Characterizing the response of a computer system component to vibrations

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for characterizing a response of a component in a computer system to vibrations generated by a computer system, the method comprising:

• measuring the response of the component to vibrations in a frequency range while the component is located outside of the computer system;
• during operation of the computer system, measuring vibrations generated by the computer system in the frequency range, wherein the vibrations are measured while the component is absent from the computer system at a location in the computer system that is configured as a mount for coupling the component inside the computer system;
• and
• characterizing the response of the component to vibrations generated by the computer system based on the measured response of the component to vibrations in the frequency range and the measured vibrations in the frequency range at the location in the computer system.

An apparatus that characterizes a response of a disk drive to vibrations generated by a computer system, the apparatus comprising:

• a disk-drive-measuring mechanism configured to measure the response of the disk drive to vibrations in a frequency range while the disk drive is located outside of the computer system;
• a computer-system-vibration-measuring mechanism configured to, during operation of the computer system, measure vibrations generated by the computer system in the frequency range, wherein the vibrations are measured while the component is absent from the computer system at a location in the computer system that is configured as a mount for coupling the component inside the computer system;
• and
• a characterizing mechanism configured to characterize the response of the disk drive to vibrations generated by the computer system based on the measured response of the disk drive to vibrations in the frequency range and the measured vibrations in the frequency range at the location.