Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!linus!mbunix!jcmorris
From: jcmorris@mitre-bedford.ARPA (Joseph C. Morris)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Need a 60M to 80M hard disk for a *truck*
Summary: Followup question
Message-ID: <39678@linus.UUCP>
Date: 10 Sep 88 21:15:46 GMT
References: <277@oglvee.UUCP>
Sender: news@linus.UUCP
Reply-To: jcmorris@mbunix (Morris)
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, McLean, VA.
Lines: 21

In article <277@oglvee.UUCP> jr@oglvee.UUCP (Jim Rosenberg) writes:
>I've been asked for a recommendation for a hard disk for a HazMat team to haul
>around in their truck.

Is there a requirement that the drive be *running* while the truck is in 
motion?  If not, you could probably use any drive with a solid self-parking
mechanism.  Since hard disks are routinely shipped through the mail with
only infrequent damage, you might be successful by installing one with good
shock mounts.  Call the disk manufacturers and ask for their specs on
non-energized acceleration and vibration limits.

On the other hand, if you've got to be able to use the disk while in motion
(checking a data base for recommended first-in responses to a particular
HazMat type incident, for example), you may have to go to a military-type
unit to get the necessary degree of reliability.

You might also consider the possibility of a CD-ROM or WORM.  If the data 
base isn't updated too frequently (and interim updates can be posed in a
hardcopy binder) this would get away from the fragile disk technology.  The
same idea could be used for PDR or other similar emergency-service data
bases.