Abstract: A thermally and structurally optimized disaster resistant housing for a vertically stacked array of computer digital data storage devices such as hard drives is provided. An external, fire resistant housing has an internally mounted water resistant enclosure for the array. The water resistant enclosure includes a plurality of much thicker plates than known which significantly increase dissipation of heat and simultaneously greater increase the crush and impact load resistance of the device. An automatic method is also provided for producing complex molded gypsum or cement components.

Abstract: A low cost, water resistant, rugged and enclosed portable digital data storage device is provided. A two piece enclosure includes a monolithic housing and a cover, both preferably metallic. A passageway is formed in a side wall of the enclosure for plugging an external power and data line into an internal connector which extends into or adjacent the passageway. A liquid water resistant epoxy is applied over the internal connector and adjacent the passageway prior to applying the cover. The result is a low cost, water resistant enclosure with water resistant passageway for power and data lines that remains water resistant whether the external power and data lines are connected to the digital data storage device or not. A fire resistant docking station is also provided, into which the portable data storage device may be easily connected to a primary computer for transferring data.

Abstract: A fire and/or water resistant enclosure is provided for housing an operable digital data storage device. The enclosure is a low cost, preferably molded gypsum enclosure having various embodiments for providing resistance to fire occurring outside said enclosure and/or to water. In one embodiment, a fan cooperates with one or more hatchless ventilation passageways to cool the digital data storage device. Another embodiment provides a water resistant pouch surrounding the data storage device which may be made of flexible foil or of finned relatively robust and non-flexible thermal conductor. The enclosure in some embodiments utilizes a fan and in some embodiments operates without a fan. Similarly, the enclosure in some embodiments utilizes movable hatches and in other embodiments is hatchless in design.