Data Storage over time

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#504502 10-Aug-2011 16:24

Interesting to note that CDs stop working after a while, is it the dye that they're are burnt with? I have audio cds from the early/mid 90's that still work so maybe the methods have got more convenient and less durable?

I had a broader back up discussion with a guy at work a wee while ago about this.

Our considerations varied based on:

speed of restore - the cloud is slow/bandwidth expensive
what you were storing - does it actually need to be backed up?
how often does it change - do you need to do it hourly/daily/weekly/monthly
Location of back up - what happens if your primary site burns/ is stolen

Therefore

I now keep all my photos, documents and music on my mac's hd
I keep a NAS with all my video on it (not backed up). The NAS also holds a partition with a backup of my mac (Time machine).

I also have paid google US$10 per year for 20GB of photo backup (now getting to the limit, but waiting to see what the story is with icloud).
I do a yearly archive to DVD of all photos/important documents.

I also have a portable hard drive with photos, documents and music stored in the car.

I think I am close to bulletproof on this, but it is so funny/scary how many people don't back anything up at all.

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rvangelder

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#504550 10-Aug-2011 17:30

zip the files and print the 1's and 0's onto microfiche / microfilm.

freitasm

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#504551 10-Aug-2011 17:31

rvangelder: zip the files and print the 1's and 0's onto microfiche / microfilm.

Just make sure you keep them away from fire...

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kyhwana2

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#504553 10-Aug-2011 17:32

rvangelder: zip the files and print the 1's and 0's onto microfiche / microfilm.

And make sure you stick it in a fire/water proof safe!

DonGould

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#504585 10-Aug-2011 18:47

freitasm:
rvangelder: zip the files and print the 1's and 0's onto microfiche / microfilm.

Just make sure you keep them away from fire...

+1, you'd be better off with usb sticks or dvd's because they don't burn... err... hold on... wait...

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mattwnz

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#504592 10-Aug-2011 18:57

There is a new dvd type of writer and disk that actually etches the data into the medium, and it can be read on any drive. Supposedly it will last 100 years if not more. Not sure of the brand, and then again it would be almost impossible to test this, unless you look at it in 100 years time.

If you think about it, cloud storage should be able to save you data forever. They use harddrives, but they should have backups,a nd also move your data to newer SSDs over time. But then you are relying on these companies being around for years. And some cloud companies have shown not to do adequate backups.

I wouldn't trust a magnetic harddrive over a long period of time. Yours may read fine, but is all the data ok? Then actually connecting it to a PC in the future maybe difficult. Will computers in 20 years time have USB...or thunderbolt.

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#504594 10-Aug-2011 18:59

I would buy a new netbook with an SSD for around $650, put data onto it. Then store it along with the power cord (possibly with orignal packaging too) in a safe. Should be good for 50+ years I reckon. You might even have a valuable piece of history in 50 years too.

Netbook could be Acer one 522 with 60GB SSD, $470+$170 = $640

The only consideration would be the life of the plastic shell of the acer. If it is stored in a dry, cool safe, it should be fine.

SCUBADOO

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#504596 10-Aug-2011 19:08

I just keep backing up my data to multiple current media formats. Take your pick. MULTIPLE is the key word.

My oldest data here is dated 03 June 1982 and was originally written on a still operational 32kb CMOS Microbee (google it) and stored to a 360KB 5.25" floppy disc. The drive cost me over AU$600 at the time.

From memory (no pun) 360KB 5.25" > 720KB 3.5" > 1.44MB 3.5" floppy > massive 10MB HD > 100MB HD > 600MB HD > etc. & etc.

Linuxluver

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#504599 10-Aug-2011 19:16

raytaylor: I have a customer who wants to have a suitable backup copy of the various family tree files on her computer which she can pass on to the next generation of her family when the time comes.

So i was thinking about it and thought
- Blank CDROM only lasts 10 years
- Memory stick or thumb drive is probably not that reliable when presented with static electricity in a handbag

My answer was an external hard drive. I can still read a 200mb hard drive from the 80's

Can anyone else suggest any suitable media? Hard drive is the best i can come up with.

If you really want to keep something and think it's really important, put it on two of everything you can get your hands on.

I'd do 2 x USB + 2 x HD + 2x DVD-R ......and hope for the best.

Schedule in a copy to new media every 5 years (minimum). At least ONE of them will still be readable.

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#504608 10-Aug-2011 19:43

kyhwana2:

Store hashes of all the files along side them and check that each medium has them stored correctly every year or so.

Forgot to mention - the customer is about 70 years old
I dont normally deal with residential customers, but this one has stuck with me cause i'm more patient with her than the other guys at the office.

Ray Taylor

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Linuxluver

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#504611 10-Aug-2011 19:49

raytaylor:
kyhwana2:

Store hashes of all the files along side them and check that each medium has them stored correctly every year or so.

Forgot to mention - the customer is about 70 years old
I dont normally deal with residential customers, but this one has stuck with me cause i'm more patient with her than the other guys at the office.

Anyone in support has been there. I used get calls on the IBM 0800 number from an old guy in Gore who had no one to talk to. So he'd call up and ask for support for his gear...and talk about every other thing there was. He just wanted some company and a chat. I don't know we ever actually solved any problem he conjured up.

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raytaylor

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#504614 10-Aug-2011 19:52

She has also convinced me to go to her geneology society (another word for of technologically challenged) meeting and give a short presentation on methods of computer backup with the pros and cons of different media types.

Personally I never rely on data in a cloud to be there in a year's time - in a week yes so its good for backups that arent needed again, but i just dont trust them because of the reasons listed above. In fact I dont even trust my own ftp backup service that i sell to my rural customers as I could go out of business myself.

So my best solution to them will be

2x usb memory sticks with
- A yearly re-write using a batch script that I can show the computer techy guy in the group how to make
- Every 3 years, the sticks get replaced with new ones.
- To be stored in anti static bags.
- Files on the sticks to be in common formats, or serial numbers and installers for family tree software to be included on the stick so newer generations can read the data and export it to whatever they use in the future.

Im handing out business cards there so they can bring the sticks into our workshop for their yearly re-write i guess which could be another option.

Ray Taylor

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mattwnz

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#504617 10-Aug-2011 20:04

Linuxluver:
raytaylor: I have a customer who wants to have a suitable backup copy of the various family tree files on her computer which she can pass on to the next generation of her family when the time comes.

So i was thinking about it and thought
- Blank CDROM only lasts 10 years
- Memory stick or thumb drive is probably not that reliable when presented with static electricity in a handbag

My answer was an external hard drive. I can still read a 200mb hard drive from the 80's

Can anyone else suggest any suitable media? Hard drive is the best i can come up with.

If you really want to keep something and think it's really important, put it on two of everything you can get your hands on.

I'd do 2 x USB + 2 x HD + 2x DVD-R ......and hope for the best.

Schedule in a copy to new media every 5 years (minimum). At least ONE of them will still be readable.?

I would also suggest on the cloud, or on a drive stored in a different location in another place in the world. As what happens if your house burns down, or there is a huge EQ?

mattwnz

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#504621 10-Aug-2011 20:07

raytaylor: She has also convinced me to go to her geneology society (another word for?of technologically challenged) meeting and give a short presentation on methods of computer backup with?the pros and cons of different media types.

Personally I never rely on data in a cloud to be there in a year's time - in a week yes so its good for backups that arent needed again, but i just dont trust them because of the reasons listed above. In fact I dont even trust my own ftp backup?service that i sell to my rural customers as I could go out of business myself.

So my best solution to them will be

2x usb memory sticks with
?- A yearly re-write using a batch script that I can show the computer techy guy in the group how to make
?- Every 3 years, the sticks get replaced with new ones.
?- To be stored in anti static bags.
?- Files on the sticks to be in common formats, or serial numbers and installers for family tree software to be included on the stick so newer generations can read the data and export it to whatever they use in the future.

Im handing out business cards there so they can bring the sticks into our workshop for their yearly re-write i guess which could be another option.

You can rely on cloud computing for storage with companies like google and amazon. But not with the no name brands. I follow Leos 1-2-3 method. One offsite in the cloud, one on an external drive by the computer and one in a different location.

kyhwana2

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#504629 10-Aug-2011 20:21

Yes, if you don't have a copy in the cloud offshore, make sure you send up to date copies to the north (or south) island, incase there's a big disaster or fire, etc.

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