[Novalug] Cheap (homebrew) room temperature probe?

[Nick Danger]

In our server room right now I have a handy dandy little SNMP capable temp
probe. Nice unit. Also costs like $400. I would like to keep tabs on the
temps in two cabinets we have at remote locations but I cant justify the
expense of these units (there are no problems yet, Im trying to be proactive
with my monitoring)

A long long time ago I took a thermister and connected it to an apple //c
joystick port and threw it out my bedroom window. Lots of math later (which
I sucked at so I tried splitting a curve into a few straight lines and do
linear algebra on it) I had one of the first GBBS sites with a temp probe.

There HAS to be a way to do this now with a PC. Probably a little more
complicated since theres no analog joy port anymore but maybe via serial? Or
parallel?  Im not looking for NASA grade accuracy, just something that I can
watch to go "room is getting hotter". Ive found ones that clip into your
case and give you digital readouts for your desktop but nothing I can
remotely watch via scripts or otherwise.

Anyone seen such a thing?

-Nick
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