[nzlug] Energy saving Linux

[Nick 'Zaf' Clifford]

Guy K. Kloss wrote:
> On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 4:52:14 pm Daniel Lawson wrote:
>   
>> You could look at the various embedded platforms such as soekris, WRAP
>> or eber. Or a Via C3 mini-itx type system. Or even a standard PC with a
>> celeron or turion processor in it.
>>     
>
> If you want it chealy, I'd just suggest you buy a used laptop off TradeMe, and 
> speed step it down into conservation mode. If the lid is closed and you've 
> tuned your hdparm to spin down the HD it consumes quite little energy for 
> very little money. Running a Debian without X on that box would also require 
> only very little resources in terms of performance requirements, and it'll 
> still be way more than any of the appliance like devices (routers) you 
> (Raimund) have mentioned in your original post.
>
>   
But as an added bonus, its also got its on built in UPS (assuming that
the battery isn't totally knackered).

If you consider that the average laptop charger is 70-90W, thats its
peak power consumption. My experience is that on average the laptop will
consume around 70-80% of that when running 100%CPU etc. With the power
savings above (spin down disk, no screen, etc), it should be less than that.

Obviously depends on make and model.

But if you aren't needing the CPU/Harddisk speed, then a laptop may make
a good server. My only concern would be to increase the system memory to
make up for the slower / sleeping hard disk.

My only concern on a 2nd hand laptop is make sure the vents aren't
blocked with dust. Good way to kill a laptop.

Oh, and of course its hard to slap another NIC in the laptop, unless you
use a USB one.

Nick