high-voltage fun

Since I can't find a remote managed power strip for less than $300, I made my own with some x-10 wall socket modules and old x-10 firecracker stuff from circa 1999, mounted in a wooden case. Unlike that time when I was ten, I didn't blow any breakers, nor did I electrocute my bed.

Now I can individually control computers in my d-i test rack that need hard power control, like the alpha, powerpc, and sparc, as well as auto power off the whole test setup, including the switch, console server, and all test machines. I expect to finish adding alpha to my setup tonight, then I'll be automatically test installing d-i on 7 arches every night.

I guess this will pay for itself in a couple of months on lower power bills, too.