Any boffins have any suggestions what I could use these for?

Hi everyone. Recently a GP surgery has moved location and these hardware items were left behind. Obviously all data etc has been completely wiped by the IT professionals and hardware/software providers.

Basically there are two fingerprint signing in screens. A server with new tapes and also a backup battery. What sort of setup could I do at home with these? Home security, boiler/ temp management, electricity usage etc? I also have the telephony and network boxes also.

See the pic links below:
https://ibb.co/WKwqCd5
https://ibb.co/J3N2pcG
https://ibb.co/hZqPV9d
https://ibb.co/CsDLw2f
https://ibb.co/HKVVFqH the

Could you cut out all that tedious bell-pushing and use them to relay orders to cook and/or the household staff?

You could use them to give anonymous feedback about your satisfaction with the quality of cooking, cleaning, etc. to avoid any unpleasant conversations.

I suppose having to physically talk to the proletariat may be a bit tiresome...

But seriously any suggestions for a good setup for these?

Unless you have free electricity (and even if you did) I couldn't recommend any decent use for these in a home. The server will eat electricity and definitely outweigh any benefit from measuring it. Any modern PC with SSD disks will wipe the floor with it performance wise and definitely better with regards to power consumption. The UPS may be useful if you have a desktop PC and live in an area with frequent power cuts but only if the battery is still any good.

Thanks for the response. What about the fingerprint system? Would you suggest I sell the server and battery?

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Originally Posted by Ventura

Thanks for the response. What about the fingerprint system? Would you suggest I sell the server and battery?

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No problem. If you could get any money for the server I'd be surprised but you never know. It might be worth breaking it up for parts. Some firms may have some of these servers and would like things like the motherboard, raid controller (if there is one in there), or the power supplies. Have a look on eBay or similar to see if anyone is bidding on any items like that.

The UPS might be worth something if the battery is okay. You could connect it up and if it's an APC (can't remember from the pictures) they should have software for it. Depending on the model it might have network comms and you could see what it says directly from a web interface. Cost a fortune to ship it though because those things are heavy.

If you're feeling generous some university societies (computer societies etc.) might get some use out of it, or a local school might be happy with a donation.

The touch screens/fingerprint scanners I'd say would have very limited use. I'm not sure what software might even go with these, or what you would use them for at home. Maybe someone with more knowledge on these items could have a suggestion on what to do with them. Again, eBay might be your answer here.

Thanks. I have already looked at eBay about the server and it seems to be up for between roughly £100 to £200. The backup battery is APC, and bloody heavy. I would say almost 20 kilos.

If you know what's in the server, or are prepared to have a poke around inside, then you could use this configuration tool to get a guide price on what an established refurbishment business would be asking for it - assuming there was a buyer to be found.

If the data cartridges are still sealed, then they may well be worth a punt on ebay.

Ultimately though, I tend to agree with the above that you could well struggle - literally and figuratively - to move this lot on.

Thanks, I will look into this. The fingerprint arrival system was used in conjunction with the EMIS clinical system.

Sorry to bump this, but anyone else have any suggestions or any use for these?

Either bung them on eBay or do what the previous owners did, bin them?

Yes, I think you and previous responders are right. I kept imaging using this to control multiple features of the house. Fingerprints to access then the screens to view security cameras, allow rear gate access, control room temperature, switch lights off etc. Seems a waste to bin them though, so may do eBay. Never sold on there. Only bought there.

Server stuff is always very difficult to sell as it’s a specialised market and most companies aren’t interested in buying second hand. I’ve got a stack of 2.5” sas disks left over from an upgrade of my home server, had a look on eBay, advertised 1 to see what would happen, it sold and then it was nothing but a ball ache as the buyer clearly had no idea how or what to do to get it working so I ended up providing free support just to get him off my back.

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Originally Posted by Ventura

Yes, I think you and previous responders are right. I kept imaging using this to control multiple features of the house. Fingerprints to access then the screens to view security cameras, allow rear gate access, control room temperature, switch lights off etc. Seems a waste to bin them though, so may do eBay. Never sold on there. Only bought there.

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I think fingerprint access for the stuff you mention in your own home is just plain OTT and trying to find a use for technology that you do not need?

Try eBay but more likely the skip - perceived value is often way off what stuff like this is worth. IT stuff gets written off so quickly.

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Originally Posted by IAmATeaf

Either bung them on eBay or do what the previous owners did, bin them?

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This. ^^^^

Maybe I should just take all of it apart just to see how they work and maybe salvage bits and pieces. Fingerprint thing also has touchscreen.

Biometrics is moving really fast and the quality of those readers will be quite low, I would guess. To use the readers you would need to decide on the application you want to use it for. You will need a server of some type to run the matching software, you would need to find a comparable software to do this. Software could be expensive, as it will be more sophisticated than a one to one matching solution, you may need to do some programming to get it to authenticate the user to what ever you want to use it for. You could buy a finger print reader for as little as £25 off of Amazon with a software driver and instal it in less than 30 minutes.

Yes you're right. I guess I was dreaming. I was hoping to salvage some, if not all of the gear. I hate the thought of disposable technology and landfills, waste etc. Having watched a lot of YouTube videos on how they build, create things, I was hoping to do something similar.

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Originally Posted by Ventura

Yes you're right. I guess I was dreaming. I was hoping to salvage some, if not all of the gear. I hate the thought of disposable technology and landfills, waste etc. Having watched a lot of YouTube videos on how they build, create things, I was hoping to do something similar.

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And I'm sure there's no reason why you shouldn't. Is there a hackspace local to you? If so have a wander along. They're usually run by a bunch of friendly and welcoming people. At the very least they'll be happy to show you what they've got in the way of facilities and equipment, and who knows you could even find someone willing to look over that stuff with you.

Interesting !! I never knew such places existed. Thank you. Pity Bob Frazier moved from Birmingham to Oxford otherwise, that would have been great to have him, you and a few others in one. I could learn a lot. Still wished if I had bothered studying properly when I did my EEE course at University ☹️

empty your inbox Hari....:devilish:

Done now Jon :eagerness: