Long Term Data Storage - Choosing A Media Type by:Chris Holgate
Choosing a long term data storage medium isn't as easy as you may think
. You might imagine that the data could be burnt to CD, locked in a cupboard and that it would last forever however unfortunately this isn't the case. There are literally hundreds of suitably stored but physically decayed CD's from my teenage years which I could use as testament to that.
The question isn't as easy as you may think. You may imagine that the data could be burnt to CD, locked in a cupboard and that it would last forever however unfortunately this isn't the case. There are literally hundreds of suitably stored but physically decayed CD's from my teenage years which I could use as testament to that.
Therefore I've made a list of common formats one would usually consider for archiving a large amount of data so you can pick the most suitable one for your needs:
Hard Disk - When used on a regular basis a hard disk will typically last for around 5 years before it starts to decay and if it is being used as an infrequently accessed backup drive then we can assume that this can be at least doubled. Unfortunately degradation of the discs metallic surface, along with the inevitable seizing of parts would still occur over an extended period of disuse.
Optical - Standard optical media includes CD, DVD and BluRay. If choosing this media type ensure that you go for the highest grade money can buy you; a premium brand such as Taiyo Yuden may well last a decade but a more budget brand such as Memorex may only last half that time before the aluminium starts separating from the plastic.
Flash Media - Clearly you would expect that since Flash Media has no moving parts it would be ideal for a long term backup strategy. To an extent you would be right but the published data retention of a unused flash drive is only around 10 years and unfortunately once the device has reached the end of its life it is likely that it will go out in style, taking with it all of the information stored within.
Paper - Rather obvious this one - if left in a dark, dry place then paper will last for many decades; we recently recovered a number of newspapers from 1964 from below the flooring of a building we're doing up and aside from being a little yellowed they're in perfect condition. Primary problems do of course include having to find a safe place to store them along with the physical limitations relating to the amount and type of information that can be stored on sheets of paper.
Tape - You wouldn't have necessarily thought it but the humble tape has one of the best data rates available. With typical warranties lasting around 30 years with a life expectancy beyond that it's little wonder they continue to be used in banking and government sectors.
The primary downside is that although the tapes themselves are affordable and the capacities typically high (up to 1TB is relatively normal) the actual drives themselves are usually expensive.
Solid State Drive - An SSD uses solid-state memory (similar to that used in a flash drive) to store data and is most commonly used as a direct alternative to a hard drive, especially in notebooks where their small weight and size along with fast access times make them ideal. Unfortunately, they suffer the same major problems as flash drives in that JEDEC, the leading developer of standards for solid-state storage specify that data retention of an idle drive should only be considered to be around 10 years.
The Internet - Theoretically one of the most robust ways of backing up data, an online Internet server is typically backed up daily, monitored 24/7 and if a problem does occur with the hard drive containing your data a mirrored backup drive would take over with no down time.
If you were looking to store the data within your own lifetime the Internet would be a perfect storage medium however if looking to preserve the data for future generations then this method has some major flaws. For example, if you store your data on a free online storage account then the company either goes under or starts charging for the service then your data would be lost.
Magneto Optical - Magneto Optical is probably the most suitable removable data storage method although it is certainly a niche product. Originally introduced way back in the 1980's, MO drives are slow with fairly low capacities (current maximum is 9.1GB). With this slow speed however comes a ruggedness which results in 100 year data retention claims being commonplace.
Of course, when devising a long term archival strategy we assume that hardware will be available at the time that it needs to be played back. This is a serious consideration when we're talking about storing the data for best part of a century but in our own lifetime it won't necessarily be a problem - the first video camera my family owned used the 8mm Video8 cassette tapes and although 20 years down the line I don't own a compatible reader, I could obtain one if necessary.
Along with choosing the most suitable format, ensure that you keep copies on several different media types and in several different locations, thereby increasing your chances that one media type in one location will survive the test of time. If possible, check on the media every couple of years and transfer it to newer and more suitable media types.
About the author
Chris Holgate is a director and copyrighter of the Inkjet and Toner Cartridge site
http://www.refreshcartridges.co.uk
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