On Monday (Feb 26) the server which hosts my site (and quite a few others, including NZLUG) suffered a power outage when the data centre it lives in had a major power failure.

A few hours later, when the power was restored the server would not boot. It powered up, detected the drives but wouldn’t boot at all. The boot loader wouldn’t even start.

After much asking around we managed to find someone, Liz, who could make a site visit for us (one admin, Nic, lives 600km away, and I was too busy at work to get away) - when Liz arrived and was unable to bring the server to life, she transfered the drives to her server in the same datacentre and Nic began the process of moving the data to a new server (which had been in waiting for a while).

However it became apparent that the primary drive (with all system configuration files) was dead. Specifically it would not spin up. The system detected it correctly, but it was not spinning at all.

The next day Liz visited the server again and applied some percussive maintenance (as suggested by Nic) - specifically she hit it with a screwdriver as it booted up. This worked on the second attempt and the drive spun up. There was some minor data loss, but overall everything came up and started working.

With the config files available again the new server was able to be setup with all the existing settings and take over from the defunct server.

So, why did the drive fail?

Because it was old. Very old by computer standards. Some background - the short history of Wibble:

• Mid-Late 1997 - Myself, Nic and a couple of friends decide to build a server. Wibble is born - it is a Pentium 166MHz, with 64MB of RAM and a Quantum Fireball ST4.3S SCSI hard drive.
• 2001 - Due to increasing disk and processor demands, Wibble was again upgraded. It received a new motherboard, CPU, RAM and an additional 20GB IDE hard drive (to become /home). The new server is a Celeron 500MHz, with 128MB RAM, now boasting a 4GB SCSI root drive, and 20GB for user home directories.
• Dec 2006 - Knowing that things are getting a little old, we arrange a new server. A dual Xeon 2.4GHz with 1GB of RAM and, initially, an 80GB mirrored RAID. All services will be migrated when time allows.
• Feb 2007 - Power fails. The almost 10-year-old Quantum Fireball drive fails to spin up when power is restored. Server migration is forced.

So, when the drive reached the end of it’s useful life it had been in constant operation for probably at least 80,000 hours, with no more than a few hours downtime from time to time.

In my whole live, I have never felt an earthquake. We just don’t get a lot in Auckland.

However at 9pm this evening the earth literally moved for me. It was short and sudden with no warning. It was like the shaking I’ve felt in buidings near railway lines or main roads, but lower frequency, and stronger. Things rattled, there was a barely noticeable rumble. Then it was over. I knew immediate what it was.

It turns out there had been another one I didn’t feel about 40 minutes earlier. Then more than two hours later (at 11:25pm) there was another one, not as strong, but still fairly distinct in it’s quake-ness.

So, three earthquakes 3.7, 4.5 and 3.8 respectively, all in the same geographic area, although at different depths… I can’t help but feel I am about to be buried in a massive volcanic eruption.

GeoNet:
8:24pm - 3.7
9:00pm - 4.5
11:23pm - 3.8

I think this is the last step…

To: Dylan
From: POST BANK <postbanktransfers@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Lottery Winnings-ACT SWIFTLY…

Attn;

Dear Customer,

We have received your email and content understood. However, in the attachment, you have a copy two forms. (Post bank Form and Anti- Terrorist Form). You are advised to fill both forms and return back to us via email attachment ASAP. The forms can also be faxed to us.
This must be done before transfer of your funds can be approved. Please hurry up as you know that the deadline is just few days from today.

Get back to us ASAP.

Best Regards

Steve Williams.
Post Bank
FAX +44-870-974-5517

Here are the attachments:

and

Post Bank Transfer Form

However, I am too lazy to fill them out, even for four million pounds.

I’m still not sure I understand the purpose of this whole excercise for the people on the other end. They haven’t got any really valuable information yet? I guess the next step is either getting my bank account number and maybe passwords or something (if I am that gullible) or charging me some sort of facilitation fee to get my money transferred.

So the bank is apparently located at 463 Barking Road, London, E13 8PS and can be phoned on +44-870-974-5517.

Also, the ‘anti-terrorist form is pretty funny’…
Do you believe in God or Allah?
Do you believe in Jesus Christ?
Do you believe in Ja Rule?

Oh well, I guess no money for me.

All I have to do now is provide my details to the bank and I’ll be rich!!!

To: Dylan
From: nola catherine <claimscatherinenola_7@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Dylan Alexis Reeve-Kindly contacts the Paying Bank For Winning Transfers …..

ATTENTION: UK/9420X2/70/NL

Dear Dylan Alexis Reeve,

I acknowledged your claims form information. We have created a file in your favor and the file was forwarded to the British high court for appends. The court has approved your winnings and hence the winning certificate has been drafted and the probate registry has witnessed the approval.

The original of the certificate with other relative documents from the court and the probate registry, has been forwarded to the Bank for onward Transfer of your winnings.

Kindly contact the Paying Bank give them all your winning combination codes and numbers as reference for them to be able to attend to your claims.

The Bank can be contacted as below:
POST BANK
NAME: STEVE WILLIAMS (QC)
CFO (CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER)
Emails: postbanktransfers@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: +44-701-113-9164
WWW.POSTBANK.NL

Best Wishes,

Catherine Nola.

I just need to reply and the money is mine. Another Yahoo email address though- a little odd for a bank. Maybe domain names are differently managed in the UK?

To: postbanktransfers@yahoo.co.uk
From: Dylan
Subject: Lottery Winnings

Hello,

Catherine Nola of the UK lottery has advised me to contact you re my recent win.

The reference number I have been given is: UK/9420X2/70/NL
Ticket number: 56475600545 188
Serial number: 5368/02

Please advise how to proceed.

Regards,
Dylan Reeve

I got a reply… As Joe Rogan would say “I’m one step closer to the cash”

From: nola catherine <claimscatherinenola_7@yahoo.co.uk>
To: Dylan
Subject: WINNER-VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM.

Dear Winner,

Your email has been received. We the entire staff of UK National lottery congratulate you once again for being one of our lucky winners in this year lottery promotion Sweepstakes. Please attached here is the claim verification and funds release form. You are expected to fill and submit it back to the fiduciary agent immediately via email. Once again congratulations.

VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM

1. FULL NAMES: __________________________________
2. ADDRESS: _____________________________________
3. SEX: _______________
4. AGE: ________
5. MARITAL STATUS: ___________________
6. OCCUPATION: ________________________
7. E-MAIL ADDRESS: _____________________________
8. TEL AND FAX NUMBERS: _____________________
9. REFERENCE NUMBERS: ____________________
10. TICKET NUMBER: ___________________
11. SERIAL NUMBER: __________________
12. AMOUNT WON: ______________________
13. STATE: __________________________________
14. COUNTRY________________________________
15.ANNUAL INCOME_________________________

Upon receipt of the duly requested data, I will send you the contact information of the paying Bank so you can proceed with effecting the release of your claims.

Note: This Lottery was won via a selection of email addresses, which yours was selected and qualified you as a winner. Any funds unclaimed by 6th of next month shall be returned to this office as unclaimed and used for our up coming mega jackpot games.

Regards,

Mrs. Catherine Nola(fiduciary agent).

This is just fantastic. It really is. I am going to be so so so so rich.

It is a little unusual that her email address has changed (and it’s a Yahoo email) but I guess that’s a security measure. That’ll be it.

From: Dylan
To: nola catherine <claimscatherinenola_7@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Re: WINNER-VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM.

Catherine,

Thanks again for this. I really can’t believe it!!

1. Dylan Alexis Reeve
2. P O Box 137-305, Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand
3. Male
4. 31
5. Single
6. Teir 3 Call Centre Representative
7. dylan@….
8. +64 21 710003
9. Ref: UK/9420X2/70 — Batch: 074/05/ZY345
10. 56475600545 188
11. 5368/02
12. £4,000.000.00
13. Not Applicable
14. New Zealand
15. $37,500 (NZ)

I look forward to hearing from you! I can’t begin to explain how great this is!!

Regards,
Dylan

I hope all that is right - I am so tired a lot of the time that I simply forget a lot of stuff. I might be confused on a few of those details, but I’m sure it’ll all work out.

Money money money!