User:Martind/LfmHardwareAuction

Last.fm has offered to donate a pile of old server hardware to the London Hackspace, which we can sell/auction off to make some money. First (very informal) estimates put this at a total value of £1k or higher.

The LHS has limited options/space for long-term storage, so it will be necessary to coordinate this well and optimise for swift turnaround.

Hardware List

TODO: complete list of hardware

• Pics: lfm ops pile
• It's a fairly diverse pile, and the LHS would have to determine which machines could still be restored to a usable state.
• There are both 2U storage servers and 1U web servers
• I'm told most of them have dual-core, dual-socket CPUs
• There may be some old (non-CRT) displays left too
• There also are loads of old keyboards, cables and other assorted bits if we need them

Restrictions

• LFM needs a representative of the LHS to sign an agreement that this hardware is accepted at no charge and without any guarantees
• LFM requires that either:
  • all disks are removed on location and left at the LFM office
  • the LHS wipes all drives with dban, and a trusted party (e.g. Jonty or Russ) supervises the process and vouches for its completion.
• In the interest of keeping the LHS tidy we should aim to hold this hardware for no more than two weeks

Estimated Required Work

Transport

Getting servers/hardware from Last.fm HQ to the Hackspace is the first step. Perhaps a van; LFM is willing to sponsor a streetcar if need be.

Hardware then needs taking from the carpark to the space itself. Many hands make light work and there is a goods lift in Cremer Street.

Catalogging

Next we need to know what we have. Suggestion is to first of all assign each item an ID (001, 002, 003, etc.). Overview page on the wiki that lists IDs and status of hardware; be it "in review", "for sale", "sold" and "discarded".

Each ID links through to another wiki page with in detail specs on each item, and photos. Information that needs logging is:

• Manufacturer
• Model Number
• CPU
• RAM
• HDD
• Form factor
• Peripherals
• Price based on going market rates for similar items. A quick eBay search should suffice.

Photos are to be taken and uploaded.

Testing and prep

Ensure hardware is still functional. Definition of functional is to be decided, but maybe check that the BIOS gets past the POST stage and can boot a live CD or something?

Harddrives and other effects are to be wiped/cleaned to an agreed level of acceptability.

Any hardware which does not work can be chucked for now to help minimize on the space occupied. In the future, maybe assemble working machines out of several broken ones (this is optional, but is likely to increase resale value).

Sale

Post sales listing on eBay, Craigslist, Gumtree or whatever else platform. Items have a sale life of a week at maximum. Prices start at something reasonable, but low. We want to sell things, and quickly.

Need people to be available when buyers want to pick up the hardware. There's usually someone in the space, so arrange for pick up to be when someone is definitely present. Be it a weekend or Tuesday?

Cleanup

If no interest is generated for an item and it does not sell, it gets chucked (or donated to someone/somewhere?). There are skips in the business park.

Schedule

This is all preliminary.

• On a Friday afternoon: pick up hardware from LFM office (atm it looks like the best dates are 17 Sept, 1 Oct, 8 Oct, or later)
• ...?

Volunteers

Put your name here if you'd like to volunteer. (Only serious offers pls.)

• Martind is willing to coordinate, speak to LFM, ensure there's a van, rally volunteers to help moving stuff etc
• Muz is more than happy to help with identifying, cataloging and testing hardware