[tech] Proposal to buy replacement (parts for) Maltair

[Felix von Perger]

Dear tech & committee subscribers,

Since maltair (IBM x3550 M4 server) has died we have had a number of 
issues with lack of memory resources on the 2 remaining VM hosts, and it 
would be nice to have somewhere to put all its leftover parts that isn't 
eBay.

My proposal is to purchase the below identical model x3550 M4 server on 
eBay for $500, local pickup is available in Leeming;

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/IBM-X3550-M4-SERVER/282841269738

Primarily it will be used as a replacement motherboard and will be able 
to utilise most of the leftover RAM (with a couple of spare modules), 
existing CPUs (which are higher spec than the ones provided with the 
above item), the existing 10Gb SFP+ adapter (which seems to be of a 
model specific to IBM System X servers) and the existing RAID card.

By my understanding it's not as good a value purchase as was the 
original (now dead) server but considering that similarly specced models 
are selling for up to $2k I believe it is still a reasonable deal.

Excess RAM could either be sold, kept in case of failure or possibly 
inserted into one of the 2 spare IBM x3550 M3 servers in the rack.

Please don't hesitate to provide feedback on the above.

Best regards,

Felix von Perger
UCC Secretary