Computer Storage

From: Philip.Belben_at_pgen.com <(Philip.Belben_at_pgen.com)>
Date: Tue Apr 13 07:38:16 1999

I'll reply to Geoff, since he has covered more points than others.

>> Do I need to insulate / heat the building?
>
> Not sure where you are, but I imagine insulation would be a good idea. My
> experience with electronics/computers is that ideal storage is at a
> relatively constant temperature, so extremes of heat (ie over 35c) or cold
> (much below 10c) should be avoided where possible.


I don't think it'll get over 35 deg C, even in a hot summer, although the thin
roof may act like a solar panel. To look at it another way, domestic air
conditioning is almost unknown here in the UK. (Nasos - I'm at Coalville, about
5 mi NW of M1 Jn 22)

In winter, temperatures of -2 deg C are common, and -10 is not unheard-of. So
that sounds like insulation would be a good idea. I am unlikely to operate
computers in this building - no electricity or comms services as yet, so it
would be expensive. I shall look into elec costs...

> Some stuff is more tolerant, our Vax 6310 kept right on going despite the
> a/c failing last summer during a long weekend. It was 44C in the computer
> room on the Monday morning. The netware server in the same room died when
> it's power supply failed, presumably due to overheating!

Ha! I must admit I'd have thought that humidity would be more of a problem than
temperature. An argument in favour of electric heating rather than gas, I
suppose...

>> Should I install a dehumidifier (I think I can get hold of one)?
>
> If the place is damp you need to either seal up each machine with
> dehumidifying agent inside the seal, or dehumidify the environment
> it's in. Dust/spiders/roaches/mice etc can be a problem with long term
> storage too.


I think my parents have a dehumidifier they no longer use. Again, electricity
is needed - I'll try and plumb it in to discharge on the ground outside for
water disposal.

>> Do I need (for example) to wrap each computer up in plastic with a packet
>> of silica gel?
>
> That's one way.....


I was afraid of that. Dehumidifier is probably less work, but more money
long-term...

I think that controlled environment of some sort is probably more necessary for
books/manuals etc. than for hardware (if you'll forgive the qualified absolute).

>> The rent is very cheap - L2 (about $3.30) per square foot per year, and
>> the building is only 10 min walk from my house. With luck, this will mean
>> that I shall soon have a house with room for me as well as my junk...
>
> How big is this building? At that rate you could use quite a bit of it
> without breaking the bank... That is cheap.


Perhaps I wasn't clear. It's all or nothing. 300 sq ft for L600 ($1000) per
annum. (FWIW it was built by a local toyshop to store excess stock, apparently.
Most recent tenant was the local council, who stored polling booths there for
use in local elections.) On top of the rent there is a property tax ("Uniform
Business Rate") - the agent are finding this out for me - and I shall have to
buy racking and things. But I think it's a good deal. Bob was paying L42 per
month for 25 sq ft - roughly ten times as much on a per-square-foot basis!

Philip
Received on Tue Apr 13 1999 - 07:38:16 BST