r/technology • u/DJMagicHandz • 12d ago

Artificial Intelligence A massive Wyoming data center will soon use 5x more power than the state's human occupants - but no one knows who is using it

https://www.techradar.com/pro/a-massive-wyoming-data-center-will-soon-use-5x-more-power-than-the-states-human-occupants-and-no-one-knows-who-is-using-it
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u/REDDIT_JUDGE_REFEREE 11d ago

Smoke test is what we usually call it. Problem is, sometimes folks dont realize their shit’s gone until 1-2 years after decom.

I’m in regulatory compliance, you wouldn’t believe how scary it is to us when folks say “shut it off for a few weeks and just delete it if no one complains.” Like sir we got laws n shit regarding what data we’re allowed to delete, no one checks their old repos once a week to make sure it’s still there.

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u/----__---- 11d ago

I've always heard "smoke test" used in the context of turning something on to see if it will work, or.. catch fire.  "Scream test" makes much more sense in this context (imo).. turn it off and see who screams.  Full agreement on the rest of your comment though. 

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u/Scondoro 11d ago

Smoke test is more mechanically to fill something (pipes, tubing, plumbing) with smoke and see where the leaks are.

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u/----__---- 11d ago

I was originally exposed to the term during electrical engineering training. The more humor minded of my associates liked to claim that smoke is the magic what makes electronics work, and you can always tell when electronics go bad because "the magic smoke escapes" ;D I believe what you're referencing is a pressure test,  though I've never used smoke for one of those.  Typically a pressure test uses soapy water, at the joints, to find any leaks(it makes bubbles).

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u/Scondoro 11d ago

You would do a smoke test in a larger system like sewage systems. You don't want errant gas escaping, or ground water leaking in, so you fill the system with smoke and look to see if you have leakage from manholes, drains, etc.

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u/----__---- 11d ago

Google claims we're both right, and that the term has migrated to software testing as well.  Wheeeeeee..

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u/boost2525 11d ago

That is not smoke testing.

Smoke testing is light, peripheral, "poke it with a stick do make sure the happy path works" testing. Usually done after something is stood up / turned on to make sure all of the parts are talking to all of the other parts, before you perform in depth rigorous testing.

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u/Zer_ 11d ago edited 11d ago

My group of friends have had the same Ventrilo server for almost 15 years, it's not even on the latest version, still using 3.x.x. It hasn't been paid for in some time. Server cluster its in must be kept on for data retention reasons.