IDE Cables

On Thursday, I encountered yet another obstacle on my route to total world search engine domination. My linux server (1U size) overheated whilst loading a text file into my Berkeley Java database (see http://www.sleepycat.com). I had set the CPU temperature alarm in the BIOS to 66 degrees centigrade, and had checked the processor data sheet to find that the max operating temperature was 68 degrees C. Lo and behold, half-way through the file (of some 400K lines), a tiny beep-beep-beep started coming from the casing. Total panic ensued on my part - CPU melt-down envisaged! So I cancelled the job and shut-down the machine. Then collapsed in the chair.

Eventually, after some research, I realized that this is probably all my fault. A 1U case is very thin and flat so it can fit into a narrow slot in a server rack, so inside the case there isn't much space for air to circulate. A little while ago, I had bought a second hard drive via eBay (which is where the server came from) and installed it (see previous post for this hassle!). But I had real trouble fitting the IDE ribbon cables back into the case. Now it seems that these cables were obstructing air flow inside the case. I went down to a large PC store near us and bought some rounded IDE cables after reading on the web that they help improve the circulation of air. Installation wasn't easy - I had to cut away the plastic sheafs at the terminals to fit them in - but I restarted the machine and ran the same job again. This time - no overheating. The server whirred along nicely. Order has been restored!