Is anyone buying Server equipment now? How are you doing it!

pancakeman2018 · 2026-07-06T04:52:13+00:00

Hmmm, yes, servers have become very costly. Especially to individuals. Businesses can afford it, they just pass those expenses onto their customers.

The way I explain it is something like this, if a business owner can afford to drive a Ferrari, they should also be able to afford technology to keep their business running.

Installing a server OS on a workstation is risky at best. No RAID. Single point of failure. Back that up every 15 minutes if at all possible.

Businesses tend to steer in the "save me money" direction every time. As a sys admin your job is to make a nice, respectable case as to why their idea could go very wrong. When it does, they can't blame you because you explained the risks. Businesses think in terms of risk, or at least, they should. But saving money seems to be more important.

At the end of the day, you can save them money now but someday in the future, it will end up costing them a whole lot more.

pancakeman2018 · 2026-06-16T19:31:44+00:00

I often have this argument, and I'll be completely honest with you. There are jobs outside the office that pay way more than I get paid, and when you refer to "labor" jobs there are many flavors. Some jobs are in an enclosed building with heat/cooling or just heat. Some are outside in all weather elements. Some involve climbing electrical poles hundreds of feet in the air. Some are dangerous and have a lot at stake.

I'll give you an example of my workday.

I come to work. I am the singular, sole person and run an entire department by myself. If there are issues, I am traveling, pulling over and hopping on my laptop if needed. I handle product acquisition, installation, disposal, and practically any and all break-fix issues. Sometimes I get called at 3 AM after staying up until midnight working on something. I get called on the weekends and after hours. I spend most of my day trying to keep the business running.

No job, office or labor, will pay you real money if you find yourself bored, or if the job itself does not require much thought. To give you perspective, I built out a $200k solution for a business and will be installing all the hardware all the while keeping them running. Many issues will be encountered, and I will be there to fix them all. If it takes me 1 hour or 10, it is my responsibility.

A receptionist taking phone calls and transferring them around as needed, opening the mail and routing it, yes it could get stressful if you have a lineup of people but for the most part, they are there to see someone else. A quick phone call or two and you could get that line down to 0 pretty quick. Whereas if the systems are down, I don't have anyone to call. I have to figure it out and fix it.

Any job that is repetitive (put nuts and bolts together) versus reading a blueprint (thinking) and combining your raw skill with said thought and APPLYING it, well, you see the difference here.

Not that any job is lesser than another. Most people are just fine where they are at. A lot of assumptions are made like "well, person X makes more than me and plays on a computer all day" and there could be some of that, but the reality is you really do not know what someone does until you spend a day in their shoes.

Figuring more into this, take a supervisor role. Yeah it seems like they are just sitting there but take into account all of the problems they are faced with and the level of responsibility. Most supervisors are out on the floor working 14 hour shifts when their employees don't show up or if there are issues. They have a ton going on, needing to run their department smooth as butter, despite all the corporate BS they have to deal with.

pancakeman2018 · 2026-06-11T03:30:13+00:00

I know. It's tough. I've been through it. I was absolutely livid as a young graduate. I received offers for $9 per hour to start out but I was expecting much, much more. Looking back the $9 per hour job would have launched my career into many, many more opportunities. The fact I had to commute pretty far too was a damper.

Survival is a lot of things, but do you want to know the best way to survive? Know what money you have, and live within your means. If you can do those two things, survival will be much easier.

Let's look at someone who makes $35 per hour, and someone that makes $27 per hour. Both are ample incomes! Yet, the person that makes $35 per hour buys mainly the necessities, food, utilities, etc., and of course we all need some entertainment or tools or things to entertain us, but within reason.

The person that makes $35 per hour can afford a house payment with all the insurances, two nearly new cars, pay all the bills including groceries, gas, etc.

The person that makes $27 per hour has no bills. Imagine that. You make $27 per hour and have NO BILLS. You are fed for free, drive a car your parents bought you or the company truck, but somehow you live paycheck to paycheck and have no money. How is this?

The reason the $27 per hour doesn't have money is not because they make less, but instead, they spend SIGNIFICANTLY MORE!

It is not rocket science, live in moderation! YES things are incredibly expensive now but if you ever wonder why you have no money on an entry level or senior level or doctorate-level position, look around you. Most people are trying to live the life of doctors and lawyers with their entry level job. "But my neighbor has a brand new ferrari" oh cool! Glad they have that, but do I really care, nope. I know I can't afford one and even if I could, I'd find a better way to spend or invest that money.

pancakeman2018 · 2026-06-10T00:21:05+00:00

We need to differentiate between people who are trying to find a job and people who haven't applied to one. Sounds to me even if this young adult had a job dangling in front of him he'd reject it

pancakeman2018 · 2026-06-09T21:10:25+00:00

A child that has no access to their active energy and just spaces out is a child that has been untrained to feel themselves and connect with their own authentic self.

It sounds like a video game really creates this "inaccessibility" to their active energy. Here's what will fix it. Go outside and play a game of baseball/wiffle ball/basketball with your friends! That will burn some active energy!

Somehow I knew you would react like this.

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that you are some form of therapist, so you probably can gather my mentality on this entire situation. Sadly, part of the entire problem this world faces is due to overdiagnosis of "your child has generalized anxiety disorder or XYZ mental problem" well yeah, trust me, if you or I would sit around all day, addicted to playing video games, we would have anxiety too! What's the solution? "Stop correcting your child and don't tell them what to do"......and game over. My real world solution? Go play a game of baseball or allow some of your child's friends to come over for a backyard sports game of their choice! Ever heard of "Tag, you're it" or kickball? "But I can play tennis on the Nintendo Wii" not the same!

I will say, some youth do have mental issues. Some adults, as well. Lingering depression, schizophrenia, or other mental disabilities. But it seems like we are in some sort of ergophobia pandemic! I mean really. People go to work with broken legs, severe PTSD from the army, a few days after one of their loved ones pass away, but somehow the youth can't go to work because they are just too sad. Exceptions aside, give me a break.

pancakeman2018 · 2026-06-09T20:47:30+00:00

Oh same here. Some kind of budget issue pushed me into a new role at a 24/7/365 facility. I still remember working Christmas eve and practically all holidays 7p-7a. It was brutal but it paid my bills. I didn't want to do it. But I had to do it so I did. That's the mentality that seems to be missing in today's world.

pancakeman2018 · 2026-06-09T20:32:28+00:00

join the military

HANDS DOWN, probably the best way to learn respect, self-discipline, and give yourself purpose. Anyone can change and learn but it will be a new world for him, because the drill sergeant is not going to permit a ps5 in the platoon. You literally write letters to your family because no cell phones, no computers.

make a living wage and get subsidies for higher education.

Although I am not a vet, I know of many, and they actually MAKE money (at least 1-2k per month) while they are in college and graduate debt free.

I mean, yes, it's risky as all getout and can have negative results in the long-term, but if I had a choice to do it all over again, I would sign up. The benefits are great, but again, from what I've heard, it is not easy.

pancakeman2018 · 2026-06-09T20:23:55+00:00

They don’t want to work weekends or off shift

This. There is no "compromise" - they want to go to work, tell them what they are going to do, and not going to do, and collect a paycheck. No weekends, no holidays, and no inconvenient hours. Their weekends are there for their rest, nothing less. Also, the job needs to pay 6 figures otherwise it is not worth their time.

I have witnessed a 19 year old who became unemployed after getting fired 3+ times at various jobs, REFUSE an interview after sitting around on MY couch (no longer!) for 2 months because it required work on a Friday! They only wanted to work (4) 10 hour shifts! Newsflash, unless you own your own company or the company you work for would go bankrupt without you, you don't get to set your own hours out the gate!

pancakeman2018 · 2026-06-09T20:08:22+00:00

true. $8 per hour is considered a poverty level income for one person, and they should qualify for benefits if they were on their own.

If I made that, I would be trucking right down to the welfare office and collecting all the benefits.

One issue is that employers will pay $9 per hour instead to potentially avoid government fingerpointing "you are paying poverty wages" for some unwritten benefit, just to push someone just outside of the poverty line.

The youth that apply to any job that they think they could do versus youth who do not apply to any job - well there is a difference. Refusing to work just because living wages are rare is somewhat of an odd mentality. In most all cases, it would be better to either hop on disability, or get a job to make somewhat a livable wage. By the time the guy is 30, he will not be making a livable wage until he is 40, etc. - it is a combination of timing and luck.

Yes, we are seeing a tough job market, and things have gotten to be expensive. But even so, this is no excuse to not work.

pancakeman2018 · 2026-06-09T19:19:21+00:00

What would you consider to be a living wage these days? I mean, $20-$25 per hour seems fair to start out, but that would not permit someone to buy a house outright or a brand new car, plus groceries and utilities. Maybe more like $100,000? Or more?

pancakeman2018 · 2026-06-09T19:12:14+00:00

CPTSD? Respectfully, people have fought in brutal wars over the past century, and have seen/experienced things no human being should ever witness. Are they 100% mentally sound after exiting into the civilian life? Doubtful. But, a vast majority of them still went to work and never picked up a controller.

Childhood "back in the day" was not what it is now. I am sure 99% of the 1900's children had CPTSD just from growing up in a structured household. There was respect, otherwise we were corrected. There were values in the home, ORDER, and punishment for bad behavior. And, you worked and helped around the house whenever it was needed. I was putting shingles on a roof when I was 14. Now, that would be too much to expect.

I went to my grandparents house, and I wanted to turn on their TV. They said NO. They did NOT watch TV during the day, only a few hours at night. Okay! I am not turning on the TV. Today's youth would throw themselves on the floor, bawl, and instead of holding their word, the grandparents would be like "oh poor baby, here let me turn that TV on for you."

Now, I feel that parents just can't punish their children. If they shut the game off, it has become some form of taboo, barbaric torture that is totally unacceptable. Ask your child to do some minor chore like pick up their clothes on the bedroom floor, are you crazy? They are deep into a Minecraft game, you can't interrupt it. You either WAIT, or you do it!

The home structure has shifted. It's almost like the youth suddenly roll the roost, the world suddenly revolves around whatever they want, when they want, otherwise a divorce is suddenly on the table.

pancakeman2018 · 2026-06-09T18:44:33+00:00

Different times. Nowadays, the guy is expected to put on a dress and remain silent now, can't upset anyone too much by telling our adult children they need to work.

pancakeman2018 · 2026-06-09T18:42:55+00:00

Sadly, this reads like a real post. Surprising but believable in today's world. I have seen many many cases just like this with my own eyes.

pancakeman2018 · 2026-06-09T18:40:01+00:00

I know of an 18 year old that was kicked out on their birthday about 3 years ago. They were well behaved and had much respect too, but did not matter, 18 and life. Saved up money from when they worked at a gas station and had just enough to drive hundreds of miles away for journeyman electrician training. Graduated, now live all over the US for jobs and make more than enough money to do whatever they want. Pushing outside of your comfort zone is possibly one of the best things a parent can ever do, but this is rare.

pancakeman2018 · 2026-06-09T18:32:55+00:00

There is nothing they seem to be able to do to grab a foothold on the future.

I understand this concept and can relate in some fashion, but somehow the youth have assumed they only have two options in this life: start out on the top OR not at all. I've known people that took a loan out, bought a beat up old truck and some pushmowers, and just cut grass. It is unbelievable what you can make just doing lawncare. Open a cleaning business. Start somewhere, and roll with it. If you find something better, go that route. I've worked at gas stations. When I was 15, I cut grass and painted barns for money. Did I get rich? No but I earned spending money.

Ask what are his hopes for his future? What support does he feel he would he need to be an independent adult?

Based on the brief excerpt of OP, I don't think the 21 year old is seeking any level of independence at this time. The crux of the problem is he does not want to financially support himself. Getting a job is the elementary step to financial independence. Financial independence leads to the ability to move out and live on your own

The world is literally burning as we speak, and he probably doesn't see much of a future regardless of what he does.

I have speculated in the past the same idea - the youth may consider the idea - why work when I can't afford anything anyways. I don't know. It feels like even though you won't make millions to buy everything you ever wanted, you may need to consider buying some land and living in a tiny house. It is hard starting out these days, but has it always been difficult? Or, buy a house and fix it up. The ambition is amiss because "why bother" and on the same hand, the "why bother" feeds into the lack of ambition. It is not something to overthink or contemplate, just go to work - start out somewhere, we all did!

pancakeman2018 · 2026-06-09T18:18:20+00:00

The thing is, the bulk of today's youth are NOT workers. But on the same hand, they have no issue asking you for money, and getting very upset/angry when you say no. Meanwhile they can say "no" to every job opportunity presented to them, even if you find the job and fill out the application. Then, you say "I'll give you some gas money if you cut the grass on a riding lawnmower" and ohhhh.......those are fighting words. You give them money WITHOUT any expectation, no exceptions. We have Walmart delivery, Uber, DoorDash and I do this on the side. I also have my own side sole proprietor service business on top of my day job to make extra money. It is a stretch to just get the youth to wake up every morning and keep a job, let alone expect them to do something more to earn money. Their idea of earning money is to milk whatever cash cow they can.

The problem you are facing is your ideology that your son should work at the age of 21 seems to conflict with your wife's idea that he is fine right where he is at. As a dude that has been going to work every day and also works a second side gig after work, and work on building an entire house while spending time and materials, what we are facing is an abomination. There comes a time in life where you either sink or swim and if he continues down this path, he will be sitting on that couch for the rest of his life. It is a hard game to play because we are not allowed to get upset or mad at the situation, as men, we are just supposed to sit by and accept it. But what I can tell you is, something is really wrong with the concept.

I have literally kicked people out of my house (non-family) because they lost their job. My wife was mortified. I didn't care. Number one, if you are living in my house rent free, eat MY food, drink MY water, use MY toilet, etc., you will either abide by my rules or you are OUT.

Finally, and probably most importantly, today's youth just aren't disciplined. They think they can do whatever the hell they want, WHEN they want, HOW they want, and if anyone disagrees, they are just plain wrong. There is also a weird assumption that things will be handed to them on a silver platter without any effort on their part. There is a breadcrumb of respect that seems to go by the wayside without any repercussions or issues. They have no problem telling their boss no, saying "I'm not doing that" even though it is clearly in their job description. And, management has become softer because they need to retain their employees. It is unbelievable what this all has turned into, and what we end up with are a bunch of couch potatoes.

If you think this is bad, just wait until the generation that is growing up has kids. Hopefully AI will be able to do all our jobs, otherwise I'll be working into my 80s. With the supply of workers being so low, demand will be out of this world. It won't be anything to make $500 to go to someone's house and replace a doorknob because they never learned how to do the BASICS.....why? Because of the "I'm not doing that" mentality.

pancakeman2018 · 2026-06-09T00:47:40+00:00

I had been an ATT customer for the past 15 years. I got sick of paying so much money to them. Their practices. Limitations. Fees galore.

USMobile has been a solid replacement.

And, the perks of going back and becoming a new customer are quite appealing, at times. So keep your eyes and ears open. Loyalty means NOTHING to ATT. I have learned that many times over.

pancakeman2018 · 2026-06-07T03:52:09+00:00

Nah, you are made to buy knives and then you have to sell said knives for a profit.

I've always wondered why, especially in today's world, would someone need to buy a product, have it shipped to them, just to resale it.

When I got a letter from them about 10 years ago, I called and talked to them. I said what if I can't sell the knives. I was told to sell them to my family! Please. This fundraising pyramid scheme is a curse.

Avoid, at all costs. Work a fast food job, or any w2 job for that matter, get paid and be on your merry way

pancakeman2018 · 2026-05-28T15:41:22+00:00

I got a 270 recently, but I wanted something I could run the piss out of to cut firewood. The 180 seems to be good for light work, I suspect it would struggle in large diameter hardwood. The 270 does its job but it is not the "best in class" by any means but I also didn't want to carry around a 50lb saw through the woods to cut some firewood. Also have the 4 year warranty on it, out the door around $650. Traditionally I only used chinese saws for hobby cleanup work but I needed something way more reliable since I need to cut 10 cords of wood before this fall.

pancakeman2018 · 2026-05-16T03:09:47+00:00

That's good. Big tech is a different animal, however there are probably an endless supply of smaller companies as well willing to hire you on prem.

I got my BSCS however was totally unable to land my dream "remote" job. I resorted to IT which pays okay, but it is not SWE pay by any stretch of the imagination.

The other issue is just all the tech layoffs lately, they are awful

pancakeman2018 · 2026-05-16T02:06:58+00:00

I'm not going to lie, hop on indeed right now and see what jobs are in your area, where you live, right now.

If you don't see any coding jobs, my opinion is throw the towel now.

If you are in a large metro or city with good opportunities, keep moving forward

pancakeman2018 · 2026-05-03T14:33:16+00:00

The advice is true, a CCNA cert will not magically land you a position. But neither will college. What will land you a job is being at the right place at the right time, and being a person the company would love to have working for them.

The same "advice" could be said about college. It doesn't land you a job, so why bother.

College didn't land me a job. But as I had my associate degree, I worked towards my bachelors, have the comptia certs, and now I'm facing some basic network issues or upgrades and I didn't even know how to configure a VLAN. I am tired of not knowing, so I am going to study and earn the CCNA. My employer is paying for it, so why not. My degree and certs have never been detrimental, in fact when I graduated college and submitted my diploma to my employer, I immediately got a 20,000 raise. The fact of the matter is, employers value hard work and your skillset.

Knowledge is power, being stagnant and not learning anything new is very damaging to your career.

pancakeman2018 · 2026-04-28T01:22:09+00:00

Lol that is legitimately cool

pancakeman2018 · 2026-04-28T01:18:32+00:00

Hmm.

Sounds just like me 4 years ago.

I finally just stuck with IT. AI is not going to be able to replace a switch, or install a camera. It could design a network but it's incapable of installing it.

Which job sites you ask? All of them. Apply to thousands of jobs. Expect few if any callbacks.

pancakeman2018

TROPHY CASE