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โ€บ Laptop colocation in Texas, California?
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Laptop colocation in Texas, California?

tropicalnomadtropicalnomad Member
edited May 2024 in Requests

Hi, I am seeking to store a laptop in a secure facility such as a colocation center.

The laptop is a 13" Macbook Pro. The device needs an internet connection most likely via WiFi (not wired). The device will be operated remotely by IP-KVM which can also be provided. Occasionally, perhaps quarterly, the laptop will need to be rebooted or have a USB connection adjusted (unplugged and re-plugged).

I simply need remote access to the laptop while traveling in case of emergencies. Low internet usage, only for professional work purposes, etc.

I expect this can be achieved for less than $400/month. This contract would start around March, 2025.

Below I've filled out the forum template:

Bandwidth: Low bandwidth usage, expect at least 300Mbps connection
DDoS Protection: No.
Number of IPs: 1
Location: Texas, possibly California. Ideally in Austin, Texas.
Budget: $400/month
Billing period: monthly or quarterly

Yes, I am serious.

ยซ13

Comments

  • SGrafSGraf Member, Patron Provider

    @tropicalnomad said:
    Hi, I am seeking to store a laptop in a secure facility such as a colocation center.

    The laptop is a 13" Macbook Pro. The device needs an internet connection most likely via WiFi (not wired). The device will be operated remotely by IP-KVM which can also be provided. Occasionally, perhaps quarterly, the laptop will need to be rebooted or have a USB connection adjusted (unplugged and re-plugged).

    I simply need remote access to the laptop while traveling in case of emergencies. Low internet usage, only for professional work purposes, etc.

    I expect this can be achieved for less than $400/month. This contract would start around March, 2025.

    Below I've filled out the forum template:

    Bandwidth: Low bandwidth usage, expect at least 300Mbps connection
    DDoS Protection: No.
    Number of IPs: 1
    Location: Texas, possibly California. Ideally in Austin, Texas.
    Budget: $400/month
    Billing period: monthly or quarterly

    Yes, I am serious.

    talk to @DataIdeas-Josh He can likely do this for you in spring (TX), so about 170ish miles away from you. This should be quite good in terms of latency.

  • jarjar Patron Provider, Top Host, Veteran
    edited May 2024

    You know you can rent an already racked Mac. I've used MacStadium when I needed a Mac server for a project in the past. I don't know if they're going to let you have wi-fi in the server rooms.

    Thanked by 1exception0x876
  • lukast__lukast__ Member, Megathread Squad

    I'd say a realistic price would be between $35 and $100 per month, but why no wired connection?

    Thanked by 2yoursunny hobofl
  • yoursunnyyoursunny Member, IPv6 Advocate

    For the right money, @jfreak53 will store your laptop next to an electric toothbrush.
    He's between Texas and California.

  • tropicalnomadtropicalnomad Member
    edited May 2024

    To answer additional questions, I work as a software engineer and I need to store a work computer in a secure location that I can access remotely. I can work from my personal computer and only occasionally need access to data on the work computer.

    Therefore, an already racked Mac wouldn't help in my situation. Assume the laptop is encrypted and has various security software enabled -- the WiFi connection is the expected connection out.

    I would be paying above market rates for security and discretion.

    I am also surprised this isn't more common, with the rise of say r/digitalnomad and Nomadlist. Someone could start a small business to store the laptops of FAANG-engineer types with discretion.

    Thanked by 1hobofl
  • jfreak53jfreak53 Member, Patron Provider

    @yoursunny said:
    For the right money, @jfreak53 will store your laptop next to an electric toothbrush.
    He's between Texas and California.

    Unfortunately no one has put a toothbrush onsite yet ๐Ÿ˜‚ but yeah we can Colo a laptop in our mini Colo services.

    www.microtronixdc.com

  • qpsqps Member, Host Rep

    Most data centers aren't going to be very receptive to having a laptop in a rack.

    Maybe contact a co-working place and see if they can do this for you? Most of them have private offices and you could just stick a laptop in there.

  • dev_vpsdev_vps Member
    edited May 2024

    @tropicalnomad said:
    .. to store the laptops of FAANG-engineer types with discretion.

    Check your employment policies before taking this option.
    Your IT dept can know where is laptop "housed" based on data center ip address

    -- not a legal advice

  • LeviLevi Member

    400/mo is a massive amount for colo single laptop.

    Thanked by 1hsr
  • davidedavide Member
    edited May 2024

    I have the impression the purpose is to bring a microphone in, intercept bluetooth, hack the home/office router, spoof an access point, and win the jackpot :D

  • jarjar Patron Provider, Top Host, Veteran

    @davide said:
    I have the impression the purpose is to bring a microphone in, intercept bluetooth, hack the home/office router, spoof an access point, and win the jackpot :D

    While I would hope @tropicalnomad is above board I was thinking it too, I bet a few of us were. It's sort of like when you're at an airport and someone in a trench coat says "Hey can you hold this suitcase for me while I go to the bathroom" and then you see them walk past the bathroom. Always be suspicious of other people's stuff :joy:

  • MoopahMoopah Member

    If I fake my work location by colocating a work laptop in California, can I request a higher salary?

    Did you know a Arizona woman was arrested this month for running a laptop colocation farm at home to allow North Korea place their personnel into remote work IT positions at US companies: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/16/politics/woman-charged-north-korean-it-worker-scheme/index.html

  • ehhthingehhthing Member
    edited May 2024

    Your employer will probably at some point notice that your IP address comes from a DC rather than a home ISP...

    Also if you're found out about this, you'll be in a lot more trouble than just being fired. If your company wants to throw the book at you (and trust me they have every reason to), this could be considered fraud...

    Thanked by 1fluffernutter
  • I'd go with @Calin for this use-case.

    Thanked by 3LordSpock emgh suyadi92
  • davidedavide Member
    edited May 2024

    @inthecloudblog said:
    I'd go with @Calin for this use-case.

    No Calin still has many years to live, don't stove him in a US federal prison.
    https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/charges-and-seizures-brought-fraud-scheme-aimed-denying-revenue-workers-associated-north

    Thanked by 1emgh
  • dev_vpsdev_vps Member

    @dev_vps said:

    @tropicalnomad said:
    .. to store the laptops of FAANG-engineer types with discretion.

    Check your employment policies before taking this option.
    Your IT dept can know where is laptop "housed" based on data center ip address

    -- not a legal advice

    Now, if you "think outside the box", you can get the optimal solution for your "problem"

  • hsrhsr Member

    Where did you get the $400/month price from?

  • LordSpockLordSpock Member, Host Rep

    @tropicalnomad said:

    I am also surprised this isn't more common, with the rise of say r/digitalnomad and Nomadlist. Someone could start a small business to store the laptops of FAANG-engineer types with discretion.

    It doesn't really work, that's why. In some territories, it's considered fraud to work outside of the required area. (or at the very least, breach of contract).

    If you're regularly spotted on a non-residential IP address, this can flag to IT security personnel and might ultimately end in a shorter term career than you might like. Entra for example is able to pick things like this up.

    I do know someone who does this with a Residential VPN, a small router & his corporate laptop. Seems to be working okay for him and he managed to get this set up in a local maker space.

    Thanked by 1hobofl
  • SparkedPaulSparkedPaul Member, Patron Provider

    We could do this in Utah

  • CrabCrab Member

    As much as this might sound like a lucrative thing to do right now, I would not advise to do so. You will just regret it sooner or later. Big companies are learning very quickly how to identify this kind of situations and it won't end up well for the employees.

  • dev_vpsdev_vps Member

    @SparkedPaul said:
    We could do this in Utah

    You may want to get professional advice before getting into something like this.

    โ€” not a legal advice. Just sharing my opinion

  • MoopahMoopah Member
    edited May 2024

    @dev_vps said:

    @SparkedPaul said:
    We could do this in Utah

    You may want to get professional advice before getting into something like this.

    โ€” not a legal advice. Just sharing my opinion

    Thank you for the professional legal advice. I will hire you as my lawyer the next time a deadpool occurs.

    Thanked by 1siemens
  • For 400/m I'll set up a solar powered battery backup system with starlink in my barn in Austin. You can even use the webcam to talk with my horses.

  • siemenssiemens Member

    @Moopah said:
    If I fake my work location by colocating a work laptop in California, can I request a higher salary?

    Did you know a Arizona woman was arrested this month for running a laptop colocation farm at home to allow North Korea place their personnel into remote work IT positions at US companies: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/16/politics/woman-charged-north-korean-it-worker-scheme/index.html

    And a ukranian man.

  • conceptconcept Member
    edited June 2024

    Although @DataIdeas-Josh does provide colo for both mini pcs and raspberry pis. I don't know if he will do a laptop. He is in Texas

    Thanked by 1DataIdeas-Josh
  • tuctuc Member

    @SparkedPaul said:
    We could do this in Utah

    Sometime, working from home but too far from headquarter is not posible.

  • Residential T-Mobile or Verizon 5G is $40-$50 a month so just find someone willing to run one of those next to ur laptop and use the ethernet only with no wifi and ur golden. Or buy a laptop with a cellular modem in it.

  • DataIdeas-JoshDataIdeas-Josh Member, Patron Provider

    @SGraf said:
    talk to @DataIdeas-Josh He can likely do this for you in spring (TX), so about 170ish miles away from you. This should be quite good in terms of latency.

    Thank you for the shout out.

    @concept said:
    Although @DataIdeas-Josh does provide colo for both mini pcs and raspberry pis. I don't know if he will do a laptop. He is in Texas

    We can do it via Wi-Fi as well.
    Our RPi Zero's were Wi-Fi initially however we moved them to a USB - Ethernet dongle to make them easier for provisioning.

    @tropicalnomad We can most definitely do this for you and over Wi-Fi if needed.

    Thanked by 1admax
  • vpn2024vpn2024 Member
    edited June 2024

    nevermind

  • DataIdeas-JoshDataIdeas-Josh Member, Patron Provider

    @DataIdeas-Josh said: Our RPi Zero's were Wi-Fi initially however we moved them to a USB - Ethernet dongle to make them easier for provisioning.

    Although now that I think about it. I might move them back to Wi-Fi as the Raspberry Pi Imager now supports Wi-Fi stuff. :smile: And I can open up some more ports on the switch :smile:

    Thanked by 1admax
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