The blog post details troubleshooting a Hetzner server experiencing random reboots. The author initially suspected power issues, utilizing powerstat to monitor power consumption and sensors to check temperature readings, but these revealed no anomalies. Ultimately, dmidecode identified a faulty RAM module, which, after replacement, resolved the instability. The post highlights the importance of systematic hardware diagnostics when dealing with seemingly inexplicable server issues, emphasizing the usefulness of these specific tools for identifying the root cause.
This 2010 essay argues that running a nonfree program on your server, even for personal use, compromises your freedom and contributes to a broader system of user subjugation. While seemingly a private act, hosting proprietary software empowers the software's developer to control your computing, potentially through surveillance, restrictions on usage, or even remote bricking. This reinforces the developer's power over all users, making it harder for free software alternatives to gain traction. By choosing free software, you reclaim control over your server and contribute to a freer digital world for everyone.
HN users largely agree with the article's premise that "personal" devices like "smart" TVs, phones, and even "networked" appliances primarily serve their manufacturers, not the user. Commenters point out the data collection practices of these devices, noting how they send usage data, location information, and even recordings back to corporations. Some users discuss the difficulty of mitigating this data leakage, mentioning custom firmware, self-hosting, and network segregation. Others lament the lack of consumer awareness and the acceptance of these practices as the norm. A few comments highlight the irony of "smart" devices often being less functional and convenient due to their dependence on external servers and frequent updates. The idea of truly owning one's devices versus merely licensing them is also debated. Overall, the thread reflects a shared concern about the erosion of privacy and user control in the age of connected devices.
This blog post details how to run the DeepSeek R1 671B large language model (LLM) entirely on a ~$2000 server built with an AMD EPYC 7452 CPU, 256GB of RAM, and consumer-grade NVMe SSDs. The author emphasizes affordability and accessibility, demonstrating a setup that avoids expensive server-grade hardware and leverages readily available components. The post provides a comprehensive guide covering hardware selection, OS installation, configuring the necessary software like PyTorch and CUDA, downloading the model weights, and ultimately running inference using the optimized llama.cpp implementation. It highlights specific optimization techniques, including using bitsandbytes for quantization and offloading parts of the model to the CPU RAM to manage its large size. The author successfully achieves a performance of ~2 tokens per second, enabling practical, albeit slower, local interaction with this powerful LLM.
HN commenters were skeptical about the true cost and practicality of running a 671B parameter model on a $2,000 server. Several pointed out that the $2,000 figure only covered the CPUs, excluding crucial components like RAM, SSDs, and GPUs, which would significantly inflate the total price. Others questioned the performance on such a setup, doubting it would be usable for anything beyond trivial tasks due to slow inference speeds. The lack of details on power consumption and cooling requirements was also criticized. Some suggested cloud alternatives might be more cost-effective in the long run, while others expressed interest in smaller, more manageable models. A few commenters shared their own experiences with similar hardware, highlighting the challenges of memory bandwidth and the potential need for specialized hardware like Infiniband for efficient communication between CPUs.
Summary of Comments ( 36 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43101430
The Hacker News comments generally praise the author's detailed approach to debugging hardware issues, particularly appreciating the use of readily available tools like
ipmitoolanddmidecode. Several commenters share similar experiences with Hetzner, mentioning frequent hardware failures, especially with older hardware. Some discuss the complexities of diagnosing such issues, highlighting the challenges of distinguishing between software and hardware problems. One commenter suggests Hetzner's older hardware might be the root cause of the instability, while another offers advice on using dedicated IPMI hardware for better remote management. The thread also touches on the pros and cons of Hetzner's pricing compared to its reliability, with some feeling the price doesn't justify the frequency of issues. A few commenters question the author's conclusion about PSU failure, suggesting other potential culprits like RAM or motherboard issues.The Hacker News post "Debugging Hetzner: Uncovering failures with powerstat, sensors, and dmidecode" has generated several comments discussing the author's experience debugging hardware issues with a Hetzner server.
Several commenters shared their own experiences and perspectives on Hetzner's hardware and support. One commenter mentioned their generally positive experience with Hetzner's hardware reliability, contrasting it with the author's described issues. Another user questioned the efficacy of using
powerstatfor diagnosing power issues, suggesting alternative tools or methods. They also pointed out the potential for IPMI access being more helpful in such situations.A significant part of the discussion revolves around Hetzner's practice of using refurbished hardware. Some commenters speculated that the author's problems stemmed from this practice, while others defended Hetzner, arguing that refurbished hardware can be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly option. One commenter shared a personal anecdote of receiving a server with a failed RAID controller, highlighting the potential risks of refurbished hardware. Another commenter suggested that while Hetzner does use refurbished hardware, the quality and reliability can vary, and that their dedicated server offerings are often a good value despite this.
One commenter expressed surprise at the author's decision to troubleshoot the hardware themselves, suggesting that contacting Hetzner support would have been a more efficient approach. This prompted further discussion about the trade-offs between self-troubleshooting and relying on support, with some users expressing a preference for maintaining control over their own hardware.
There was also a brief discussion about the specific tools mentioned in the article. One commenter questioned the usefulness of
dmidecodein this particular scenario, while another mentioned the importance of having out-of-band management access like IPMI for debugging hardware remotely.Overall, the comments section presents a mixed bag of perspectives on Hetzner's hardware and support. While some users expressed concerns about the reliability of refurbished hardware, others defended Hetzner's practices and shared positive experiences. The discussion also touched upon broader topics such as the value of self-troubleshooting versus relying on support, and the importance of having appropriate tools for remote hardware debugging.