If you’ve been thinking about setting up a centralized media server of your own, there’s a good chance you’ve come across Plex, a media server software that allows you to organize, stream, and access your personal media collection across various devices. To set up Plex, you need a reliable, high-performance hosting solution. That’s where TrueNAS Scale comes in.
TrueNAS Scale is a powerful free ...
Last time around, we covered 6 servers, what they do, and some ideas for how to configure them to best suit your needs. What we didn’t tell you, though, is that there's a part 2! Back by popular demand, here are even more server applications and recommended configurations!
Note: If you’re still in the stage of selecting a server, you may also want to consider network infrastructure and network...
In today's installment of TechTalk (get it, installment?), we're showing you how to reseat RAM. Note that newer Dell PowerEdge RAM modules are not compatible with older servers; make sure to check the RAM compatibility with your server, as the notch will be in a different location and will not sit in the memory lane.
When you first open the server, you’ll notice that you can only see half o...
 No matter if you’re scrambling to put together a last-minute meaningful gift or intent on crafting an intricate masterpiece, this list is full of ways to give a handmade gift while safely and sustainably repurposing your old gear! Here are some of our favorite DIY upcycled tech gift ideas for Valentine's Day.
1. Recycled Motherboard Necklace
Image(s) credit: ReComputing on Etsy
For something ...
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This week, we're going back to basics with a video tutorial on an important step in building your own server: applying thermal paste! From proper heatsink removal techniques to our preferred application method, we've got you (and your processor) covered.
Note: this tutorial demonstrates thermal paste application on a 12th generation Dell server. To apply thermal paste onto a 14th gen server,...
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Every day our support techs answer questions from our customers – and potential customers – on technical questions with Enterprise servers. We thought it would be helpful to create a blog post series that summarize the common issues that come up and provide the quick-fix solutions and server troubleshooting steps that we frequently offer.
It’s our first entry in TechMike’s Quick Fix Guide – P...
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When you consider data mirroring through RAID, Hot-Pluggable PSUs, and Hot Swappable hard drives, there is no question that Enterprise servers – with their mission-critical applications – are built with redundancy in mind.Â
To that end, we thought it would be helpful to share what we suggest to keep on hand in terms of spares and the basics of hot-swapping vs. hot-plugging; and hot spares vs....
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The heavy accumulation of dust can severely impact the performance of your server by forcing the fans to work harder to cool the system and allowing pieces of dirt to get between connectors.Â
In this video, we’ll show you step-by-step how to clean a server’s components. The server we are cleaning is a Dell R620, but the principles are the same for virtually any server.
You’ll n...
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At TechMikeNY, we love offering simple solutions to seemingly complicated problems. It’s easier for us, and certainly easier for our customers!
We’ve noticed more and more customers reporting an issue where everything seems to be running fine with the server when booting: fans spinning, lights blinking, etc. But alas, nothing is displaying on the monitor.Â
Before you remove your server’s ac...
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A big part of our ethos at TechMikeNY is environmentally friendly IT solutions and products -- and nothing speaks to that more than energy efficiency. Nobody wants to have an electronic gas-guzzler – especially when you're the one flipping the bill!Â
Here are some helpful tips on how to minimize home server electricity usage. We'll also provide some high-level thoughts into specific topics s...
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A question we get a lot at TechMikeNY from our customers is a concern about how much noise a server might make. Server noise reduction is especially pertinent to folks who are using the device for a home lab or small business owners who plan on putting their server in a room where people are working.
Is There Anything That Can Be Done to Decrease the Sound of My Server?
Here are some straig...
1. Server Noise Level
One question we get asked a lot by customers shopping for a server is "How Noisy Will My Server Be?". It is especially important to take this under consideration if you plan on keeping your server in or near a living space. We decided to take the guess work out of this and recorded the noise levels in dB (decibals) of Dell and HP servers and compared them to noise levels o...
Server hardware is a significant investment for any business. Maintaining it and maximizing its potential helps a business stay competitive, especially when purchasing new hardware isn’t an option. In this case, a server hardware upgrade can help keep a server relevant.
