Embedded Linux

[Jason]

Lucas Vogel wrote:
> 
> You might want to try the Linux-from-scratch HOWTO or something similar if
> you're truly adventurous. The best embedded demo I've ever received was the
> one from QNX, but I don't believe theirs is Linux(though definitely *nix).
> 
> IMHO a DirectCD implementation is more of a pain than it's worth(see also in
> this thread the part where someone discussed how their disk started
> skipping/losing data at a certain temperature), especially when hard drives
> are cheap.
> 
> Why make things harder than they have to be?

CDRs are definitly not compatible with the temperatures the inside of
a car reaches in an arizona summer. (On the other hand, I have NOT had
any problems YET with normal, factory burned CDs left in the same car,
same temperatures, no exposure to direct sunlight.)

The question itching my mind is... which, if any, hard discs are
compatible with these same temperatures? I have picked up old 5.25
inch HDs from companies that were "bad", only to reformat them and
find that they run fine provided they are kept under 80F at their
surface constantly (this meant mounting a fansink to the drive itself!
I dont currently use any of these drives, although if I had access to
many "dead" drives from a large company (drives with many bad
sectors), I would likely have something like this once again for fun
(nothing critial to be sure!)

RNi doesnt use any hard disc in their embed, but the memory technology
they use isnt exactly compatible with storage of several gigs of MP3
files either... 

The question is, will a HD tolerate high temperatures without
spontaneously degausing itself? The unit itself can be made to NOT
power up until a peltier element/fansink combination has brought the
HD, CPU, and other critical components to a reasonable temperature, if
the unit is to be kept inside an automobile (plenty of power available
for such things when the alternator is turning...)

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