New website - Showcase your server

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17th June 2012, 05:24 PM
jamesfed

New website - Showcase your server

For some time now I’ve been running my personal website (myworldofit.net) and another one before it however I was thinking it would be a nice idea to create a new website that would allow users to ‘showcase their servers’.

By showcase I mean-
+List of hardware specifications
+Approximate cost/year of purchase (I understand not everyone would want to fill this out)
+Photos/YouTube videos
+Describe what the server does (SQL/Virtual Host/VDI/Exchange)

I’ve already registered the domain name showcaseyourserver.net and am now looking to move the project forwards.
The master plan is for the entire website to be based around user generated content, I’ve been looking into hosting this on WordPress (as I always do) using the Gravity Forms plugin which allows people to complete a form and then for it to appear on the site (so less work for me!).
So what are the views of the Edugeeks out there and would anyone be interested in showcasing their servers?
17th June 2012, 05:35 PM
SYNACK

Their could be a security issue, you may want to allow accounts to be annonomys so that even a site compromise would not reveil a handy shopping list of shiney new hardware for the unscrupulous shopper.
17th June 2012, 05:37 PM
jamesfed

Quote:

Originally Posted by SYNACK

Their could be a security issue, you may want to allow accounts to be annonomys so that even a site compromise would not reveil a handy shopping list of shiney new hardware for the unscrupulous shopper.

I'm thinking of not asking for any personaly identifiable data at all so no names/email addys/numbers/company names :)
21st June 2012, 11:49 PM
jamesfed

Slowely getting there with the site, have a work in progress up and on the web - showcase your server

Still lots more features to add though :D
21st June 2012, 11:58 PM
SYNACK

Looks good, what's the case on that 8TB one, case brand/type may make another good variable to record too.
22nd June 2012, 12:05 AM
jamesfed

Quote:

Originally Posted by SYNACK

Looks good, what's the case on that 8TB one, case brand/type may make another good variable to record too.

After a little digging we found out its a Chenbro case - will have to see if the logic in the forms will let me do that :D
22nd June 2012, 12:08 AM
jamesfed

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesfed

After a little digging we found out its a Chenbro case - will have to see if the logic in the forms will let me do that :D

Update - the logic in the forms does :) If you select custom build it will ask for the case on the specs form.

Nice thinking @SYNACK
22nd June 2012, 10:03 AM
mats

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesfed

I’ve been looking into hosting this on WordPress (as I always do) using the Gravity Forms plugin which allows people to complete a form and then for it to appear on the site (so less work for me!).
So what are the views of the Edugeeks out there and would anyone be interested in showcasing their servers?

Hi James,

I'm afraid I'm not really interested in other peoples servers. I am interested in your wordpress forms though. Can I ask why you use the paid-for gravity forms over the free wordpress form plugins? Are there features missing in the free versions or is there some other sublety? Which plugins have you discounted?

Thanks,

Mat
22nd June 2012, 10:05 AM
Duke

Could this be expanded to 'show off your rack', or does that sound too... suggestive? ;)

Intrigued by this idea though, could be fun. :)

Only possible concern still lies with security - the site itself will be anonymous, but I'm sure we'll all be bragging about our kits on here and it's probably possible to tie the photos to a location by our posts. No way around that though!
22nd June 2012, 10:37 AM
jamesfed

Quote:

Originally Posted by mats

Hi James,

I'm afraid I'm not really interested in other peoples servers. I am interested in your wordpress forms though. Can I ask why you use the paid-for gravity forms over the free wordpress form plugins? Are there features missing in the free versions or is there some other sublety? Which plugins have you discounted?

Thanks,

Mat

Hi Matt,

Gravity Forms just seemed to work in every way I wanted to, the (little bit) of ad money I get from myworldofit.net has paied for it anyways :D

The key thing I was after was the ablity to take a form and turn it right into a post with very little effort.

James
22nd June 2012, 10:37 AM
bladedanny

I like the idea of 'show us yer rack'. Saves me taking out the server for a photo shoot if I can just do the whole rack.

Plus it's a cool name, make a lot of money with ads from people looking for something else.
22nd June 2012, 10:42 AM
jamesfed

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke

Could this be expanded to 'show off your rack', or does that sound too... suggestive? ;)

Intrigued by this idea though, could be fun. :)

Only possible concern still lies with security - the site itself will be anonymous, but I'm sure we'll all be bragging about our kits on here and it's probably possible to tie the photos to a location by our posts. No way around that though!

lol someone had to mention it ;)

Just wait until I put together showcaseyourvdi.net :D Crowd sourced data at its best!

It certainly is a concern...not a whole lot that I can do although I have tried to make the form as free/open as possible so people aren’t forced to put in photos/prices/who they are.
22nd June 2012, 10:42 AM
jamesfed

Quote:

Originally Posted by bladedanny

I like the idea of 'show us yer rack'. Saves me taking out the server for a photo shoot if I can just do the whole rack.

Plus it's a cool name, make a lot of money with ads from people looking for something else.

Shuuush don't give away my secret world domination plan ;)