ADSM-L

Re: Tape/Optical Storage Lifetimes

2015-10-04 17:30:27
Subject: Re: Tape/Optical Storage Lifetimes
From: ADSM: Dist Stor Manager [mailto:ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU]On Behalf Of
To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
>Does anyone know of a website/document that summarises the certified
lifetimes
>for the various kinds of media available on the market today.  I am
especially
>interested in media that will last >50years

In general, high quality tapes stored in environmentally controlled
conditions
and not overly used will easily last that long (as witness very old magnetic
audio recordings).  But the standard problem with keeping media that long
is:
How are you going to then retrieve the data?  Technology relentlessly
advances,
rendering today's equipment obsolete after 5 years or so.  Do you really
expect
to have your current tape drive technology under vendor maintenance for the
next
50 years?
    Richard Sims, BU
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