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October 27th, 2008, 09:07 PM
#1
Backing up to DVDs
Hey everyone, I've come to the realization that I probably need to start backing up my hard drive before it dies. I don't need a back up hard drive, as the data I am backing up does not change. So i'm backing up up to dvds. The question is, what measures can I take to keep the disks in working order, physical (ex: dry environment) or software-wise (ex: backup software) for an extended period of time (until I need to restore data)? I'm not stuck on dvds, they're just the cheapest way to back things up, and I figured if I didn't use them after I burned them untill I had to restore the data they would last a long time if I go through the correct process of backing up the files.
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October 27th, 2008, 09:23 PM
#2
Junior Member
All backup media decays over time, you backup to be able to restore so just make a restore schedule to restore a few test files from your media and stick with it.
Light, humidity and moisture are the bane of DVD's so look for storage solutions that elminate those problems.
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October 28th, 2008, 08:24 AM
#3
One of the biggest factors i have come across regarding lenght of life for CD/DVD's is the manufacturer.
You can buy cheap discs, and they die in 6 months time or dont even work on the first burn.
There are SOME brands that offer a lifetime guarantee on their media. It may cost you extra, but it is worth considering.
Please note that there will ALWAYS be inperfections and circumstances which will cause even the most secure data to be destroyed, least of all on removable media - But making sure you go with a good brand will put you above the rest.
CTO
"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of genius --- and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction."
- Albert Einstein
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October 28th, 2008, 08:40 AM
#4
Oliver's Law:
Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
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October 28th, 2008, 08:51 AM
#5
Your best bet would be a Maxtor Drive Solution. (OneTouch Drives)
http://www.maxtor.com/en/external-dr...al-hard-drive/
CTO
"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of genius --- and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction."
- Albert Einstein
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November 1st, 2008, 06:26 PM
#6
how about a nice hardware or software raid 1?
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November 1st, 2008, 08:28 PM
#7
raid=expensive
dvd=cheap
"...to give correctly is to give them what they need from us, for it would not be skillful to bring gifts to anyone that are in no way needed."
--Socrates
*Einstein Would Be Proud*
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November 2nd, 2008, 03:31 PM
#8
Hi metguru,
I had this issue during the great Millennium Bug scam
Back then, we were using CDs rather than DVDs. I selected Kodak media because there was a requirement for extended archiving properties.
I have just found this:
http://www.aprmedia.co.uk/product.ph...3&r=googlebase
The latest Kodak DVD archival material which is supposed to have a life of 100 years. It is expensive though.............. I would be inclined to check other manufacturers for their archival material. Also, price getting another drive.
The reason I suggest another drive is at least it will allow you to reliably update your backup, and I am wary of rewritable media.
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November 3rd, 2008, 12:11 AM
#9
Originally Posted by nihil
The latest Kodak DVD archival material which is supposed to have a life of 100 years. It is expensive though.............. I would be inclined to check other manufacturers for their archival material. Also, price getting another drive.
Yea, I have thought about that. But realistically, I'm thinking within the next 10 years give or take, I'll be able to copy these disks to a new medium, like blue ray or something not so volatile. Point being, I'm looking for something to last, but it doesn't have to last my entire life.
And yes, C:\Saw is correct, it is static data, so I'll only need to back it up once, and store it in a low humidity low light container I've yet to find.
The problem is, there doesn't seem to be any conclusive evidence as to how long disks last (I know this also depends on the manufacturer).
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November 3rd, 2008, 07:58 PM
#10
OK, you don't say how much data you have, but I would have thought that a lunchbox would make a suitable storage container?.......... just make sure that it is opaque.
As for life then please look at these:
http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/techno...cdcaretips.htm
NIST........................... and CLIR:
http://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/pub121/sec4.html
Basically, if you store them right they should be good for the 10 years or so that you are envisaging. To be sure, just make another set after 5 years? Make sure that you use good quality media, and store them vertically in crystal cases. Do be careful what you write on them with
10 years is a long time in IT hardware and technology terms so I don't think that an additional harddrive is a particularly good solution. I had to "mothball" hardware for my project to make sure that the data would be accessible in 30 years' time.
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