I am learning a LOT more about Debian and Linux in general. The hard way. I’ve also learned that my RAID controller for the server is really a FAKERAID controller. So I am having to basically build the drives in a software RAID. It’ll be slower, but it’ll work. If I can get it to work. The first time I tried to just add the drives to the existing configuration. While trying to figure that out I had a look at the power meter and decided I didn’t want a pc that consistently took 120Watts just idle. Too much to be running all the time. So no TIVO/File server. I’d just build two different computers.
So I stole capacitors from an unused motherboard, repaired another board and started again. When everything was up and running, it too took 120 Watts. That didn’t make any sense since I didn’t even have any fans or hard drives installed, and it was only a 100 Watt power supply. Then I pressed the button on the meter that changed the display from VOLTS to WATTS. (idiot). 60 Watts. Much better. Fought with the installation. and finally gave up. It occurred to me that there are probably compatibility issues with the card and the chipset.
So back to the original plan, of a combined TIVO/File server unit. With the meter correctly set it is drawing 96 Watts of power. This is with the processor running at 100% and both drives going. It drops down to 80-85 when idle. Not the best, but acceptable. The issue I’m running into now is that I keep missing crap when I compile the new Kernel, and for what ever reasons IVTV won’t work right with out the v4l drivers built in to the kernel on the last go round, so to save myself some trouble I’m going this route.
At some point this weekend I put the RAM from my PC into Melissa’s PC (why do I feel naughty?) I have yet to but it back. So I’ve been on the laptop and the server all week. I hate laptop keyboards. They are too small for my fingers, and too big to just use my thumbs.
I hope to be done with all this soon.