OT: Should computers stay on constantly?

[Glyn]

More reasons to turn your computer off when not in use.

Security. It’s difficult to hack a machine that’s off. Especially if your internet connect is always on.

Electric Spikes. Lighting, brown outs, power outs..

Dust buildup on the fans and in side the case. The more you leave it on the sooner it will need a good cleaning.

[Xrati]

Computer hardware used to be the main consideration in older computers for leaving them running. The hard drives with new technology run better and for those of us that go back far enough remember have to 'PARK' your heads on your hard drive before shutting it off, some superstitions die hard.

[Suicide Junkie]

Xrati said:
The hard drives with new technology run better and for those of us that go back far enough remember have to 'PARK' your heads on your hard drive before shutting it off, some superstitions die hard.

I've got one of those!
http://imagemodserver.mine.nu/nick/p...es/se5beta.png

[Thermodyne]

Glyn said:
More reasons to turn your computer off when not in use.

Security. It’s difficult to hack a machine that’s off. Especially if your internet connect is always on.

Electric Spikes. Lighting, brown outs, power outs..

Dust buildup on the fans and in side the case. The more you leave it on the sooner it will need a good cleaning.

If you have an always on broadband connection, you should also be running a hardware firewall. Any decent router comes with one. Routers with NAT firewalls are not decent routers.

Personally, I would suggest that you get a UPS. They don’t cost much and the will cure the spike/sag problem. Plus give you some spare power during outages. It’s nice to be able to use the cordless phone or charge the flash light during outages. If you have a couple of grand invested in a nice system, another buck fifty for a UPS is not that hard to justify.

Dust build up is a problem, systems move a lot of air. An always on system should either be in a clean environment or have a case with filtered intakes. The system that is in my living room (with the damn cats) needs the filter cleaned once a week.

If you have an always on broadband connection, you should also be running a hardware firewall. Any decent router comes with one. Routers with NAT firewalls are not decent routers.



A small point of personal experience: If you get new carpet, don’t put the computer on the floor when you move it back into the room. New carpet sheds more than cats do.

Edit: Gotta watch "select all" on a pda, there is a lot not showing on the display.

[Fyron]

Routers with NAT firewalls are not decent routers.

What?

[Suicide Junkie]

A NAT is not really a firewall.

And lacking NAT dosen't make it a better router.

[Suicide Junkie]

As for power supplies, I personally have everything going through an industrial-strength surge protector (gotten at an auction) first, and have a UPS for my hub, Router and Cable modem.

With the UPS running only those things after I shut down my computer, I can use my laptop to keep chatting here and on the IRC channel while the power is out

[Thermodyne]

Suicide Junkie said:


With the UPS running only those things after I shut down my computer, I can use my laptop to keep chatting here and on the IRC channel while the power is out

Aint it sweet Gives you someting to do while the power is out

[Slynky]

Suicide Junkie said:
A NAT is not really a firewall.

And lacking NAT dosen't make it a better router.

NAT isn't a firewall but, without looking back at reference material (in other words, in laymen terms...), it's my understanding NAT logs a request for info leaving the router and when a data packet comes in response to that request, it is allowed to penetrate the router. Any packet coming into the router for which there is not an outstanding request is turned away.

This is the way I understand NAT (but I could be wrong).

So, in theory, this seems like good protection. But, as in anything, multiple barriers are the desired defense, so NAT is just one component of mine.