Follow-on from a discussion with friends:-
If you needed to archive 1TB of data in a way that the data will be readable in 40 years, how would you do it?
My thoughts:-
1) Two or three 2TB hard drives each containing a copy of the data with additional PAR redundancy data (remember QuickPAR?)
Risk: HD's may not spin if left unpowered for 30+ years.
2) Tape backup
Risk: Possible costly barrier to entry. Unknown longevity.
3) Multiple blu-ray discs.
Risk: Disc rot.
Thoughts?
@DigitalStefan "On a budget" - 1-3 1TB hard drives, and 1-2 Solid State drives.
With a plan to transfer the data to new mediums every 5 years or so.
We're close enough to crystal storage technology that you'd only have to re-backup the data once or twice before you'd have permanent WORM storage that should last a million+ years.
Also remember, if the data is truly needing to be saved, a 3-2-1 backup policy should be implemented.
@yestergearpc I've just learned about "M-Disc" storage, which is basically a Blu-Ray or DVD-R with 100+ year retention... although of course the company responsible for this claim is likely to not be around to honour a warranty if you get to 50 years and find failed discs.
@DigitalStefan "5D Optical" has been in development for quite some time. First demonstrated in 2013, and a new demonstration last year, I think we should see some form of viable commercial product within a decade or so.
Basically burning data into crystals. Barring physical damage, the theoretical lifespan would be "eternity".
I'm with you on the M-disc claims. I'm pressing X to Doubt.
@yestergearpc I'll believe in 5D crystal magic when I can buy a drive and get some media to play with!