Building the $1,000,000 Computer

Linus Tech Tips2 minutes read

Linus and his team are excited about building a million-dollar PC server project, facing challenges with installation and cable management but ultimately succeeding. They discuss the server's specifications, challenges with power supply, and the importance of proper setup for optimal performance.

Insights

  • Linus and his team face challenges during the installation of the server, emphasizing the importance of proper setup to avoid accidents and the need for improvisation due to unclear instructions.
  • The use of NVMe drives in rebuilding hard drive configurations allows for rapid restoration of protection levels, showcasing a significant improvement in efficiency compared to traditional methods and highlighting the importance of synchronization between servers for seamless operations.

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Recent questions

  • What is the purpose of a petabyte SSD storage project?

    To assemble and power on a large storage system.

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Summary

00:00

Excitement over million-dollar PC build

  • Linus is excited about the million-dollar PC, admiring its solid metal construction.
  • Linus and his team unbox and build one of the servers, giving a shoutout to Supermicro for their assistance.
  • They plan to assemble and power on the entire petabyte SSD storage project for the first time.
  • A sponsor, SmartDeploy, is mentioned for IT professionals to manage computer models with one Windows image.
  • They discuss the server's design and the benefits of having access to the rack from all sides.
  • The power bar can handle 24 amps at 240 volts, equivalent to around 5,600 watts.
  • They consider the layout and placement of components in the rack, deciding to improvise due to lack of clear instructions.
  • Linus struggles with the installation process, including the use of cage nuts and screws.
  • They discuss the server's weight and the importance of proper installation to avoid accidents.
  • Despite some challenges, they successfully install the server and discuss the need for cable management.

10:35

Efficient Server Setup and Management Challenges

  • Computers are plugged in with cables for power.
  • Concerns about cable management in the server room are raised.
  • Screwdrivers are carelessly left on the floor, causing potential loss.
  • Tools are scattered due to lack of storage options.
  • Servers are being moved and installed in a race-like manner.
  • Detailed specifications of the servers are discussed, including RAM, network connectivity, and CPU cores.
  • Servers are overclocked for maximum performance.
  • The high cost and scale of organizations purchasing such equipment are highlighted.
  • The servers are equipped with KIOXIA CD6 data center drives, each with 15.3 terabytes of storage.
  • Challenges with power supply and circuit requirements for the servers are encountered during setup.

22:27

"Software power usage, cluster booting, troubleshooting, rebuilding"

  • The software in a million-dollar project is the most expensive component, with a power usage of 20 amps, 16 amps, equating to 3,000 watts or more.
  • A cluster is booted by configuring settings, starting IO, and initiating the file system, not generating a load.
  • Troubleshooting involves identifying and reseeding loose cables in non-functioning drives, ensuring proper connections.
  • Rebuilding a hard drive configuration with NVMe drives can rapidly restore protection levels from 98% to 100% in minutes, a significant improvement over traditional methods.
  • Synchronization issues between servers can prevent mounting a file system, requiring the setup of a local Windows time server for NTP updates to resolve the problem.
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