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Best way to store files long term?
Hi! I’m thinking about keeping important files on external hard drives and was wondering how reliable that is long term. Do you use external HDDs for storage, or would you recommend something else?
Thanks for any advice!
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2 Replies
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Consider LTO tape for long term ‘cold’ storage. Tapes are more stable/reliable over time than HDD mechanisms, which don’t have particularly long life spans. The big benefit of LTO is the cost / TB however, with LTO-9 tapes storing 18TB and LTO-10 (brand new generation) storing 30TB and 40TB depending on which media you purchase.
An LTO-9 tape is about USD 90 currently.
Of course, you need an LTO drive and perhaps software to manage your library of tapes and catalog of files on those tapes, since tapes don’t behave like HDD’s.
Worth checking out in more detail.
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I have been using optical media for backups since 1997. I started with 700 MB CDs and later upgraded to 4.7 GB DVD+R discs. My favorite brand is Verbatim (Media ID: MCC), and I use ASUS DVD burners.
I always burn two copies of each disc. In addition, I keep all the data on a hard drive for quick access and another copy on Google Drive in case of a local disaster.
I don’t rely solely on mechanical devices or electronics. Even when used properly, capacitors, motors, and NAND cells will eventually fail someday. Optical discs, however, can outlive me if they are stored correctly.
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