So that didn't work

Yes, the powerbar was recofigured [1] with a new IP (Internet Protocl) address.

No, we're not sure which outlet the server is plugged into.

Well, not 100% sure.

The first time I used the power pole to remotely power cycle a server I brought down the entire cabinet down in Miami. The power pole <cough> <cough>control panel<cough> <cough> gives you several options, immediately shut off an outlet, immediately turn on an outlet, immediately reboot an outlet. I was told the server in question was in outlet 1, so I immediately shut off that outet.

And turned off the network switch.

The network switch that the power pole was plugged into.

No way to turn on outlet 1.

Well …

Live and learn (always use the “reboot” option).

C was “pretty sure” that the server was in either outlets 2 or 3, but not 1. Nor 4. Half an hour of going round and round, my final instructions were to “reboot” outlet 2, and if that didn't reboot the server, then try outlet 3. If that didn't work, then I was facing a long drive to Miami.

So I started pinging the server.

>
```
64 bytes from XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX: icmp_seq=1 ttl=51 time=36.0 ms
64 bytes from XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX: icmp_seq=2 ttl=51 time=36.0 ms
64 bytes from XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX: icmp_seq=3 ttl=51 time=36.0 ms
64 bytes from XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX: icmp_seq=4 ttl=51 time=36.0 ms
```

And rebooted outlet 2. The <cough> <cough>control panel<cough> <cough> showed the outlet as “Off” and about ten seconds later, the outlet was back on. But during the “reboot” I kept getting pings from the server.

>
```
64 bytes from XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX: icmp_seq=15 ttl=51 time=36.0 ms
64 bytes from XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX: icmp_seq=16 ttl=51 time=36.0 ms
64 bytes from XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX: icmp_seq=17 ttl=51 time=36.0 ms
64 bytes from XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX: icmp_seq=18 ttl=51 time=36.0 ms
```

Okay, that wasn't it. Try outlet 3.

>
```
64 bytes from XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX: icmp_seq=22 ttl=51 time=36.0 ms
64 bytes from XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX: icmp_seq=23 ttl=51 time=36.0 ms
```

Okay, that seems to have been the right outlet. Okay, power restored to the outlet. Wait about a minute for the server to come back up.

Okay, I don't recall it taking this long …

Three minutes?

>
```
64 bytes from XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX: icmp_seq=22 ttl=51 time=36.0 ms
64 bytes from XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX: icmp_seq=23 ttl=51 time=36.0 ms
```

Not good.

Look at the time.

4:52 pm.

Sigh.

I get to drive to Miami, during rush hour traffic.

[1] /boston/2005/02/17.1

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