Following the phenomenal success of The Planet Server Challenge at SXSW, we’ve lugged another server to the ad:tech San Francisco trade show floor. Based on some of the feedback we got from Slashdot, BoingBoing, YouTube, and here on The Planet Blog, we tweaked the competition.

The goal is the same: Rebuild a server faster than your conference peers and win an ASUS Eee PC netbook … the execution of the competition is quite a bit different now, though. Many comments suggested we replace the tower server for the challenge, so we brought a Dell PowerEdge 1950 1U rack-mount server. With the new chassis comes new challenges, and this video quickly explains the steps of the rebuild from the middle of the busy trade show floor:

The competition has been a huge hit at ad:tech with more than 50 attendees trying their hand halfway through the first day of the expo. In a trade show environment, exhibitors want to connect with attendees and feature their products and services. With those goals in mind, The Server Challenge has been an incredible tool for The Planet, and we’re excited to continue building and tweaking the competition.

ad:tech Server Challenge Details

The Goal: Reassemble our Dell 1950 server chassis faster than your ad:tech peers and win an ASUS Eee PC Netbook.

The Rules:

1. You may arrange the components as you’d like* before starting.

*Fans, Heat Sink, Hard Drives and RAM must be on the table outside of the chassis.

2. You may not be touching any components when time starts.
3. All components must be installed correctly for your time to be recorded.
4. Internal components can be installed in any order.
5. Components outside the server may only be touched one at a time.
6. You may attempt the build twice per day.
7. Time must be recorded by a representative from The Planet.

Your time ends when all components are installed and the server faceplate is attached.

8. The leader board in the booth will reflect the current “time to beat.”

A Successful/Complete Installation:

• Install heat sink, latch both latches
• Plug heat sink into motherboard
• Install four (4) fans
• Plug all fans into motherboard
• Install four (4) RAM modules (in any of the eight available slots)
• Install two (2) Hard Drives
• Install plastic component cover
• Attach faceplate

Do you think you have what it takes to get the best time? Swing by our booth (6240) and prove it. The current leader completed the challenge in under 44 seconds … We’re expecting the netbook-winning time to break 40 seconds.

What changes would do you recommend to make the competition even better?

-Kevin