmonkey]

This is actually a good idea. for those of us who really don't touch the server all that much and do not have enough desk real-estate to deal with, this could be a very easy solution. I am working on a similar thing. My sever is in my basement cause the wife does not want it in the living room where the other computer is. In the basement there is really only room for a computer no monitor so this is a nice all in one idea. I am also using a wireless keyboard and mouse so that can be stuck anywhere. Though my server is going to be running Linux so there is no real need for vnc.

Server

[mrpuffypants]

Somebody needs to overclock their server, or at least install a LCD screen on it that will blink "Warning! Meltdown! /.!"

For servers?

[IGnatius T Foobar]

From the article:

If you are running a server and do not want to waste money on buying a monitor that you will only use probably once a week then you will definitely see the value here. If it's coolness factor you're looking for, then by all means go ahead and install the 5-inch LCD. But if it's "value" that you're looking for, as the article suggests, there are cheaper ways of doing it.

Headless comes to mind, of course. Nearly all new server hardware supports keyboardless/displayless operation. Or you can do "nearly headless" -- do a serial console. Again, nearly all new server hardware supports running the BIOS/POST to a serial port, and Linux supports a serial console with no trouble at all.

Of course, if you're running a Windows server, then you'd better just pony up the $100-300 for a real monitor (or in a large multi-server environment, a big KVM switch) because you're going to be spending a lot of time sitting at the console fixing broken Microsoft crap.

And before you mod me down as a zealot, please know that this is based on my experience at a mid-size managed hosting facility. Our sysadmins are constantly babysitting the Windows boxen, so we have to dedicate expensive KVM ports to each one. Linux just runs and runs without ever having a problem that requires console access, so we go serial, and we hook them up with really inexpensive used terminal servers.

Re:For servers?

[milosoftware]

...Windows server, then you'd better just pony up the $100-300 for a real monitor ... because you're going to be spending a lot of time sitting at the console fixing broken Microsoft crap.

Actually, you will be going to notice that most configuration dialogs won't fit on the 234 pixel wide screen...

Re:For servers?

[bergeron76]

It's not exactly cheap, but the PCWeasel 2000 will let you even see your PC's BIOS (and allow you to get into it) over serial, so you can run almost completely headless over serial. There's a cool demo of it over there as well.

Re:For servers?

[rabidcow]

Yeah I dunno, I got sshd for free when I set up my home server. Do hardware failures happen often enough that you'll need to see POST on some machine every week?

It will make Wardriving a breeze.

[infonography]

But adding 802.11/Cell modem to a car computer is too easy. You get to add a really big antenna Still a nice bit of work folks.

When in Japan...

[NiteHaqr]

or to be more exact Osaka 2 (count em 1,2) years ago I had a look round various tech-shops and PC parts places (drooling all the way), I saw just this, or something similar in an "non-modded" part.

Basically it was a 800x600 LCD that slotted into a 5.25" bay.

How it connected to the PC I dont know, but I expect some kind of loop-back cable.

This is old news....

LAN party?

[milosoftware]

I don't mind dragging my 15 kg desktop to a LAN party, but I do mind carrying my 24 kg Iiyama around, i'm afraid i'll drop and break it.

But the screen is a bit small for my taste. How about recycling an old laptops TFT screen? I have a defunct laptop with a perfectly good working TFT screen. I'd love to stick its display to the case with doublesided tape. But I have no idea how to wire it, or what kind of video card I could use for this. Any comments/links on that?

Re:LAN party?

[Quixotic137]

I don't have any links off-hand, but I have looked into it and the short answer is that you don't want to do this. Basically, each model of screen has it's own interface (which is not VGA or even close) and the controller is generally built in to the laptop display system. It is possible (and there are standalone or VGA-compatible controllers out there), but it's going to be expensive. Check google for details.

Re:LAN party?

[thx2001r]

How about if the old Laptop TFT screen gets built into the side of the PC case? Like those glass windows everyone bores out of the case.

Of course, then, ultimately, you'll end up with something like this...

Model III
- or -
Sony's new all-in-one
- or -
Datapoint 2200
- and an Osborne computer mentioned elsewhere in the thread -
Osborne executive 3

I will have to say, though, one of the prettiest cases I've ever seen was this one... it'd make a pretty cool Linux box today (with some hardware modification)!

Sharp MZ40K System 2

I guess all-in-ones are somewhat en-vogue again. It just figures an all-in-one-(esque) case mod for a regular tower case is in order.

Re:LAN party?

[Jennifer Ever]

Short answer: it won't work, you're better off just selling the screen on eBay.

Long answer: you can buy a decent GeForce or Radeon plus a 15" TFT monitor for less than a video card capable of directly driving a bare LCD (well, I have seen some 512k greyscale ISA boards for under $100). Additionally, there's the cost of custom cabling, powering the inverter for the screen's backlight, etc. And even with expenses so high, you're probably not going to end up with a graphics system suitable for gaming anyway.

Re:LAN party?

[EggMan2000]

That does bring up an interesting idea.

You could take apart a standard 15" lcd display and mount it inside a lot of towers, making it viewable via a window.

I still see many power supplies that allow you to plug a normal AC plug into it, where you could simply plug in your LCD's powersupply.

This would be very simple and not require extensive knowledge of voltage, etc.

G.W Bush political program!

[Anonymous Coward]

Screw civil rights!! Screw economy!! Screw history!! GO WAR!!

Tight VNC

[Anonymous Coward]

I highly recommend Tight VNC for all of your VNC needs. It's based on the ATT version, is free, open source, and has a lot of nice improvements.

Re:Tight VNC

[antelopelovefan]

I've also switched to TightVNC and found it to be a major improvement, especially over slow networks. The server-side has been input handling and the client has a couple different levels of compression for fast connections.

Not so extremely website...

[_PimpDaddy7_]

Looks like they can't overclock that webserver as it's already slashdotted...

1024x768?

[diatonic]

1024x768 on a TV out to a 5 inch LCD has got to be hell on the eyes. If you'r running VNC then you may as well manage from a remote workstation, with a display that won't give you a headache.

.:diatonic:.

Re:1024x768?

[unitron]

I don't think you can get 1024 x 768 over an NTSC type composite video feed without making the NTSC composite type video display go crazy. Wonder if those displays can be hacked to do VGA, it's not like trying to get a CRT television to do double the horizontal sweep rate that the yoke and flyback are designed for.

Bizarre

[orac2]

The stock shot on the LCD is of the Ha'penny Bridge, a 19th century pedestrian bridge in my old home town of Dublin. I wonder they chose a pedestrian bridge from a pre-automobile era to help sell sell high tech car parts!

well of course.

[twitter]

... this would never fly for the typical mgmt of servers that i've seen. and, i prefer non-gui tools because gui tools tend to slow and a pain in the ass to deal with.

The only useful thing in the article was that you can get a 5" screen from an auto parts dealer. Rigged to a normal VGA connector and put into a reasonable case with some batteries, this could replace the cart mounted CRT that is useful for diagnosing the box that won't respond remotely. Imagine one affixed to a light weight keyboard. When trouble comes, lug out this, a few other tools and a chair.

I was going to do this last year...

[Hayzeus]

.. but as it turned out, the price of the car made the whole project impractical.

Once the price of cars drops, though, I'm sure we'll see a lot more of this kind of thing...

Re:I was going to do this last year...

[Anonymous Coward]

Once the price of cars drops, though, I'm sure we'll see a lot more of this kind of thing...

Well, the nice thing is that 18 months from now, new cars will be twice as fast as today's cars, and today's cars (which will then be "old and obsolete") will cost under a thousand dollars.

Re:I was going to do this last year...

[Anonymous Coward]

Plus, they'll be able to FLY!

Re:I was going to do this last year...

[catch23]

holy cow! I got a real deal selling my 1990 oldsmobile for just over $1000! I wonder if the guy buying my car thought it was an antique and actually worth something.

I must've got ripped off though, my 2001 corolla still doesn't drive 7680mph yet.

It looks cool but....

[Anonymous Coward]

it's nothing new. I have the same thing on a AMD K6-2 450 and an ATI-All-in-Wonder AGP that has composite out. Except rather than forking $120 for a flatscreen LCD (which IS nifty, btw..) I forked the $120 for a 21 inch TV screen with stereo sound.

Poof! instant video/DVD box with Streaming box.

I am not sure why someone would do this as the use of VNC kinda negates the need for a monitor at all (in a server application.)

Really? Less power?

[Moderation abuser]

See that big button on the bottom right hand corner of the monitor in front of you?

That's "The OFF button". It switches the monitor off and on. Revolutionary, I know, but it's been a standard feature of monitors for ooooh, a little while now.

Re:Really? Less power?

[Kadagan AU]

Yes, that works wonders, but any moment it's switched to "ON" it's using more power than this thing. And if you never use that setting, then it's pointless to even have this big paper weight.

~Jon~

Re:Really? Less power?

[rikkards]

Once you start using VNC it's pointless to have a monitor hooked up. Granted if you lose network connectivity then you will but not that the potential that will happen will justify buying an expensive LCD screen

Re:Really? Less power?

[Anonymous Coward]

Granted if you lose network connectivity then you will but not that the potential that will happen will justify buying an expensive LCD screen

real servers have serial console.

Re:Really? Less power?

[Anonymous Coward]

Granted if you lose network connectivity then you will but not that the potential that will happen will justify buying an expensive LCD screen

Losing network connectivity and control of the server is normal when you run Windows on a computer.

Re:Really? Less power?

[Anonymous Coward]

That's "The OFF button". It switches the monitor off and on. Revolutionary, I know, but it's been a standard feature of monitors for ooooh, a little while now.

Oh, you laugh, but I've got a cute little 9" monitor with no power button.

It's designed to plug into your AT power supply and use the computer's power switch.

What a pile of shit

[cybergibbons]

Ok, this guy has stuck a 5" LCD in his ATX case, connected it up to the composite video out, used VNC, and claimed all this amazing stuff.

Ok, this screen will be of little use except to vaguelly see what is going on, watching films, visualisations from winamp, etc. It's hardly a monitor replacement.

So he uses a bit of rolled over ribbon cable, some duct tape, and a tube for the surround... that smells to me of someone who couldn't really be bothered so hacked apart the nearest things to make it. Why not do something decent? It's not hard to get an acrylic surround cut and put in.

And it's another geek with the good old "it's ok to twist wires together and wrap tape round them". No, it isn't. Use terminal strip, crimp connectors, solder them and heatshrink them, but your method is a very poor and not very safe way of doing it. Muppet.

Last, as you will see in a later review, this LCD can make an excellent computer-powered, voice-controlled GPS Navigational system.

Yeah, right. I can believe that will work reliably and efficiently, with twisted together wires, some bodged together software, and a conventional desktop PC shoved under the seat.

We've seen screens like this before, and it's very easy to connect up an LCD to composite video. He hasn't even done anything nice to the case.

Waste of time.

Re:What a pile of shit

[revmoo]

Agreed

This is the worst casemod article I have ever seen. I'm not trying to troll here, but c'mon. The screen is tiny, and to make matters worse, it isn't even VGA. Good luck trying to actually admin a server(windows or linux) with that thing. And then, at the end of the review they tack on a guide to installing VNC. Now, granted, VNC is a great tool, but it has absolutely nothing to do with this screen, though, the only way to admin a box with this screen would be through vnc so I guess there's a link there.

I don't normally complain about slashdot mods choice of articles, but this is getting to be absurd. I think that they need to implement a user-moderated story system, much like that of scoop. I'm not sure if anyone has noticed but /. has been losing readers fast.

Maybe if the admins took steps to solve this problem /. would be a better place, but I have yet to see a single major change in the site in the 3 years that I've been reading it.

Re:What a pile of shit

[slyxter]

GPS on a device that doesn't move is pretty useless IMO

Meh...

[Remlik]

Nothing ground breaking here. For a couple more bucks they could have gotten an LCD with a 15pin SVGA connector right on it and not even bothered with that composite signal.

I guess if you have a really small server room (or bedroom for most of us) this could make some sense if you need to do any work right on the machine.

A better investment might be a simple KVM if you plan to be in the room with the server ($79) or since he's using VNC anyway just not have a monitor!!! But what the hell do I know, I read /.

Re:Meh...

[master0ne]

if you could send a link to one of those lcd's w/ a build in 15 pin svga connector for a "few bucks more" to xvmastervx(at)hotmail(dot)com then please do, i would appreciate. however i did find a better looking, and more *useful* lcd module, if this is in anyway useful. here it is. the only diff is this one turns itself off when theres no signal detected, and it has a better viewing angle. the -only- use for this i could even remotly think of is maby previewing video on a ntsc display, built in. and even thin its an issue of convience and not usefulness.

Jumpers and tanktops

[Moderation abuser]

I noticed that the Windows admins tended to wear jumpers and tanktops round the office. The Unix guys all just wear t-shirts.

The air conditioning in the machine rooms is brutal.

Actually Been Done Before

[vlad30]

http://www.kentsalas.com/blueiceg4/gallery.asp

http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,56086,00.ht ml

Using a G4 and more effective use of Screen I believe as a status screen

Re:Actually Been Done Before

[Anonymous Coward]

way cool

Re:OT: Pictures, Bush doesn't want you to see

[Psion]

What's the matter, Michael, wasn't getting booed off the stage at the Oscars enough for you?

For home AV units?

[roe1352]

Could this be used for home AV units? If it were touch-sensitive it would make things much cooler than whipping out the wireless keyboard. Also why not use a LCD screen from one of the new units for cars that are the same size as a car stereo, but the screen pops out and folds up? That would be nice!

Bad idea

[Anonymous Coward]

Ah yes, server management from the mouths and minds of teens. This has got to be the dumbest idea ever conceived for server management. It isn't cost effective (depite what they say), it doesn't scale, and it would require you to bring your server down if the LCD needed to be replaced/repaired. Clearly, these guys have no practical experience. They're busy mowing lawns so they can buy the parts for another "sweet" server at Fry's. Yipee.

Re:Bad idea

[Kadagan AU]

He never claimed that this was a business solution. Everyone's talking about how he could never use this to manage multitudes of servers, and that's very true, but he never said he wanted to use it for managing any servers at all. He was using this so he can monitor CPU/Mem loads from his recliner across the room. If you read the article, and looked at the images, all his screen shots showed the WinXP System Monitor app in the task manager. It shows with, simple bar and line graphs, how much load the system has. He put VNC on to actually manage the beast.

Read the article!

~Jon~

P.S. I'm not saying that I agree with him running WinXP on a "server" though ;-)

Re:OT: Pictures, Bush doesn't want you to see

[sheimers]

He might have been booed from stage, but the rest of the world admires him. He was on all european TV stations, and nobody cared for the rest of the oscars. (I didn't even care for his oscar, but his speech was great.)

Picture frame

[Moderation abuser]

You have a good point, I just binned an old, dead laptop, the screen could have been pulled out and stuck in a picture frame. It'd just have needed a power supply and long vga cable.

Re:Picture frame

[RowdyReptile]

Good point.. reminds me of this story posted here a while back:

Old PowerBook + Hot Glue = Cheap Digital Picture Frame

Does anybody really want to be this tied down?

[SuperJ]

Is there any sysadmin out there who really wants this thick of an umbilical cord between them and their servers? I thought sysadmins having to carry pagers was bad, but this is just plain ridiculous. I can think of these three scenarios:

1) "Oh geez, spongebob1's not responding"...continues to stare at screen waiting for spongebob1's return...doesn't pay attention to sharp curve in the road...WHAM!!! Game over.

2) After going out to a fancy dinner with a nice attractive young lady, you're driving to the movie theater when your big honkin' LCD starts beeping. "Oh crap honey, I've gotta go to work and get this server running. I guess we can't go to the movie." "Ok, drop me off at home then." "Are you free on Thursday? Want to grab dinner again?" "No, I don't mind computer geeks, but this is ridiculous. It's either me or the servers, Billy."

I will never take a job that requires me to wear a pager or carry a cell phone so that people can reach me on off hours. And I'm certainly never going to mount an LCD in my car.

Re:Does anybody really want to be this tied down?

[user32.ExitWindowsEx]

RTFA.

By "car LCD" they mean a 5" LCD screen -- mounted inside the computer...not something actually in your car.

Re:Does anybody really want to be this tied down?

[master0ne]

I can think of these three scenarios
And the third one is?...
Maby you should go back to kindergarden to learn to count and read.

Whaaaa?

[Anonymous Coward]

What does setting up VNC have to do with anything?

I get what he is trying to do here with the 5" LCD.

Its kinda neat, but not very cost effective as he suggests.

Why even mention VNC? It has nothing to do with anything in this article!

Parts Info

[richwmn]

For those that are interested, the link in the article to find a price for the part is broken. This (http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&User _ID=12265578&St=2441&St2=86138462&St3=-45726898&DS _ID=3&Product_ID=16106&DID=7)will get you to a store to sell the module at $128 ($119 qty 4).

One word:

[Big Nothing]

Cool-o-rama! My mp3 server just got a lot l33t'er.

This is on Slashdot?!?

[Anonymous Coward]

How was this worthy of being posted in this forum? Guys (and gals) have been putting LCDs in their cases for years now.

Just because some overly-anal geek can't go without knowing what his servers are doing all the time, he adds VNC on top of everything and *boom* he's instant slashdot material? I think not. If anything, this guy deserves a good smack just for being suck a geek. Must be a slow news day.

VNC - security issue

[altek]

Even if VNC is supposedly secure, (and I use it for some workstations), I still can't imagine putting it on a server. There just seems to be something inherently wrong with putting up a service on a dedicated server which gives people full and complete control over your system...

Re:VNC - security issue

[MCMLXXVI]

As opposed to SSH??
Or for the Windows haters, IIS

Re:VNC - security issue

[davidstrauss]

As opposed to SSH?? Or for the Windows haters, IIS

IIS is not for remote management. Remote Desktop (a.k.a. Terminal Server) is the remote management tool equivalent to VNC. In my opinion, it is far better than most remote management tools in the speed/usability category.

They will be pedestrians.

[GQuon]

I wonder they chose a pedestrian bridge from a pre-automobile era to help sell sell high tech car parts!
Because when that car computer crashes, they have to walk to the nearest phone and call customer support. (Because the cell phone was integrated in the car. D'oh!)
Let's hope it doesn't become a common event.

Boxen

[master0ne]

babysitting the Windows boxen
Where can i find these "boxen", i tried the zoo, but the attendent kept saying they dont have ox's at the zoo, seems an elusive breed.

Composite Out Useful?

[jonbrewer]

I've never found composite out on video cards useful for anything but watching movies. All the video cards I've ever tried try and compress a desktop of 800*600 or 1024*768 so that it fits on a TV. Of course this looks like shit.

What I'd like to do is somehow send the native resolution of the TV. Is this possible? Especially with a little LCD TV screen. I mean, what a waste, having an LCD where the image is unreadable.

Re:Composite Out Useful?

[unitron]

Set your resolution for 640 x 480 and you should be close enough to the neighborhood of NTSC video not to freak out your televison too badly, although your actual VGA monitor display will look really mid 80s.

because we can.

[Sauron23]

It looks so cool. As a SFF nut any time you can shove a screen inside your box, like this xenarc, which supports 800x480, makes me drool. xenarc also sells a single DIN carputer. With built in pcmcia slots perhaps you could VNC into your remote servers from the parking lot using 802.ll. Try swinging that past your purchasing officer.

Computer with horn: Ellen Feiss deaf?

[GQuon]

From the article:All of us know that both the car and the PC have a 12V line

But they neglect to tell us if this mod is for diesel or gas powered computers.

Seriously though:
Since cars typically use the car body as the return from the positive terminal (i.e. the car body is connected to negative), the fastenings for a car part could be designed to connect to the negative terminal. (A few cars are made the other way around. Look out.)
A computer case is supposed to be connected to ground. So although connecting turn signals, cigarette lighters and horns (Ellen Feiss would go deaf) to your computer might sound tempting, you'd better check out how the car and the part is coupled.
In other words: Tell Chewie to isolate the reverse power couplings.

Re:Computer with horn: Ellen Feiss deaf?

[unitron]

For the time being cars and computers both can use 12 Volt negative ground gear, but car makers are looking at going to a much higher voltage (times 4 or more) on order to deliver the same watts over thinner (cheaper) wires, and your old 5 Volt CPU went down to 3.3 Volt and now they're moving even lower so in the future if they ditch that legacy stuff and use lower voltage drive motors they can go with a single voltage output power supply meaning fewer parts and lower manufacturing costs so enjoy the temporary intersection of hackable car and computer parts while it lasts.

You can get a 5" LCD even cheaper...

[g2racer]

Do a search for the Emerson MT-950...

And you know it's not a joke when he says...

[Jennifer Ever]

"I want to be able to look straight ahead, without getting off of my recliner, and see the status of my servers."

VNC?

[Anonymous Coward]

He used VNC to access the servers? Why would you go through all the trouble installing VNC when SSH works perfectly well on all UNIX servers.

Oooh Right, some idiot thinks that Win2k is a great server platform. HAH.
Take a look at netcraft: the large majority of high-uptime servers are FreeBSD machines running apache.

not for server, but what about photo frame?

[Anonymous Coward]

What would be "kewl" is to take a small LCD like this, a small Mini ATX system, and linux to make a photo frame type device... I've been looking and never find a "nice" one Vs. Cost... (one has a subscription... yuck!) But then you could just FTP photo's to a directory (or movies...) and have a script to randomly play/show them...
Do that for $200 and I'll buy it!

Of course, I remeber someone doing it with an old MAC laptop screen, but that is a MAC, I don't speak appletalk. :(

Not new and others have done it better...

[JackDeth]

Here's a site that's more or less dedicated to showing PC/LCD mods.

And here's a sweet mod that uses the exact same 5" LCD screen and puts it in a Lian-Li case.

Pretty cool lookin case mod and useful if you don't have space for full dual-monitors but also want to have winamp/instant messenger/MB Monitor/etc... running and visible but not necessarily on your main monitor.

The only way I could see this as usable for a server though is if you only have a one or two. After that it gets pretty expensive.

You can buy these off the self

[ukoda]

There is a company call IBM who make PC's with LCD fitted to them. I think they are called Thinkpads. I gather other people make them as well, try googling 'Notebook' or 'Laptop'.

Lots of pics of this "concept"

[EggMan2000]

This has been around for years. However some people have ome great ideas. Here are a few links:

A motorized 5" screen

Here is one that is used just for monitoring resources like proc and temp: -HERE-

Some of these are pretty cool. I am actualy considering trying a 5" screen to run a visual of MP3 player.

another source of LCDs

[Anonymous Coward]

Very similar devices are available from Marshall Electronics...

Last Post!

[alpg]

Microsoft Corp., concerned by the growing popularity of the free 32-bit
operating system for Intel systems, Linux, has employed a number of top
programmers from the underground world of virus development. Bill Gates stated
yesterday: "World domination, fast -- it's either us or Linus". Mr. Torvalds
was unavailable for comment ...
-- Robert Manners, rjm@swift.eng.ox.ac.uk, in comp.os.linux.setup

- this post brought to you by the Automated Last Post Generator...