GPU Users Group Fundraiser: Hardware Donations for S@H

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Message 1172181 - Posted: 19 Nov 2011, 14:22:22 UTC - in response to Message 1170939.  

As of 11/18/2011, we have filed for 501(c)(3) recognition. In short: if we are approved any donations made from that date on may be deducted from US Taxes.

Please take a second and read more about it here: http://www.gpuug.org/content/gpu-users-group-files-501c3-tax-exempt-status

Thank you everyone for your support and generosity!


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Message 1172467 - Posted: 20 Nov 2011, 10:10:37 UTC
Last modified: 20 Nov 2011, 10:19:38 UTC

Another $552 put in the pot for Nitpicker and the HDD. Speedbump or anyone else would you like to match?

I am sure there are more than 2 of us here who are able to help the project with donations even if its a small amount.
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Message 1172541 - Posted: 20 Nov 2011, 19:00:24 UTC

Just added 1000.00. Let's get some new blood to help out guys. These upgrades might help us all with getting wus reliably in the future. This would be a great Christmas present for SETI, and for all of us.

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Message 1172614 - Posted: 21 Nov 2011, 0:50:43 UTC - in response to Message 1172541.  

My favorite SETI at Home project currently is the Astropulse system. Here's where we currently stand on that project:

Raised: $2,578.00 / Goal: $ 9,577

We're right at $6,999 to go on this one.

If we could get a few donors a day at whatever they could afford, we could have this thing paid for by xmas and delivered soon after that. It's a real beast of a server.


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Message 1173007 - Posted: 22 Nov 2011, 14:00:39 UTC

Can you give the specs?
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Message 1173308 - Posted: 23 Nov 2011, 20:09:01 UTC - in response to Message 1173007.  
Last modified: 23 Nov 2011, 20:09:46 UTC

Can you give the specs?


Sure. Jeff requested a Synergy clone but bumped to 128g of RAM to run primarily Astropulse and RFI.

Here are the specs:

3 Intel 5520 Chipset - Socket B LGA-1366
4 - 2 x Total Processor - Xeon Support
5 mfr: SR2600URSATARNA
Intel Xeon X5670 2.93 GHz Processor - (2)
10 Socket B LGA-1366
11 mfr: BX80614X5670
Kingston ValueRAM KVR1066D3Q4R7S/16G (8)
16 16GB DDR3 SDRAM Memory Module
17 mfg#: KVR1066D3Q4R7S/16G
INTEL LGA1366 ACTIVE HEATSINK & FAN 130W
LG SLIM SATA 8X DVD±RW OEM BULK
SEAGATE CONSTELLATION ES 1TB 64M SATA600 (5)
INTEL RS2WC080 8 PORT SATA SAS RAID CONT


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Message 1173309 - Posted: 23 Nov 2011, 20:12:34 UTC - in response to Message 1173308.  
Last modified: 23 Nov 2011, 20:13:54 UTC

Just FYI guys we're at:

$6,999 to go on the Astropulse Server and
$4,999 to go on filling up the RAID array.

Please donate if you have a few dollars to spare. I'd really like to have either the RAID array or the Astropulse server funded by Christmas to give the SETI guys a nice present.

ETA both the RAID box and quick rails have been delivered to the SETI offices. All we need to do now is fill it up with hard drives.


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Message 1174417 - Posted: 28 Nov 2011, 23:21:47 UTC - in response to Message 1173309.  

Quick update on the new totals:

Dedicated Astropulse Server: Raised: $2,623.00 / Goal: $ 9,577 --- $6,954 to go
45 Enterprise Class Hard Drives for the RAID Server: Raised: $2,434.00 / Goal: $ 6,433 --- $3,999 to go

We're steadily progressing to our goals. If you're interested please take a moment to donate whatever you'd like toward your either the Astropulse Server or the RAID Array. You can donate via Paypal, Check or Money order at http://www.gpuug.org

Thanks for your continued support!


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Message 1175321 - Posted: 3 Dec 2011, 8:16:18 UTC - in response to Message 1174417.  

Hi everyone:

Here's our weekend update with a bit of news:

1. We've created a new easy to use feature on our website where members can donate hardware directly to SETI at Home. An added benefit of going through the GPU Users Group Inc. is that in accordance with US tax law, hardware donations to us are tax deductible on your federal income taxes. We will generate a receipt to you and yours via email upon receipt of said hardware which you may use as documentation on your taxes.

Currently we only have one item (2 or 3TB SATA hard drives) but will be adding more next week. If you're interested please check out the new feature at http://www.gpuug.org/donatehardware

2. We've ordered 6 3TB hard drives for Astropulse transportation for SETI at Home. We'll be following up with tracking information once we receive it, pictures and so forth.

3. Here's where we stand on our two current projects:

Dedicated Astropulse Server: Raised: $2,643.00 / Goal: $ 9,577 $6,934 to go
Hard Drives for Oscar's Raid Array: Raised: $2,454.00 / Goal: $ 6,433 $3,979 to go

Please consider making a donation if you'd like in order for us to help SETI prosper.

Thanks everyone!


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Message 1176331 - Posted: 7 Dec 2011, 20:19:20 UTC - in response to Message 1175321.  

Just FYI, we're looking for help if you'd like to volunteer your time. Please see

http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/forum_thread.php?id=66224

We'll have some more news tomorrow as well as a newsletter issue, stay tuned :)


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Message 1176512 - Posted: 8 Dec 2011, 17:03:52 UTC - in response to Message 1176331.  
Last modified: 8 Dec 2011, 17:11:15 UTC

News coming soon stay tuned.

For the sake of begging for more donations, SETI is very interested in getting the RAID array our donors have funded off the ground. This array will significantly help the stability of the project.

If you would like to donate to help us purchase the necessary hard drives to fill this array, please visit http://gpuug.org/donate

Currently the RAID box is sitting in the SETI at Home offices unused. In order to get it off of the ground, we need to provide the team with the necessary hard drives to fill the array. We're a little shy of the half way mark on this fundraiser.

Thanks sincerely.


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Message 1176577 - Posted: 8 Dec 2011, 21:45:07 UTC - in response to Message 1176512.  

Quick bit of news:

We've shipped QTY 6, Seagate 3TB 7200 RPM hard drives to SETI at Home for Astropulse transportation. The SETI offices should be receiving these next week Wednesday.

To follow the progress of the package, please visit http://www.gpuug.org/purchases




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Message 1176912 - Posted: 9 Dec 2011, 22:26:00 UTC - in response to Message 1176577.  

Few quick updates:

1. We've set up a fairly extensive list of hardware donation items that have been requested by SETI at Home. SETI has requested multiple items, one of which is a replacement for their current download servers. You can view these items at http://www.gpuug.org/catalog

2. Our website now hosts multiple languages.

3. We are now accepting cash donations for SETI at Home. We implemented this feature on request from SETI at Home in order to utilize the Paypal method of payments for the project. To donate via this medium please visit http://www.gpuug.org/donatecash To track all of the donations we've received in real time, please visit http://www.gpuug.org/donationreports

4. We've passed the 1/2 way mark on the 45 Hard Drive fundraiser to fill up the RAID Array we've already sent to SETI. We have $2,854 to go on this fundraiser.

5. We're making progress on the Astropulse server. We have $6,914 to go on this fundraiser.

That's all I have, I hope everyone has a great weekend!


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Message 1177582 - Posted: 12 Dec 2011, 20:53:27 UTC - in response to Message 1176912.  

Hello Everyone:

1. The GPU Users Group Inc. has been listed on the SETI at Home Donation Page at http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/sah_donate.php. Interested parties can follow the links provided there to donate cash via Paypal, check or money order directly to SETI at Home.

Regardless of how much you can donate or via what medium, please consider donating to SETI at Home if you are able. If you'd like to donate cash, hardware or help us complete the new RAID array for the download services, please visit http://www.gpuug.org/catalog.

Current totals:

Astropulse/Nptckr Server: Raised: $2,663.00 / Goal: $ 9,577 : $6,914 to go
RAID Array Hard Drives: Raised: $3,719.00 / Goal: $ 6,433 : $2,714 to go


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Message 1177970 - Posted: 14 Dec 2011, 6:19:56 UTC

Quick Update:

1. Matt and Jeff requested 24 2TB hard drives for the donated RAID array which will be attached to Oscar. In order to test the RAID array, they requested that we deliver these 24 drives as soon as possible. In light of this the GPU Users Group has purchased and shipped QTY 24 Seagate 2TB drives to the SETI at Home offices. We had to purchase these drives from several vendors due to vendor limits at places such as Newegg, so these drives will be arriving from multiple vendors over the next two weeks.

All 24 drives should arrive at the SETI at Home offices on or around Dec 22, 2011. Upon receipt of these drives, the SETI at Home team will populate the RAID array with these drives and start the testing process.

If you would like to track the process of this purchase, please visit http://www.gpuug.org/purchases

2. Deltoid has donated and shipped 4 new 3 TB hard drives to the SETI at Home offices for Astropulse reobservation data. Combined with the 6 3TB drives purchased by donors to the GPU Users Group (which are slated to arrive tomorrow), this will give the SETI at Home offices 10 total 3TB drives which will boost their cache of Astropulse transport drives significantly.

3. Lastly we're looking for one or two Solid State Drives (SSD) with a capacity of 240G or higher. The SETI at Home team will use this drive to test various throughput improvements. If you're interested in donating one of these drives, please visit http://www.gpuug.org/catalog

If you'd like to help us complete populating the RAID array with an additional 21 hard drives, help us build a new Astropulse server or would simply like to donate directly to SETI at Home via our Paypal feature, please visit http://www.gpuug.org/catalog


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Message 1178824 - Posted: 17 Dec 2011, 12:28:08 UTC
Last modified: 17 Dec 2011, 12:29:13 UTC

I have made a further donation towards the 45 x 2Tb HDD. Only $2,999 to go now.

Unfortunately my credit card has been under pressure with the lead up to christmas and buying presents :-)
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Message 1179009 - Posted: 18 Dec 2011, 4:06:38 UTC - in response to Message 1178824.  

I have made a further donation towards the 45 x 2Tb HDD. Only $2,999 to go now.

Unfortunately my credit card has been under pressure with the lead up to christmas and buying presents :-)


Brilliant thank you.

Few Quick Updates:

1. We've taken in quite a bit for SETI Direct via our Paypal feature. At the time of this post, we're at: 167 donations, Total: $3,246.47.

2. I've had to implement a $5 minimum on all donations after a slew of $0.01-$2 donations. If this causes any issues for anyone, please drop me an email at gpuugbrad@gmail.com.

3. Just a reminder to our donors: SETI direct donations are mailed in full (minus Paypal fees) to the SETI offices at the first of the month. If you would rather help us build/donate hardware to the project, please consider donating to our current fundraisers.


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Message 1179419 - Posted: 19 Dec 2011, 23:32:27 UTC - in response to Message 1179009.  

Hello Everyone:

I've noticed a few people have been asking what the RAID array we're raising funds for will ultimately do for SETI at Home. To avoid guessing, I asked Matt to detail what he has planned for the RAID array once we raise enough funds for the full 45 drives this array can hold. Below is his response.

____________________________________________________________________________

"We're planning to connect the 45 RAID array to two servers. First, 21 drives will be allocated to the science database server. The database is (logically) reaching almost 2 TB in size, but of course is a lot larger on disk given the indexes, and other database overhead. This is currently stored in an 8 disk RAID 10 array, which is frequently 100% busy. We're hoping to solve this bottleneck by adding another large RAID 10 array (18 drives with 3 hot spares) and spreading the database storage over these extra spindles. Second, the remaining 24 drives will be connected, also as a giant RAID 10 (with spares) to a new upload/download/compute server. Our current upload server has limited space (for result storage), i/o, and storage capacity. Our current workunit storage server is also limited in space, and is prone to crashing. And one of our download/compute servers is showing signs of age (including one recently blown dual-core CPU out of four). So we plan on folding this download/compute server's functionality into the new upload server, and (for the first time) having all the workunit and results directly attached to the server sending/receiving them. When all is said and done, with this new storage and server we can then retire 3 old servers (currently taking up about 18U of rack space, I might add)."

__________________________________________________________________________

A few notes on the above:

1. As of today, all but 4 of the 20 drives needed to test the RAID array have been delivered to the SETI offices. The remaining 4 are slated to reach the SETI offices tomorrow (Tues Dec 20 2011).

2. We currently need just shy of $3,000 to purchase the remaining 21 drives for this array to get it working on the issues Matt has outlined above. If you would like to help us out please visit http://gpuug.org/catalog/28 Even if you can only donate $5, that $5 helps push this project along.

3. SETI at Home has asked us to build them a new download server. I'll be making the specs for the new server available online this afternoon. We will run the fundraiser for this new server once either the RAID array or AP server projects are completed. You can track the progress of these fundraisers at http://www.gpuug.org

In conclusion: as soon as we raise the required funds for filling the RAID array with 2TB drives, the SETI project will have a powerful tool at their disposal which will likely address several problems we've been having of late. Further, once we finish this fundraiser, we can get to work building a custom tailored download server for the project that, like the Astropulse server we're building, is a beast of a machine.

If you have any questions or comments about this, don't hesitate to email me or feel free to post in this thread. Thanks everyone.

-Brad


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Message 1179537 - Posted: 20 Dec 2011, 14:23:59 UTC - in response to Message 1179419.  

Thanks to Brad and Matt for providing some information that will undoubtedly spur some donations now that people know what it's for.

David
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Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

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Message 1179673 - Posted: 21 Dec 2011, 8:13:11 UTC - in response to Message 1179537.  

Thanks for the kind words everyone. It's nice to know the SETI folks are reading what I post here :)

Here's a bit of news:

1. As of today, SETI at Home has everything they need on hand to implement and test the 45 drive JBOD our donors have provided SETI. They have on hand the JBOD and 24 2TB drives to get the machine up and testing. I've no idea how long it will take Matt et al to shake the JBOD out like they like it, but the good news is it will soon be up and running to make things smoother at SETI.

2. Member Thomas Arnold donated $1,000 to the Astropulse server and a further $109 toward the remaining RAID drives today. That puts us quite a large step closer to providing a new AP server for SETI. My hat's off to him for his overwhelming generosity.

3. Member Deltoid donated 4 2TB drives to the SETI project which arrived yesterday.

4. The 6 3TB hard drives our donors purchased for SETI at Home have been delivered. This should be seen as good news for our Astropulse crunchers as these donated drives will provide more data for them to process.

5. I'm not sure that I've mentioned this before, but upon completion of either the Astropulse server or the RAID hard drive fundraisers, we will open up a fundraiser for a new, custom built download server for SETI at Home. The components for this server can be found on our hardware donation page at http://gpuug.org/catalog. We've decided not to run the download server fundraiser concurrently with the RAID/AP fundraisers as we would really like to complete either of these projects and deliver them to SETI asap. The RAID array was #1 on the SETI wishlist, followed by the AP server at #2 requested by Jeff.

Lastly, please consider helping us out with our current projects. If you can only spare $5, please send that along as $5 at a time helps us steadily advance toward our goal of providing the SETI at Home community a more stable project backbone.

Thanks everyone. I hope you and yours have a great holiday filled with eggnog (my personal favorite), family and friends.


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Message boards : Number crunching : GPU Users Group Fundraiser: Hardware Donations for S@H


 
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