The Death Of The Subtext Build Server

• Apr 24, 2007
• 17 Comments
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Take a good look at this picture.

That there is pretty much my Shuttle machine today, metaphorically speaking of course.

We had a brief power outage today which appears to have fried just my hard drive, if I’m lucky. This machine was hosting our build server within a VMWare virtual machine.

Fortunately my main machine was not affected by the outtage because it is connected to a

The real loss is all the time it will take me to get the build server up and running again. Not to mention we were planning an imminent release and rely on our build server to automatically prepare a release. I hate manual work.

What others have said

simone Apr 25, 2007 12:50 AM

# re: The Death Of The Subtext Build Server

That's a shame!!!

matt Apr 25, 2007 1:17 AM

# re: The Death Of The Subtext Build Server

ouch... hope it doesn't cost you too much to repair your machine!

good luck getting it sorted.

Dugald Wilson Apr 25, 2007 4:14 AM

# re: The Death Of The Subtext Build Server

Seems like these types of incidents are spiking recently:

http://www.hanselman.com/blog/VistaBOOTMGRIsMissingAndTheImportanceOfTheUPS.aspx

Does the current plan involve getting the build server onto a UPS once it's back up?

Steve Harman Apr 25, 2007 5:35 AM

# re: The Death Of The Subtext Build Server

Doh!

Well hopefully you can find that backup image - but if not... have you tried hooking the HDD up to your main system as an extra (either external, or internal) drive?

I only ask b/c I once had a disk that I thought died, but ended up just being unbootable - I think the MBR or something got hosed. So I was able to hook it up to an external (USB2.0) case and read from the drive that way. Just a thought.

Oh, and Dugald - unfortunately I don't think a UPS for the build machine was in the budget... though if any one want to donate to the cause, I'm sure we could look into getting one. :)

engtech Apr 25, 2007 7:37 AM

# re: The Death Of The Subtext Build Server

that's one of the beauties of VMWare images... easy to back-up.

You just have to remember to *do* the back-up. :)

*has corrupted his images before*

Darren Kopp Apr 25, 2007 9:08 AM

# re: The Death Of The Subtext Build Server

surge protectors suck. they are worthless. i have a computer at my house plugged into the wall because i'm guessing that the plastic cover on the outlet will help the computer out.

i don't really care a whole lot about it. its just for my 3 year old son to just mess around on and play his mickey mouse game. if it goes... i have like 2 more pentium 2 computers in storage somewhere :)

Scott Apr 25, 2007 9:25 AM

# re: The Death Of The Subtext Build Server

"The Shuttle was connected to a surge protector, but not a UPS. I’m surprised it was fried"

I think the idea behind a surge protector is that the medium (gas, resistors, etc...) that prevents the surge from going through will be able to increase the resistance in direct proportion to the surge and shunting the extra current of through the ground plug.

Did your surge protector have a fuse in it? Could just be that some part of the HD had a defect that only showed up under high-current conditions. All that electrical stuff is voodoo magic to me at that level.

Haacked Apr 25, 2007 9:56 AM

# re: The Death Of The Subtext Build Server

It's voodoo to me as well. ;) It's an old computer, anything is possible.

Braden Apr 27, 2007 4:13 AM

# re: The Death Of The Subtext Build Server

This is precisely as to why all of my machines are on a UPS. I have to UPS units under my desk. One's a 1300VA and the other's a 700VA for the smaller devices. Both are SmartUPS's, meaning they'll correct for the under and over voltages which can occur. My wife's computer is also on a 900 VA UPS. Heck, even my home theater system is on a 1500VA SmartUPS. It's well worth the extra cost.

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Comedy Networks Mar 11, 2009 11:03 PM

# re: The Death Of The Subtext Build Server

the death of the subtext build sever?really?tell me more bout its advantages and disadvantages of this.hope it would be helpful for me.thanks

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