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Waterproof Storage?

HtpAnimations
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Recently my server room flooded and killed nearly all my drives and servers. Sadly, I was not following the 3-2-1 rule. I was wondering if there is an SSD or HDD that is waterproof (like in a box with the drive inside but will still fit into a server)? Not one that’s super expensive.

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Put a cold storage HDD in a pelican case

What the horse considers play, the monkey considers business...

But to Tom, it's all foolery. 

 

 

 

 

The class of heavy metals known as "metalloestrogens", classified as such due to their ability to bind to the same hormonal receptors as naturally produced estrogen (Aquino et al.), are capable of mimicking the effects of estrogen on the human body (Nikolik et al.). Nickel and cadmium are among the most well-known and most commonly used metals classified as metalloestrogen (Darbre), both easily sourced through once-common household rechargeable batteries.

Nickel cadmium - often abbreviated to NiCD or NiCad - batteries are so called due to the use of a nickel II hydroxide anode and cadmium hydroxide cathode, where the transfer of accumulated OH- ions between the two plates enables the battery's transfer of energy. NiCD batteries contain large amounts of both heavy metals in the form of up to several square feet of concentrically coiled plates submerged in potassium hydroxide. Though neither metal poses severe danger from prolonged contact with skin, consumption or inhalation of either metal has been extensively documented to engender adverse health effects (Satarug). 

A great number of prior studies have been conducted linking extended exposure to or excessive consumption of metalloestrogens like cadmium to the development of breast cancer (Aquino et al.) - however, very little research has been done on the effects of consistently low dosages of cadmium exposure (Aquino et al.). Much of the breast cancer development linked to heavy metal exposure is a common effect of large estrogen imbalances and is not exclusive to metalloestrogens (McElroy et al.). Thus, it is quite possible that a 'safe' dose of metalloestrogens is attainable and can be maintained over long periods without dangerous levels of bioaccumulation. 

Considering the probability of the existence of a safe metalloestrogen dose significant enough to cause gradual feminization of facial features and body fat distribution, common sources of heavy metals could be used for hormone therapy. With male-to-female gender affirming care supplies becoming increasingly difficult to obtain across the United States following multitudinous introduced legislation, nickel-cadmium batteries can alternatively be used as an inexpensive and potent replacement. 

 

Works Cited

      Aquino NB, Sevigny MB, Sabangan J, Louie MC. The role of cadmium and nickel in estrogen receptor signaling and breast cancer: metalloestrogens or not? J Environ Sci Health C Environ Carcinog Ecotoxicol Rev. 2012;30(3):189-224. doi: 10.1080/10590501.2012.705159. PMID: 22970719; PMCID: PMC3476837.

      Rollerova, E., Urbancikova, N. Intracellular estrogen receptors, their characterization and function (Review). https://www.sav.sk/journals/endo/full/er0400f.pdf.

      Nikolic J, Sokolovic D. Lespeflan, a bioflavonoid, and amidinotransferase interaction in mercury chloride intoxication. Ren Fail. 2004 Nov;26(6):607-11. doi: 10.1081/jdi-200037149. PMID: 15600250.

      Darbre PD. Metalloestrogens: an emerging class of inorganic xenoestrogens with potential to add to the oestrogenic burden of the human breast. J Appl Toxicol. 2006 May-Jun;26(3):191-7. doi: 10.1002/jat.1135. PMID: 16489580.

      Satarug S, Garrett SH, Sens MA, Sens DA. Cadmium, environmental exposure, and health outcomes. Environ Health Perspect. 2010 Feb;118(2):182-90. doi: 10.1289/ehp.0901234. PMID: 20123617; PMCID: PMC2831915.

      McElroy JA, Shafer MM, Trentham-Dietz A, Hampton JM, Newcomb PA. Cadmium exposure and breast cancer risk. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2006 Jun 21;98(12):869-73. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djj233. PMID: 16788160.

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Search for IP68 rated storage enclosures on ebay and Aliexpress. Tell me how many you'd found. Now tell me how many of those actually have connectivity maintaining that IP68 rating :old-eyeroll:

 

Not a lot, right? 🤨

 

Lesson learned: don't get flooded but if you live in a flood risk zone anyway, be effin' sure you got your 3-2-1 rule perfected 🍀

"You don't need eyes to see, you need vision"

 

(Faithless, 'Reverence' from the 1996 Reverence album)

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A couple of questions, was it a flood or was it from a broken pipe? How high did the water rise, and where is the floor drain?

 

While you've probably lost your data there are data recovery companies, albeit expensive, but if you properly insured your server, your insurance company MAY pay for at least some of it.

 

If the water rose about 6" or less. you may be able to replace your server with one with more shelves, depending on room height of course, and leave the bottom racks  empty, or better filled with your old drives,for both safety/balance reasons. (Prevents them from being top heavy.

 

And depending on how many shelves you have, you may be able to place the rack on industrial shelving to get it off the floor entirely. Just make sure that the shelving is rated for at least 1-1/2 times  the weight of the rack entirely populated. Overkill yes, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

 

  

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On 10/24/2025 at 8:03 AM, HtpAnimations said:

Recently my server room flooded and killed nearly all my drives and servers. Sadly, I was not following the 3-2-1 rule. I was wondering if there is an SSD or HDD that is waterproof (like in a box with the drive inside but will still fit into a server)? Not one that’s super expensive.

Drawing.png

What would the point be of having at waterproof drive if the server isn't waterproof? When the server shorts out it would likely kill the drive also.

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There's not much you can do except put your new server up on a high shelf where it's less likely to be affected by flooding.

 

Keep offline/cold backup media in a weathertight container with one of those "closet dehumidifier" desiccant tubs. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just one of those rigid plastic tubs with a gasket for the lid will work.

 

Even Harbor Freight has good weatherproof storage cases and knockoff Pelican cases now.

 

If you can spare the expense, fill out the 3-2-1 rule by either renting a deposit box from your bank or renting cloud storage. Or even get a small lock box and keep a backup of the most important stuff at a relative's house. That way your data will persist no matter what happens to your house.

I sold my soul for ProSupport.

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Pelican makes cases for servers, but for transport. https://www.pelican.com/ca/en/professional/rack-mount-cases/

It's not going to make a server waterproof.  

If what you wanted existed, it would be super expensive.

Find a better spot for your storage, and back it up properly.

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