Getting sentimental over a computer?

Feel quite sad today.  

Around 7 years ago, I signed up to a hire agreement for a dedicated Microsoft Windows server with 1&1 Internet.  

I'd got the Web Design bug - and had 2 or 3 sites underway and needed a reliable web-server to host them on.   The server worked flawlessly for those 7 years, and had hosted several websites over that period.  Politicians (Jack Straw), charities (Running for Ella), Lighting companies, web design companies to name but a few all had websites hosted on the server.

But over the last couple of years, I have been using open source Content Management Systems (Starting with Wordpress, then Joomla and now Drupal).  

They would run nicely enough on a Windows server - but I'd also gradually converted all my IT systems to Mac - so was feeling much more comfortable configuring and maintaining a Mac OS X Server. All my new sites are hosted on a Mac Server which is co-located in a server farm in the Docklands (including this one), so I gradually started moving the older sites onto the new server.

However, one site - www.hansellviolins.com was extremely complicated and not easy to move.  Like all my old sites, it was hand coded in ASP (using a MySQL backend).  There was an awful lot to it, including an ordering system allowing visitors to order from a selection of approx 1,500 variations of violin fitting, Drupal came to my rescue though - an after A LOT of trial, error, frustration and tears - it is finally up and running - and I am very proud of the results (take a look! - http://www.hansellviolins.com)

However this does mean, that after 7 years of service, my trusty old Windows 2003 server is destined for the knackers yard.  Just finished checking it out to make sure I have everything I need off it - and am still looking for reasons to log in one last time.

I make the phone call tomorrow and there'll be a tear in my eye.  Then a few hours later - the plug will be unceremoniously pulled by a German technician.

Farewell sweat server - may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest......