MissConstrueApr 23

Hey, weird tech #hardware question.

What is the best, most reliable, long term, but still easily accessible, non-cloud storage option for massive gigabytes of data?

Like, I have a xxx terabyte backup drive, but someone recently told me that those aren't reliable long term, unless consistently powered up, as bits can disappear, corrupting files. (It seemed crazy, but other posts seem to confirm it.)

So, if not xternal SSD, are lots and lots of cd/dvds still the most reliable storage media? Surely no?

#datastorage #backups #archives

Show threadBrian Bender

@MissConstrue

Agree, as others have already noted, that recordable CD/DVD are probably one of your worst options. (and any sunlight-exposure makes them even worse)

The bit about unpowered backup drives I think is specific to SSDs -- data-center -focused ones supposedly can start to bit-rot in less than a year if left unpowered, others have longer data lifetimes but still measured in single-digit years.

Spinning-rust HDDs are more reliable without power, but still subject to gradual loss (as well as mechanical failure). Best bet with HDDs is some kind of array like ZFS that does periodic scrubbing, so media errors can be detected and corrected right away, and individual failed drives can be replaced.

But the winner for lotta-lotta-bytes storage is really still tape (with climate-control), as far as I'm aware. And multiple copies, stored in different locations if data is really important.

Apr 23 at 2:28amWeb
Show threadBrian BenderApr 23

@MissConstrue

FWIW, my compromise (I have no tape drive) is I have a 4-bay NAS (proprietary , Synology) that does do regular data-scrubbing across its array.

I back up all my individual endpoint stuff to that NAS, as well as have some other things stored only on it.

Then I back up the NAS itself to set of single bigger HDDs that I rotate offsite, less often than I probably should .

Show threadLeszekApr 23
@milomb @MissConstrue we use tapes a lot at work for cold storage (backup data with option to recover but rare access). It works very well, but takes hours/days to get the data back.
Do you know any reliable tape storage working as a service?
Show threadBrian BenderApr 23

@lpryszcz
I don’t, sorry. I think Iron Mountain was the big one back in the day*, don’t know if that’s still the case.

* in the USA.