What does the metafilter server look like?

February 6, 2009 5:43 AM

Tanks for the new server. Can we see a picture of it?

In the true spirit of childlike curiosity combined with a let's-acknowledge-things-that-we-take-for-grantedness...can I see a picture of the metafilter server? Or am I being dense and it's actually hosted by some company far-off?

It makes me wonder about what google servers actually look like, or any other site I visit regularly for that matter.

posted by 6am to MetaFilter-related at 5:43 AM (142 comments total)

Old server
New server (note dual integrated floppies!)
posted by DU at 5:49 AM on February 6 [41 favorites]

I'd be interested to see a high level Metafilter network diagram. I'm assuming there are more than a couple. It's interesting to see the different approaches people use to manage high volume sites.

In regard to Google, I used to work for a company that had a rack of servers in the same data center that Google did. What was impressive was not how the servers looked, but the sheer volume of them, it looked to be hundreds - probably more - but I only got a quick glance when I saw a guy wheel in a large cart into their super secret, highly secure section of the floor.
posted by SoulOnIce at 5:52 AM on February 6

I visited Fermilab once and saw one of their computer rooms - it looked exactly how you'd expect/want it to look - a room full of glass-fronted racks and racks of computery blinkenlights with an impossible web of networking cables. Just the ticket.
posted by 6am at 6:01 AM on February 6

DU, what kind of flash cards do those slots on the right of the new server take? Is that like an advanced CF card or something?
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 6:07 AM on February 6

The TRS-80 takes flash cards like these.
posted by DU at 6:10 AM on February 6 [2 favorites]

Tanks for the new server.

Just remember not to put water in those tanks!
posted by epimorph at 6:11 AM on February 6

My first laptop could blow the new server out of the water.
posted by dunkadunc at 6:12 AM on February 6 [2 favorites]

I tried to get cortex to take some cheesecake photos of him draped across the new servers before they hit the racks. He gave me some excuse about not being near them. Pffft.
posted by adipocere at 6:12 AM on February 6 [1 favorite]

I wandered around the computer center at CERN 3 years ago. I imagine thats whats Metafilter's backup control room looks like.
posted by blue_beetle at 6:14 AM on February 6

According to this site, Metafilter is hosted by ThePlanet.com, which I assume runs their own server farms out in some remote location.

adipocere: "I tried to get cortex to take some cheesecake photos of him draped across the new servers before they hit the racks. He gave me some excuse about not being near them. Pffft."

Interestingly, according to the Wiki article on The Planet, their "proprietary game server control panel" is called Cortex.

I guess this means that Metafilter is all a game, and that we are merely pawns of a sinister AI control panel who just *poses* as a wisecracking mod.

At least this explains his affinity for Songsmith. What's generic and bland to the human ear must sound brilliant to a machine.
posted by Rhaomi at 6:21 AM on February 6 [5 favorites]

Uh-oh
posted by DU at 6:38 AM on February 6

Old Metafilter server.

New Metafilter server.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:05 AM on February 6 [5 favorites]

Old server, new server.
posted by cortex at 7:21 AM on February 6

Old Server; New Server
posted by thivaia at 7:38 AM on February 6 [3 favorites]

Old server, new server?
posted by 6am at 7:42 AM on February 6 [1 favorite]

Old server; new server.
posted by fantabulous timewaster at 7:45 AM on February 6 [5 favorites]

Old server, new server?
posted by ALongDecember at 7:45 AM on February 6

Old server, new server.
posted by dirtdirt at 7:54 AM on February 6

Old server

New server
posted by kindall at 7:57 AM on February 6 [1 favorite]

As I mentioned earlier the astral server is old/new/timeless.

Some inside baseball for those interested: the central eye/sun thing is the main db; the atomic looking thingy on the right provides the i/o ports to discrete user auras; the bit on the top is the mod control panel; and the solar system thingy on the left contains specialized functions for the subsites. The dewdrop thing oozing out towards the bottom is legacy code to make everything work properly on IE6.0 and below.
posted by Meatbomb at 8:01 AM on February 6

Old server.

New server.
posted by Mister_A at 8:12 AM on February 6

Old server
New server
posted by daniel_charms at 8:14 AM on February 6 [3 favorites]

Old server, new server.
posted by 6am at 8:15 AM on February 6 [2 favorites]

lookatthisserver.com?
posted by mrzarquon at 8:15 AM on February 6 [2 favorites]

Found it. I promise to behave.... New server.
posted by Kronos_to_Earth at 8:21 AM on February 6

Old server, new server.

Crap. Do I sense a new, useless meme here?
posted by quin at 8:22 AM on February 6 [1 favorite]

Dreadfully sorry about the new server. He's from Barcelona. Good help is sooo hard to find, you know.
posted by mds35 at 8:23 AM on February 6 [7 favorites]

Old server.

New server.
posted by googly at 8:36 AM on February 6

I never thought I'd say this, but thank God we don't have the image tag any more.
posted by yhbc at 8:39 AM on February 6 [2 favorites]

I never thought I'd say this, but thank God we don't have the image tag any more.

Flagged as blasphemy.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 8:42 AM on February 6 [4 favorites]

Oiled surfer, news server.
posted by ORthey at 8:45 AM on February 6

Flagged as blasphemy.

Actually, you chose "other". The "blasphemy" flag is only available to Metafilter Pro users who have purchased and downloaded the Religioso 'Rangling extension.
posted by cortex at 8:49 AM on February 6 [1 favorite]

Old server, New server.
posted by terranova at 8:51 AM on February 6

old surfer.

nude fervor.
posted by UbuRoivas at 8:55 AM on February 6 [1 favorite]

Old server, new server.

/probably not doing this right
posted by otolith at 8:58 AM on February 6 [4 favorites]

Indeed not, otolith! You should have used a picture of pancakes!
posted by Mister_A at 9:08 AM on February 6

I find it simultaneously sad and funny when people name new/upgraded tech products/thingamajigs things such as "THOR'S HAMMER" or whatever, because in 3 years "THOR'S HAMMER" is comparatively something like "Loki's third choice of toe-jam cleaning sock".
posted by edgeways at 9:14 AM on February 6 [2 favorites]

Olde server, New server
posted by terranova at 9:14 AM on February 6

I find it simultaneously sad and funny when people name new/upgraded tech products/thingamajigs things such as "THOR'S HAMMER" or whatever, because that's about the geekiest thing I've ever heard. And not in a good way.
posted by UbuRoivas at 9:21 AM on February 6

I've got something named "Thor's Hammer" and it ain't my server, I can tell you that...



It's my hammer.
posted by quin at 9:32 AM on February 6 [1 favorite]

/probably not doing this right

No, but it's still the best one!
posted by ORthey at 9:39 AM on February 6

Crap. Do I sense a new, useless meme here?

I, for one, welcome our new meme.
posted by ORthey at 9:42 AM on February 6

Thor might like to disagree
posted by UbuRoivas at 9:42 AM on February 6

gold berber, new burper
posted by desjardins at 9:50 AM on February 6 [1 favorite]

fold further, preserver.
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:01 AM on February 6 [1 favorite]

Old meme, new meme.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 10:01 AM on February 6

Old server, new server is the new the.

Unless you still think that the is the new the.
posted by grouse at 10:07 AM on February 6

old server, new server
posted by wayofthedodo at 10:09 AM on February 6

old banhammer

new banhammer
posted by pyramid termite at 10:10 AM on February 6 [1 favorite]

Old hurfer, new durfer.
posted by waraw at 10:12 AM on February 6 [3 favorites]

Old paper, new paper.
posted by Metroid Baby at 10:13 AM on February 6

Mold Server, Mew Server
posted by JeffK at 10:16 AM on February 6

Near.........................FAR!
posted by ALongDecember at 10:19 AM on February 6

Gold burger,
Grue server.
posted by Mister_A at 10:21 AM on February 6

Old the, New the.
posted by Caduceus at 10:22 AM on February 6 [1 favorite]

can we has img tag back? my poor back button..
posted by cavalier at 10:44 AM on February 6

*Wipes tear*dual floppies, sniffle. I swapped my dual floppy machine for a Persian rug.
posted by Cranberry at 10:48 AM on February 6

Olds headlight, news headlines
posted by salvia at 10:53 AM on February 6

cavalier: "can we has img tag back? my poor back button.."

Image links inline viewer. Kind of intrusive and cruddy for normal use, but good to have for time like this.
posted by team lowkey at 11:05 AM on February 6

God I just looked at every single one of these.
posted by !Jim at 11:06 AM on February 6

Shift and click, cavalier. Or right click and open in new tab/window.

PS: I'm really pissed off someone stole MY idea of using HAL. *adjusts tinfoil hat*
posted by deborah at 11:13 AM on February 6 [1 favorite]

Oh and I forgot about Mondo Image, if you want the full-bore, old-school inlining.
posted by team lowkey at 11:15 AM on February 6

If we tip the new server generously, will it fall over?
posted by lukemeister at 11:23 AM on February 6 [4 favorites]

Ladies AND gentlemen, a MEME is born!
posted by blue_beetle at 11:24 AM on February 6

Oh god, this made me smile.
posted by filmgeek at 11:28 AM on February 6

Meme mash-up contest:

Old server walks like this, new server walks like this...

In Soviet Russia, old server serves you!
posted by Mister_A at 11:28 AM on February 6 [1 favorite]

With Firefox and Chrome, you can open links in a new tab by clicking with your scroll wheel. Super easy way to look at lots of linked images. You can then close those tabs by clicking with the scroll wheel on the tab bit at the time. No need to even aim for that little x.

This comment, of course, only applies if you're on a PC.
posted by Caduceus at 11:30 AM on February 6 [1 favorite]

Dammit, I don't have the time today to photoshop this together.

Old Server: Matt H in front of a babbage machine.

New Server: Matt H's Head in the Matrix. Gif File, with some loud blinking lights. Maybe unicorns.
posted by filmgeek at 11:34 AM on February 6

Yo dawg we heard you like serving so we put a server in your server so you can serve while you serve.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 11:52 AM on February 6 [1 favorite]

Meme mash-up contest:

Old server walks like this, new server walks like this...

In Soviet Russia, old server serves you!
posted by Mister_A at 11:28 AM on February 6

Mr. A is referencing the popular Ukrainian comedian Yakov Smirnoff.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:01 PM on February 6

In Soviet Russia, old server serves you!

Don't be racist.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:08 PM on February 6 [2 favorites]

With Firefox and Chrome, you can open links in a new tab by clicking with your scroll wheel.

In IE 7+ also. This is hands-down the most use browser innovation in the past two-three years.
posted by bonehead at 12:09 PM on February 6

A new dead horse meme to flog! With luck, we can kill it before it escapes from the thread.
posted by zamboni at 12:18 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]

In Soviet Russia, old server fixed that for you, dawg, so we put new server in ceiling to watch you serve.
posted by Mister_A at 12:19 PM on February 6 [2 favorites]

Old server, new server.
posted by Flipping_Hades_Terwilliger at 12:24 PM on February 6

Old sherbet, usurper
posted by terranova at 12:39 PM on February 6

Old shaver, new shaver.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:46 PM on February 6

Old pervbird, new Serbvert.
posted by cashman at 12:48 PM on February 6

Old server couldn't shoplift at Thrifty.
New server bench press 350.
posted by and hosted from Uranus at 12:55 PM on February 6 [2 favorites]

New server
ALL THESE WORLDS ARE YOURS EXCEPT EUROPA.
posted by lysdexic at 1:21 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]

What's the new server?

$20, same as in old server.
posted by mullacc at 1:29 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]

Old servant, new servant.
posted by daniel_charms at 1:30 PM on February 6

Old server, new server
posted by roll truck roll at 1:38 PM on February 6

you guys are silly.
posted by juliplease at 2:08 PM on February 6

Klaus Sperber, Wild Rover
posted by The White Hat at 2:10 PM on February 6

Old server, New server, LANDING AT PLANE ON THE FRICKIN HUDSON RIVER.
posted by R. Mutt at 2:11 PM on February 6

old server. new server.
posted by Zed at 2:32 PM on February 6

Old swerve, new swerve.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:39 PM on February 6

Old server; new server.
posted by killdevil at 3:13 PM on February 6

MetaFilter: In Soviet Russia, all your new servers are belong to wendell.
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:41 PM on February 6 [2 favorites]

STOP IT.

ALL OF YOU.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 4:12 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]

don't order me about like an old servant.
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:17 PM on February 6

AND WHERE'S MY SHERRY?
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 4:23 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]

coming up, ma'am.

*grumbles; adds extra rat poison to decanter*
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:25 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]

Old server. New server.
posted by inigo2 at 4:29 PM on February 6 [2 favorites]

Man, I don't want to open all those images just to see if somebody stole my bit. It wasn't that good of a bit.
posted by box at 5:06 PM on February 6

Mixed Memes, Mr_A, are done like this:

In Soviet Russia, old pankake server serves The!
posted by Devils Rancher at 5:14 PM on February 6

Old server, New server
posted by DecemberBoy at 5:14 PM on February 6

New server: trained to repel SQL injections... nomnomnom.
New server: trained to rebuff DoS attacks... arrrrrr.
Old server: alas, too innocent, too trusting
posted by terranova at 5:25 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]

UbuRoivas writes "I find it simultaneously sad and funny when people name new/upgraded tech products/thingamajigs things such as 'THOR'S HAMMER' or whatever, because that's about the geekiest thing I've ever heard. And not in a good way."

If they were really geeks they'd call it Mjollnir.
posted by Mitheral at 6:12 PM on February 6 [4 favorites]

100 comments in and still no pix of the new server? If we ask really nicely can we?
posted by waraw at 6:32 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]

Perhaps that don't have physical access to the actual servers?
posted by chillmost at 6:39 PM on February 6

In Soviet Russia ceiling server masturbates you!

Am I doing this right?
posted by slogger at 6:55 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]

UbuRoivas writes "I find it simultaneously sad and funny when people name new/upgraded tech products/thingamajigs things such as 'THOR'S HAMMER' or whatever, because that's about the geekiest thing I've ever heard. And not in a good way."

If they were really geeks they'd call it Mjollnir.

Sure, and then only Valkyries wearing Gauntlets of Power could use it safely. Nice going.
posted by arto at 6:57 PM on February 6 [4 favorites]

waraw: 100 comments in and still no pix of the new server? If we ask really nicely can we?

Oh, it's been posted. You just have to look really carefully.
posted by flatluigi at 8:13 PM on February 6

In the revised words of The Who (not to be confused with The Guess Who, The Who Horton Heard, Who Dunnit, Who Was On First or The Doctor of Doctor Who - although it would've been quite cool if The Doctor ever quoted Who lyrics, especially the 4th Doctor, Tom Baker, who while he was doing the role did look somewhat like Roger Daltrey's older brother, but I digress...):

"Meet the new bossserver, same as the old bossserver."
posted by wendell at 9:17 PM on February 6

old Sir Vick's; new cervix.

Too lazy to do old civic; new civic
posted by fleacircus at 9:58 PM on February 6

Wat? Did old Server get ATtacted?
posted by clearly at 10:36 PM on February 6

this new server... it vibrates?
posted by ctmf at 1:50 AM on February 7

Old Server, New Server.
posted by David Fleming at 7:17 AM on February 7

Old sherpa, new sherpa
posted by terranova at 8:02 AM on February 7

Old severer, new severer.
posted by Smart Dalek at 8:35 AM on February 7

Hey - does anyone know what the new server looks like?
posted by forallmankind at 10:05 AM on February 7

"old Sir Vick's; new cervix."

First link in this thread I'm scared to click on. And I even clicked on the fat guy in tighty-whities.

But seriously, can't we at least hear a bit about the server setup?
posted by fogster at 10:14 AM on February 7

Hey - does anyone know what the new server looks like?

Apparently not.
posted by David Fleming at 10:30 AM on February 7

I read through 115 comments and still have yet to see a picture of the new server. This is a productive Saturday.
posted by cgomez at 10:59 AM on February 7

Hey - does anyone know what the new server looks like?

Belive me, it's better this way. You'd hate to have all your illusions shattered.
posted by tallus at 12:45 PM on February 7

theplanet uses Dell servers. All dell servers pretty much looks the same.

This is a 2U Box

This is a 4U Box

This is a 5U Box

This is what a rack setup looks like at theplanet.
posted by mrzarquon at 1:31 PM on February 7

Old Cerberus, new Cerberus
posted by gingerbeer at 4:20 PM on February 7

Here's an illustrated guide to Metafilter's new server.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 4:23 PM on February 7 [1 favorite]

The planet uses alot more than just Dell Servers. They also have generic beige boxen with red hat on them, as well as a bunch of other different platforms. I believe that your pictures show the former ev1 facility, not the original planet facility on Stemmons in Dallas.
posted by crazyray at 4:30 PM on February 7

well, really, the point was to illustrate it is just a generic server box running a config, based on whatever the planet has laying around.

It has long since passed the "custom built dual p2 box in some guys closet" phase.
posted by mrzarquon at 4:39 PM on February 7

This is what a rack setup looks like at theplanet.

I can't believe I looked at the first picture and uttered, "nice racks" without even thinking about the double entendre.

I really need to get out more.
posted by oats at 8:21 PM on February 7

I'd love to see an interpretive dance on what the new server means to the site.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:15 PM on February 7 [2 favorites]

Belive me, it's better this way. You'd hate to have all your illusions shattered.

Enlighten me.
posted by ersatz at 6:54 AM on February 8

> Enlighten me.

There's no such thing as true love, and we're running on Windows 98.

First edition.
posted by shadytrees at 11:08 AM on February 8

coming up, ma'am.

Psst! In the new server, Marisa is a guy! (I know!)
posted by kittyprecious at 2:22 PM on February 8

Old server

New server
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:09 PM on February 8

cortex's reaction to old server

cortex's reaction to new server
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:11 PM on February 8 [1 favorite]

oh god dammit i don't want to be baltar
posted by cortex at 3:15 PM on February 8 [1 favorite]

Okay then, turncoat.
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:26 PM on February 8

oh god dammit i don't want to be baltar

Huh, that's too bad... because Baltar really wants to be one of you.
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 4:42 PM on February 8

Our old server will divide her tips with the new server, who's named Brystol and works til midnight. Clumsy, though, bitch spilled my drink.
posted by moonbird at 7:11 PM on February 8

I attacted new server.
posted by terranova at 8:58 PM on February 8

I'd love to see an interpretive dance on what the new server means to the site.

I am here to serve, Brandon.
posted by Meatbomb at 5:35 AM on February 10

Hey, the link is borked.

And for some reason, you put a comma in the sentence.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:51 AM on February 12

Oh shit.

Here then without further ado, is "Dance of the New MetaFilter Server" as performed by Die Königlichen Meatbomb Handpuppet Ballet, comissioned by Brandon Blatcher.
posted by Meatbomb at 10:07 AM on February 12

My favorite part is where you almost start to lose your shit at like 0:27.
posted by cortex at 11:01 AM on February 12

Interpretive Dance I: The New Server has Glitches!
Interpretive Dance II: All is Resolved! Hail the New Server! (featuring giant celebratory mod murals)
posted by terranova at 1:08 PM on February 12

Hey, the contract said, NO OMINOUS RED POSTER IN THE BACKGROUND! What the hell man?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:29 AM on February 13

Section VIII(b)(1) says "the use of ominous red poster backgrounds in Youtube interpretive dance videos is expressly prohibited." However, Section IX(c)(3) reminds us, "ominous red murals in Youtube interpretive dance video backgrounds are encouraged as they foster improved relations with semi-isolationist East Asian countries."
posted by terranova at 10:46 AM on February 13

I think you have "ominous" confused with "comforting". Relax, my children, everything's going to be just fine.
posted by Meatbomb at 11:54 AM on February 13