Long term storage of data

Easto · Post by **Easto** » Sun Apr 09, 2023 10:32 am

I have 5 different HDDs that are sitting on a shelf and I really need to curate the data and start getting rid of all the duplicate data. These drives are basically my current long term storage solution. I was reading an article that said there are "Archival" grade DVDs and I was wondering what everyone thought of these? Virtually 98% of all the data I wish to retain/archive are photos. I know I could render the amount of pics I have down to about 300 gigs so I was also wondering about buying a new HDD and moving them onto that. The reason I like the idea of the DVD solution is that I can put each in a prepaid envelope, give it to several friends, and if anything happens to my copies I just ask them to drop the envelope in the mail.

Post by **Philip** » Sun Apr 09, 2023 3:16 pm

I don't like DVDs much for archival because of the low capacity of single-layer ones being only 4.7Gb each. I think their shelf life is similar to HDDs, and I the technology may be losing popularity in the future, as in desktops may not come with DVD burners 10 years from now.
You can mail, or hand-deliver a HDD/SDD to friends just as easily as a few DVDs, especially 2.5" external USB3 ones.

I just choose to have at least two copies on different HDDs for backup purposes, one of them being my local NAS with Raid 1 drives. The alternative would be a cloud backup, but I am a bit cheap to pay monthly for those, and wait forever for backups to sync with larger amounts of data.

There are always trade-offs between cold storage shelf-life, storage capacity needed, ease/speed of transfer and replacement of data.

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Sun Apr 09, 2023 9:03 pm

Easto wrote:I have 5 different HDDs that are sitting on a shelf and I really need to curate the data and start getting rid of all the duplicate data. These drives are basically my current long term storage solution. I was reading an article that said there are "Archival" grade DVDs and I was wondering what everyone thought of these? Virtually 98% of all the data I wish to retain/archive are photos. I know I could render the amount of pics I have down to about 300 gigs so I was also wondering about buying a new HDD and moving them onto that. The reason I like the idea of the DVD solution is that I can put each in a prepaid envelope, give it to several friends, and if anything happens to my copies I just ask them to drop the envelope in the mail.

We use one of these at work: https://www.buffalotech.com/products/drivestation-quad

I think we replaced it once in 10 years.

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Sun Apr 09, 2023 9:05 pm

Humboldt wrote:We use one of these at work: https://www.buffalotech.com/products/drivestation-quad

I think we replaced it once in 10 years.

In addition to nightly backups to multiple locations for the most important stuff.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Tue Apr 11, 2023 1:18 pm

Concern I'd have about DVD.....it (and older optical media like standard CDs) has gone the way of the floppy drive and ISA bus....you don't see them on new computers anymore. How about in another 5 or 10 years? May be difficult to go read one.

For now I'd lean on removable USB storage, good quality higher up models. Add...solid state based ones instead of spindle too...last longer.

For myself, since cloud is...free or at the most...cheap....I have my personal stuff duplicated across my *Google account, and *Microsoft 365 Business Premium account via work. Spread across the 2 giants...I'm really not likely to lose anything.

But if I didn't do IT for a living, I'd probably grab 2x of the higher up WD My Passport models....backup my data on one, duplicate it to the other..and then stick 'em in separated locations.

Post by **Philip** » Tue Apr 11, 2023 9:27 pm

There are some questions about the longevity of data on SSDs as cold storage that should be mentioned though. No moving parts, great speed, etc. but as a cold storage without power they may lose some bits over time, especially newer MLC/3d ones with 3-4 bits of info as different levels of voltage per cell.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Thu Apr 13, 2023 10:59 am

Most of the higher quality solid state storage chips, such as Microns, spec 10 years of data retention when powered off when leaving the factory. As they get used, (programmed/erased)..that time period to retain data when uncharged starts to lower. And yeah, cheap ones I'd probably worry about getting past a couple of years.

However, remember some of the "golden rules" when it comes to backup storage...
*Nothing last forever
*Regularly check the media you're using for storage to make sure the data is still intact
*And one of the more important points...make two or three backups and rotate them periodically.

so following those important rules...would ensure the solid state storage gets rejuiced...and if using spindles....would ensure they're still in good shape mechanically, get internal parts moving on some regular basis so as not to have heads sticking or bearings lock up. Over the decades I've seen platters used for long term suffer physical failures. Either approach has its risks.

...which these old school approaches are one of several reason that I lean towards online automated methods.