Another aspect of the ADSM paradigm is the archive.  Archives are usually
not the long term retention of all data, but rather specific data.  For
instance your payroll information or other regulated stuff.  This is
distinct from saving a backup of "everything" for a long time.  In fact,
saving everything can be quite dangerous if litigation should appear.
 Also, how many archived copies of Microsoft Word does one need?

You're right, if you try to archive everything, the problem is very hard.
 If you try to archive only that which you actually need to archive and
leave the rest behind, the problem is much simpler.  When you boil it down,
you are probably required to keep very little data, would like to keep
slightly more than that, and don't want to keep the vast majority.  I wrote
a paper about a year ago titled Why Backup is Backup, Archive is Archive
and Backup Ain't Archive.  If anyone wants a refresher copy, send me
private mail and I'll be happy to send it to you.

Kelly Lipp
Storage Solutions Specialists, Inc.
lipp AT storsol DOT com
www.storsol.com
(719) 531-5926