cold storage – how many years can data last on harddisk, dvd-r, MDISC and tape?

13.Oct.2024

storage / NAS / QNAP, storage fail

https://www.crowdsupply.com/niubi/personal-cloud-2

conventional wisdom has it that user should revisit (refresh: write to a different disk than write back) data every 5x years to make sure that it can still be read
- which also helps keep the motor spinning that was sitting idle for long time
data on hard disks, flash storage, CDs, DVD-R can last 10 years and more depending on quality of hardware and if stored in dry + UV protected double metal shielded place
what about tape? “storing magnetic tapes in environments with stable humidity and temperatures. more realistic lifespan for magnetic tape is about 10 to 20 years. important to note that tape is more susceptible to wear and tear if used frequently” (src)
so how to backup?
- have at least 2x harddisks
  - weekA backup to harddiskA and put it into a cartonage box wrapt it with aluminium foil put it into another cartonage box wrap it again with aluminium foil then place it into a metal trash can with metal
  - https://www.amazon.de/Abfalleimer-Zinkeimer-Ascheeimer-Zinkm%C3%BClleimer-Oskartonne/dp/B06XGMBDDN/
  - for one week or one month backup on harddiskB then swap the disks
  - so there is always one full set of data stored offline (securely away from ransomeware) in a secure place
  - additional protection: line the metal trash can with cork that can withstand heat and securely lock it with chain and padlock so in case of fire the data will survive
still interesting for long term storage: MDISC?
- “In 2022, the NIST Interagency Report NIST IR 8387 (page 12) listed the M-Disc as an acceptable archival format rated for 100+ years, citing the aforementioned 2009 and 2012 tests by the US Department of Defense and French National Laboratory of Metrology and Testing as sources” (Wiki)
- 5x disks with 100GBytes each cost 80 bucks, so 0.8 bucks per 1Gbyte
- https://www.amazon.de/BW-16D1HT-interner-Blu-Ray-Brenner-schwarz/dp/B00DRHOL44/

costs of long term cold storage?

energy costs not (yet) considered pure hardware costs as of 2024-10:
second hand harddisk:
- highly recommended very reliable HGST HUS726040AL and other HGST HUS
  - prices vary widely from 30 to 120 bucks, let’s assume 50 bucks per 4TB
  - = 0.01250 per 1Gbyte which makes it almost as cheap as LTO5 WITH the additional benefit of fast random access X-D
Tape:
- LTO5 second hand for 15 bucks per 1.5TByte
  - = 0.01066 bucks per 1GByte
DVD-R
- 100x 4.7 DVD-R Verbatim cost 36.64
  - = 0.07795 bucks per 1Gbyte
MDISC
- 5x disks with 100GBytes each cost 80 bucks
  - = 0.8 bucks per 1Gbyte
  - yes they cost 10x of DVD-R but if they really last that long? it’s pretty amazing

Links:

superuser.com

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