# A peek inside the SDMB server room **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 8, 2008, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574 "2008-03-08T07:12:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574/1 "2008-03-08T07:12:48Z")
Our undercover agent has smuggled out a picture of the top secret SDMB [server.](http://images.thinkgeek.com/products/other/looflirpa/zoom/habicase.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574/2 "2008-03-08T07:23:06Z")
[Wrong picture. Here it is](http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/attic/attic_003.html) ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574/3 "2008-03-08T07:25:57Z")
I think you guys are both wrong. My wife and I stopped in Detroit on our honeymoon and [saw it there.](http://www.imsai.net/movies/WOPR.jpg) Tripler Why Detroit? Security reasons. Move along, move along. . . ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574/4 "2008-03-08T07:57:58Z")
[QUOTE=astro] [Wrong picture. Here it is](http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/attic/attic_003.html) [/QUOTE] That’s the old server. My picture is of the new upgraded server. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574/5 "2008-03-08T08:08:21Z")
I’ve heard it really looks something like [this](http://www.mac-essentials.de/bilder/hal2000.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574/6 "2008-03-08T08:09:30Z")
I think that is the work station at Jerry’s desk. ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574/7 "2008-03-08T08:12:33Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] I think that is the work station at Jerry’s desk. [/QUOTE] Or maybe it _is_ Jerry. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574/8 "2008-03-08T08:20:30Z")
Looks quite different from [my last tour](http://farm1.static.flickr.com/159/401727121_dc13303b85_o.jpg)! ---
**Author:** ![TPWombat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@TPWombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TPWombat)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574/9 "2008-03-08T11:24:27Z")
[Oooh! Oooh!! My Turn!](http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/sinclair/h/zx80.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574/10 "2008-03-08T12:00:51Z")
I have it on authority that it’s [this](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Eniac.jpg) . ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574/11 "2008-03-08T12:38:06Z")
I think it’s this [one.](http://blog.lib.umn.edu/lecy0013/architecture/old-computer.jpg) Check out the steering wheel! ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574/12 "2008-03-08T13:01:30Z")
[QUOTE=Dolores Reborn] I think it’s this [one.](http://blog.lib.umn.edu/lecy0013/architecture/old-computer.jpg) Check out the steering wheel! [/QUOTE] My “home computer” is the same model, buy I don’t have the guy in the suit to show me how to use it. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574/13 "2008-03-08T13:14:12Z")
I’m pretty sure I heard they upgraded to [this](http://acarol.woz.org/FullEngineFrontLarge.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574/14 "2008-03-08T13:52:23Z")
I think it’s more of a [Mickey Mouse](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5612776/) setup. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574/15 "2008-03-08T14:49:24Z")
You guys make fun all you want. I, for one, think Jerry should be commended for what he’s been able to do with an Etch-a-Sketch, a cofee urn and a transistor radio. It’s pretty amazing when you stop and think about it. Thank you, Jerry, for your innovation and creativity. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574/16 "2008-03-08T14:54:10Z")
[QUOTE=Winston Smith] You guys make fun all you want. I, for one, think Jerry should be commended for what he’s been able to do with an Etch-a-Sketch, a cofee urn and a transistor radio. It’s pretty amazing when you stop and think about it. Thank you, Jerry, for your innovation and creativity. [/QUOTE] Is his last name MacGiver? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574/17 "2008-03-08T15:08:33Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] Is his last name MacGiver? [/QUOTE] If it isn’t, it should be. Hats off to you Jerry for keeping this place running, and giving us a place to play. ---
**Author:** ![cards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@cards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cards)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574/18 "2008-03-08T15:09:22Z")
Actually, I think the top left picture is Jerrry: [http://www.sysadminday.com/horrors.html](http://www.sysadminday.com/horrors.html) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574/19 "2008-03-08T15:51:43Z")
I’ve got my own set of before and after pics. 3 hours to tidy one rack, but it saved me hours of work later. Unfortunately I can’t make them publicly available. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574/20 "2008-03-08T16:01:53Z")
Joke all you want, guys, Rick’s OP is still the cutest server of them all! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-peek-inside-the-sdmb-server-room/440574.md?page=2)