<p>Cheap 40tb zfs raidz2 that backs up to crash plan. ~9 tb in and no problems over the past ~ year and that includes moving. </p>
<p>from gcs8's mobile device.</p>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Jul 28, 2012 11:20 AM, "JD" <<a href="mailto:jdp@algoloma.com">jdp@algoloma.com</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
On 07/28/2012 12:59 PM, Andrew Wade wrote:<br>
> I am working on archiving some of my pictures/videos/etc. through the years.<br>
> I'm trying to decide on what storage media would be best for this.<br>
><br>
> The main consensus that I've seen on the internet is that the optical disc<br>
> (Dvd-DL) is still going to be the winner. The problem is that once you get a<br>
> scratch on it, you may not be able to access that 1MB picture. I've had this<br>
> happen before.<br>
><br>
> What do you all think about the following mediums for 10+ year (and the tech<br>
> format itself still being around - like zip disk, etc.)<br>
><br>
> SDHC/XD Memory Cards (Fat32)<br>
> Optical Disk (DVD +-R, CD, DVD-DL)<br>
> Hard Drive (Put in storage; has to be in a filesystem that supports >4GB for<br>
> individual files)<br>
> USB Flash Drive(s) (Fat 32)<br>
><br>
> and any others.<br>
<br>
The total amount and average file sizes of the data involved matters a bunch.<br>
<br>
I don't expect any media to be around 10 yrs from now and there's pretty much<br>
zero chance that anything I put on media of any type today will be alive AND<br>
TRUSTED in 10 yrs. Do you still trust those SCSI2 or IDE drives from 2002? I don't.<br>
<br>
For important data, I need<br>
* 3 copies<br>
* in at least 2 different physical locations over 500 miles apart,<br>
* on at least 2 different media types<br>
* that are all verified periodically to ensure no data rot. Usually once a year<br>
is enough.<br>
<br>
For really critical data, keep a local backup, a remote backup 3 states away and<br>
local optical backup with par2 files to watch for bitrot. At the first sign of<br>
bitrot on any of the media, I assume they will all fail shortly and switch in<br>
new media. Reburning a fresh optical disk with new par2 files finishes out this<br>
safety net. There are probably more copies of this critical data around, but I<br>
only maintain 3. These are backups, not the hot-copy used daily. If I were<br>
backing up DVDs or Bluray media, the original media disks would never be touched<br>
by anyone after the backup copies were made the same day the new media arrived.<br>
<br>
The availability of par2 files has saved some important family photos and home<br>
movies about 5 times the last 10 yrs. dd_rescue (or the other version) is not<br>
enough.<br>
<br>
For really, really important data that doesn't eat tons of storage, like the<br>
different KeePassX databases, I store them in at least 6 locations and 4 media<br>
types - flash, hdd, remote hdd, and optical with par2 files. The optical does<br>
become out of date for a few passwords, but when you have hundreds, that isn't<br>
too important.<br>
<br>
Obviously and sensitive critical files are encrypted with long, random, pass<br>
phrases that I don't know. The same for backups to any portable devices -<br>
truecrypt volumes rock.<br>
<br>
For 20+ TB, I'd probably use tape instead of optical or perhaps that total<br>
amount needs to be raised to 50TB? Bluray could be cost effective if the media<br>
costs work out and enough writers and readers were available in the business.<br>
>From a personal use standpoint, I think Bluray is broken, so I don't have any in<br>
the house. Eventually, I might install a few writers should the media become<br>
cost effective and convenient when compared to DVD-DL - it has been really close<br>
on the cost side, but the convenience is still an issue for me. Considering I<br>
purchased 2 DVD-DL writers in 2012, I have doubts bluray will be used anytime<br>
soon here. I'm stubborn that way, sometimes to my own detriment.<br>
<br>
We all know that RAID is not a backup, since having 2+ copies of corrupted data<br>
doesn't help anyone with a restore. ;)<br>
<br>
I can't wait to read what others are doing for this problem.<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
Ale mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Ale@ale.org">Ale@ale.org</a><br>
<a href="http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale" target="_blank">http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale</a><br>
See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at<br>
<a href="http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo" target="_blank">http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo</a><br>
</blockquote></div>