How long does storage really last? A perplexing question.
Based on the available technology today and also taking in cost/economics, how long does a storage medium last?
I backup all the time and some things I have a backup to the backup. But I am a little perplexed on things I read about how long a backup media will last. I will list what I am using, have used or know about and I would like anyone's opinions and knowledge to fill in the holes. It's a long list, but I have given it some thought and I have friends who would like to know these answers as well.
DVDs: single layer and double layer disks. I have read that these disks were supposed to last forever. Now I read 20 years max.
BluRay: 25gb and 50gb disks. I have read that these disks were supposed to last forever. Now I read 20 years max.
Original SSD tech: Older USB 2.0 thumb drives 4, 8, 16gb sticks and now newer USB 3.0 32, 64, and 128gb sticks
USB backup drives: As old as 4 years (USB 2.0) to as new as 3 months ago (USB 3.0)
Newer SSD tech: I have two 500gb SSD drives in my computer and now I am seeing external SSD drives via USB 3.0, etc. The drives in my computer I have read last for at LEAST 3 to 5 years and some testing I have read says they should last more like 10 years or more. So assuming this is true, them the external SSD drives should last as long as well.
And finally the "cloud", I still have mixed feelings about the cloud. I have used a reliable cloud service or two before and while I see the advantages, I still wonder about their security. This is why I tend to prefer the media above as my backup. Also just how long will the cloud keep my backup safe and secure? 5 years? 10? 20?
Then you have to figure out the per GB cost versus the security versus the life expectancy of the media. Now you can see why this can get confusing. I hope my question can stay up for a short while to allow several different opinions to come in. Have fun, I look forward to reading the replies.
I backup all the time and some things I have a backup to the backup. But I am a little perplexed on things I read about how long a backup media will last. I will list what I am using, have used or know about and I would like anyone's opinions and knowledge to fill in the holes. It's a long list, but I have given it some thought and I have friends who would like to know these answers as well.
DVDs: single layer and double layer disks. I have read that these disks were supposed to last forever. Now I read 20 years max.
BluRay: 25gb and 50gb disks. I have read that these disks were supposed to last forever. Now I read 20 years max.
Original SSD tech: Older USB 2.0 thumb drives 4, 8, 16gb sticks and now newer USB 3.0 32, 64, and 128gb sticks
USB backup drives: As old as 4 years (USB 2.0) to as new as 3 months ago (USB 3.0)
Newer SSD tech: I have two 500gb SSD drives in my computer and now I am seeing external SSD drives via USB 3.0, etc. The drives in my computer I have read last for at LEAST 3 to 5 years and some testing I have read says they should last more like 10 years or more. So assuming this is true, them the external SSD drives should last as long as well.
And finally the "cloud", I still have mixed feelings about the cloud. I have used a reliable cloud service or two before and while I see the advantages, I still wonder about their security. This is why I tend to prefer the media above as my backup. Also just how long will the cloud keep my backup safe and secure? 5 years? 10? 20?
Then you have to figure out the per GB cost versus the security versus the life expectancy of the media. Now you can see why this can get confusing. I hope my question can stay up for a short while to allow several different opinions to come in. Have fun, I look forward to reading the replies.
ASKER
John when you have time, can you go more in depth? I am interested in your comments.
Why do you not trust DVD or USB keys for long term?
What do you mean by "renewed" and renewed faster?
Do you have reservations about SSDs? SSD seems to be the way to go as the tech improves HDD platter drives will be/and are disappearing.
When you say small, medium and large scale I assume you mean the years they last. If so, then equate a span of years to each scale so I have a benchmark.
Tape storage? Wow, I have not heard that mentioned in a long time.
Why do you not trust DVD or USB keys for long term?
What do you mean by "renewed" and renewed faster?
Do you have reservations about SSDs? SSD seems to be the way to go as the tech improves HDD platter drives will be/and are disappearing.
When you say small, medium and large scale I assume you mean the years they last. If so, then equate a span of years to each scale so I have a benchmark.
Tape storage? Wow, I have not heard that mentioned in a long time.
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ASKER
Thanks, John. Two questions to these comments.
1. What is your feeling about the Cloud? Forgetting the cost for a moment, cloud backup has been around for a few years now. Just how reliable are they from two standpoints. One, security. Just how safe is your data? Two, how long will it last? Theoretically it should be forever as these companies rotate drives, have redundancy, and keep up with the tech.
2. Tape drives. What are the best out there? How expensive is the tape? What capacity is the tape? I have heard that backup to tape is really SLOW.
1. What is your feeling about the Cloud? Forgetting the cost for a moment, cloud backup has been around for a few years now. Just how reliable are they from two standpoints. One, security. Just how safe is your data? Two, how long will it last? Theoretically it should be forever as these companies rotate drives, have redundancy, and keep up with the tech.
2. Tape drives. What are the best out there? How expensive is the tape? What capacity is the tape? I have heard that backup to tape is really SLOW.
Cloud is just someone else's server so it is very reliable. Servers get replaced faster than data expires. It will be a good technology in the future. Huge backups to the cloud are slow and that is why I do not go that way just yet.
Tape Drives: I will have to look up the brand. We use 1 TB LTO drives and a box of tapes (5) is a few hundred dollars. We back up large server volumes overnight and this is faster than it could be backed up to a cloud backup over normal internet lines.
Tape Drives: I will have to look up the brand. We use 1 TB LTO drives and a box of tapes (5) is a few hundred dollars. We back up large server volumes overnight and this is faster than it could be backed up to a cloud backup over normal internet lines.
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Hard drives are not a good long term storage option, while spinning they can last 5 to ten years but of course this is not guaranteed. When hard drives are shelved and not spinning their shelf life is no more than two years as they can sieze up.
Scott Gorcester MCITP
Scott Gorcester MCITP
I don't agree. HD's will last long when not in use. But again, as with every other media too, it is very important that they are stored properly.
I do not run machines for over 10 years, so my point remains that as machines are upgraded and the drives with them, hard drives make a good media for needed storage.
Better on a hard drive that I know works than on a DVD I made that expires while not looking at it. I do not use hard drives for offline storage. My clients use tape for that.
Better on a hard drive that I know works than on a DVD I made that expires while not looking at it. I do not use hard drives for offline storage. My clients use tape for that.
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Just to be clear, I do not use hard drives for storing offline data (in case you were confused by what I wrote).
Correct John, I was responding to Rindi stating he didn't agree and that hard disks should last for a long time on the shelf. I have personally seen hard drives seize after sitting idle for six months (after running for a few years) and while some may last for years on the shelf they cannot be relied on.
Scott
Scott
I gave never seen a disk that was OK prior to "shelving", not working after using it again after several years. If a disk won't work anymore after not being used, it is likely that it wasn't stored properly.
Rindi, you have never seen it and I have seen it numerous times, I am perfectly comfortable if YOU use them for this purpose! :)
Scott
Scott
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With all that above, I just move data along from machine to machine which renews the hard drives and I have data on my newest machine going back 30 years which exceeds all you listed except one device.
That is why I use Servers and large tape backup (renewing tapes as needed). Takes away the guesswork.
That is why I use Servers and large tape backup (renewing tapes as needed). Takes away the guesswork.
yap short an long term for archival and backup. the policy compliance that I see is mostly to have minimal backup of 1yr (offline) and 3mth (online).
Regardless, those figures are consideration for the overall BCP/DRP metric ie. RPO (largely for backup) and RTO (availability/redundancy of services). A very short RPO requires quite an intense backup regime and wear and tear is not tolerable. Same as a short RTO requires the uptime recovery will most probably have to consider cloud beside a DR site so that data are readily running operationally - not easy to maintain and more costly to maintain an active-active configuration for both hot-hot site
Regardless, those figures are consideration for the overall BCP/DRP metric ie. RPO (largely for backup) and RTO (availability/redundancy of services). A very short RPO requires quite an intense backup regime and wear and tear is not tolerable. Same as a short RTO requires the uptime recovery will most probably have to consider cloud beside a DR site so that data are readily running operationally - not easy to maintain and more costly to maintain an active-active configuration for both hot-hot site
ASKER
Well I wanted activity on my question abd I certainly got it! Thanks to all. It will be tough to award points, but I will do my best.
You are very welcome and I was happy to help.
For large scale needs, rotating tapes also works very well since tapes get renewed