Have an extra computer and dont know what to do...

First off the reason Im asking here is I plan to use ubuntu (phasing windows out almost completely). I have the 3 computers in my sig and the dell vostro is not being used right now because I went virtual machine for SSH and soon web server tasks. My SXPS is a windows media server and VM host as well as VNC. The VM ubuntu is fully utilizing my dynamic dns setup and the m11x is my go with me rig. I want to use the vostro as its a very good solid rig, but for the life of me I cannot find a use for it. I comprised a list of things I needed my total system to do:

Media sharing...check
encrypted remote access...check
CLI and GUI remote access...check
web server...check (very soon to be reimplemented)
XBOX streaming...check
Offsite storage for work...check
Remote storage for the wife and I...check

Now Im lost as what I should do from here. The computer is too old and Im way too nostalgic to sell/trade it (unless someone traded me an emerald green sony viao p) for anything near what its worth. But I also hate seeing perfectly good tech sit around and collect dust. What would you do with an extra computer?

 

Machine with T8100 is old for you?
You can use it as test place - test diffrent distros, try compiling your own kernel etc.

 

you could turn it into a freenas box. It will do every single one of the tasks you listed. Or use it for distro hoping.

 

Pretty nice specs for an unused computer.

Here's my advice: use it for distro hopping and maybe freebsd or something. Use it to explore new software and operating systems! Go forth and break your configuration! Then fix it and write down what you learned and publish it on a blog.

 

Yeah I love the computer. Its over 3 years old so yeah I consider it a "mature" laptop. As for the list I already have all those tasks being done by my SXPS in either win 7 ult or my ubuntu VM. Im almost to the point of making it my ssh server again as Im not having fun with stability in virtualbox. Ill know by the end of the night whether Im going to continue with a VM or go back to the good ole vostro.

 

You could... give it to me...

 

Lol no thanks. The rig is waaay to valuable to me to sell it for what its worth let alone give it away. I figure with normal to heavy use it has at the very least 3-5 years left of good use.

 

Using some stripped down, limited functionality distro like FreeNAS on a machine like that is a waste of hardware resources. Its really a shame, and thats all I can say.

 

Well no worries I found a worthy cause for the vostro! It will be reinstated with a copy of meerkat as soon as I can find my way out of VM hell at work. I honestly worry about installing lamp on it as I think there is an issue using ddclient dynamic dns and lamp. But honestly as long as as remote ssh is running at home Ill be happy.

 

Distro hopping, or even testing the bleeding edge on something that's not mission critical, is a great way to go with an older piece of hardware. My old X41 just stepped into that role - it makes a great Linux desktop, and freed up some of my spare desktop hardware to add to my cluster.

 

Its back on its usual tasks as I got fed up with virtualization.