General Dynamics Itronix GoBook MR-1 Manual page 81

GoBook MR-1 Page 80 of 90
NOTE If a Expansion Module is included, its hard drive is also accessible (See Optional Equipment and
Accessories for further instructions).
Avoid Unexpected Repair Costs by Understanding Hard Disk
Management for Mobile Computers
This section provides important information for software developers and IT professionals involved in mobile
computer deployments. It describes how your software design and setup can affect the service life of a mobile
computer's hard disk drive (HDD). Rugged computers are designed for extended field service life, often staying in
deployment many years longer than commercial notebooks. It is important to understand how to best design and
configure your software to maximize the system's trouble-free operation for years to come.
Several Itronix customers have deployed software that causes excessive hard disk wear, resulting in reduced HDD
service life. While this has been rare, it is likely to increase as more complex applications include Standard Query
Language (SQL), Global Positioning Software (GPS), Automated Vehicle Locater (AVL) and other components that
may be coded to frequently access the HDD. This excessive HDD wear can be a costly issue to correct – especially
since it may only become apparent 18 to 24 months after your computers have been deployed. Are your users
complaining of slow disk access, slow system performance, lockups, reboots, inaccessible boot device warnings, or
even premature drive failure?
Checking your software now for conditions such as "constant disk spinning" can save your company significant
future costs in hard disk repair and user downtime.
In helping our customers to address these issues, we've often seen that the root cause is an unintentional software
configuration error or setting in Windows power management. In other cases, software programmers may lack
familiarity with the differences between mobile computer HDDs vs. desktops or servers – and can unintentionally
design programs with disk access patterns that reduce HDD service life.
Background on Hard Disk Designs for Mobile Computing
Hard disk manufacturers supply a wide variety of designs optimized for specific computer markets – ranging from
small "micro drives" used in media players to large RAID arrays used in critical server applications
Itronix integrates "notebook" class hard disks, as these products are specifically optimized for the blend of
performance characteristics required in mobile computer applications – including size/weight, power management,
extended temperature range, vibration/shock tolerance, cost and service life. We use best-in-class disk technology
from industry leading suppliers such as Hitachi Global Storage Technologies and Toshiba Storage Device Division.
We extensively test and validate these products to meet the specifications of our GoBook® rugged notebooks and
tablets.
file://C:\Documents and Settings\harwoodm\Local Settings\Temp\~hh96AE.htm 6/18/2008