Discussion on:

10 things you should know about deploying technology in harsh environments

What are the worst conditions you've ever had to deal with when deploying equipment in a less-than-optimum environment? Are there other recommendations you'd add to this list? Share your experiences and suggestions concerning harsh environment deployments.

I've got an average of five desktops in a machine shop. Each of them has lasted from deployment to replacement, usually 4-5 years. The interiors are quickly coated with a film from the pervasive lubricant used on lathes, drills, presses, etc; a film that probably contains microscopic metallic particles. I have never had a system fail. Sure, the floppy and CD drives are unusable, and I won't sell them to an employee, but the systems keep on running. I haven't had a problem with monitors, desktop laser printers, or other peripherals in this environment either.

Totally not overblown!

A machine shop desktop PC may not fail, but it also may not be that important.

Deploying a mission critical application server when you don't have a datacenter however, does require the investment in the protection!

I've had systems in just about every environ-
ment know, from petrochemical plants, coking
plants, grain elevators, pulp and paper plants,
underground and pole mounted hardware. The
worst was stuff from a nuclear power plant.
Everything was wrapped in plastic and had to
be treated as if it was contaminated. Safety
was formost and really can complicate
repairs and even requires extra procedures
to make future service simpler.
Most installations can be mounted in filter
boxes and the only thing need be exposed
would be the keyboards abd display faces.
Even keyboards can be eliminated with touch
screens.

we've had PCs that are part of a plating automation system, suspended over heated acid plating baths. had to put in a sealed enclosure.

Curiously, how did you manage thermal environments if it was sealed?

I agree with the author that anything one can do to design a deployment so that the PC has a clean, secure, and stable environment the better. I don?t believe in luck, rather, I believe in thorough planning.

I have deployed several PC-based systems on mega-yachts that generally travel the planet and the maritime environment generally defines a harsh environment. Yachts MOVE constantly. They float generally in SALT WATER. They rely on electricity from several sources (shore 110V or 220V, generators, battery banks, inverters, UPS's during power switching or black-boat scenarios). This is a harsh environment.

In the maritime scenarios I have supported, I start by assessing physical conditions within the boat. I seek the driest potential spot to install equipment. If it doesn?t look like it will be dry under all conditions, then it is made to be dry in all conceivable conditions. PCs HATE WATER.

I then stabilize the platform by placing the PCs on a shock-absorbing material such as 1 inch neoprene (wet suit material). The constant motion of a yacht can disconnect even PS2 cables. Speaking of cables, everything is secured down ? cable ties are a real friend, as is this 3M ultra-velcro stuff.

I also directly connect maritime PCs to over-capacity dedicated UPS's. A high quality UPS is a must because it generally takes dirty power and gives it a clean-up before delivering it to the PC. Dirty power is like feeding arsenic to a PC. It might not kill it immediately, but it will, given enough time. Also, boats are constantly changing the source of their power. Generally to do so requires an interruption for at least a second. If the PC is critical, such as a ship's monitoring system, the switching of power cannot interrupt the purpose of the PC.

Damp, salty air will reek havoc on a PC. If a PC is left running constantly, this is not as big a problem because its own heat creates an umbrella-like shield. However, if the PC is turned off, corrosion should be an immediate concern. De-humidification or simply an abundance of refreshed desiccant can help stave off the effect of moist, salty air.

Finally, in maritime situations, and really any mobile, harsh situation, redundant and tested communications methods are critical. Clients can generally stomach the cost of remote connections, but last minute airfare to Tahiti and waiting on replacement parts once there (that have 100% import duties) is almost unforgivable. Most mega-yachts have at least three forms of satellite communication on board the vessel. Being able to use one or more of these to contact remotely is a very good thing. Adding the ability to reach the vessel via a GSM cell is better, and of course, having the captain plan his docking where land lines are always available is a real bonus, but not fail safe. Third world land lines are not what they are in the USA.

Most importantly, a well documented and thoroughly tested harsh-environment system needs regular monitoring and maintenance to insure that unusual problems that occur in an office environment don?t marginalize the system once it dips over the horizon. Think about Captain Murphy and his Law!

The dust of the environment was tought, but with a good maintaince schedule, Blow the dust out of power supplys and motherboards once a week, I could get a year or more out of a unit. The killer was keyboards, plant employees were tought on them banging the hell out of them, and some weeks it was two or three keyboards a week. Wen they announced our plant closing the keyboard count skyrocketed like 8-10 a week. At the first hint of trouble they went into the trash. We had talked about touch screens but the production workers still fount time to break them, so it worked out cheaper to use standard keyboards. I used to blow those out twice a week.

Very interesting concept. You have my dream job by the way, ideallypc...

The motion, plus dirty power, plus water. Interesting....

is pretty close to what we see in Vancouver in any building.
[ no motion and the power is anywhere from 100v to 120 v with fluctuations in the system ]
but the salty, humid air, it's here.
[ 60 to 80 percent humidity in winter, makes -4C feel like -15C ]

With the power in the newer models, going laptop instead of desktop for ship-board computing would make it easier, the power supplies for the laptops are another layer of protection for the dirty power issue.
the laptop hardware is built for the motion issues being aboard a ship brings better than desktops are.

I also know that while the "Marina" claims x voltage for their power outlets, they don't always deliver it. often it is 10 to 20 percent below advertised voltage.