Backup comprises an important part of online solutions. It's smart to keep a digital copy of your data on some type of physical optical media. Doing so eliminates your dependence on a third-party backup service, provides a way for you to transfer data to someone else, and allows you to access your data using virtually any computer.
The challenges that go along with choosing optical media to store data come down to two main issues: 1) Data storage needs have mushroomed in size; media needs to have sufficient storage capacity to be practical. 2) Media needs to be sufficiently robust to safely store data over the time period when it will be accessed. The choices of optical media for digital archiving currently come down to three types including CD-R, DVD-R, and Blue Ray.
CD-R - These typically offer storage of 700mb. The specification for CD-R was first published in 1988, but it wasn't until 1995 that the first recorder that cost less than a $1000 was introduced (the Philips 4020i). But now CD-R recorders are ubiquitous on virtually all computers. The average CD-R discs have been shown to typically last for 10 years, according to research by J Perdereau, so many people's fears about degradation are largely unfounded.
The fact that most storage problems encountered with optical media result from issues connected with the initial burning of the disc is something to always bear in mind. That's why it's so important to immediately verify the data on any newly burned optical media disk.
The two main types of degradation that occur after the initial burn are because of the dyes and the reflective surface. Both of these have improved over the years, but you should still double check manufacturer claims as to life expectancy. For longer term data storage it is a good idea to look at gold-based reflective surfaces on your CD-Rs (as opposed to silver), because they do not suffer from oxidation.
DVD-R - Most DVD-R disks are capable of storing up to 4.7GBs, but the double-layer, double-sided variety can handle up to 17.08GB of data. Although quality has a tremendous effect on disk lifespan, testing indicates that DVD-Rs will last between 2 and 15 years. The variability in DVD-R archival lifespan is greater than what is seen with CD-R disks, according to tests runs by NIST (the National Institute of Standards and Technology). A CD-R is probably a better choice for backing up your data unless you need the larger storage capacity of a DVD-R.
The Blu-Ray - A single-layer Blu-Ray disc typically has a 25GB storage capacity, but the double-sided version can hold up to 50GB of data. Early predictions for the popularity of Blu-Ray haven't panned out, and their use isn't as widespread as anticipated. This is probably the result of rapidly increasing broadband speeds and the growing popularity of online streaming in the US. However, Blu-Ray discs provide the largest storage capacity of any of today's three optical media archiving solutions. French research into Blu-Ray lifespan determined that Sony and Panasonic Blu-Ray (HTL) discs were the most reliable for archival purposes. The same study concluded that Blu-Ray (LTH) discs were not appropriate for digital archiving purposes.
Each of the different storage solutions offers a cheap and easy way of backing up your data. They allow you to have your data in a properly portable format and release you from total dependence on external services. However, while you should have a backup copy of your data in a physical archival format such as the three I have described, it should not be your only backup due to uncertainties about long-term data storage. So you would also be wise to additionally have an online digital backup in place as well.
The challenges that go along with choosing optical media to store data come down to two main issues: 1) Data storage needs have mushroomed in size; media needs to have sufficient storage capacity to be practical. 2) Media needs to be sufficiently robust to safely store data over the time period when it will be accessed. The choices of optical media for digital archiving currently come down to three types including CD-R, DVD-R, and Blue Ray.
CD-R - These typically offer storage of 700mb. The specification for CD-R was first published in 1988, but it wasn't until 1995 that the first recorder that cost less than a $1000 was introduced (the Philips 4020i). But now CD-R recorders are ubiquitous on virtually all computers. The average CD-R discs have been shown to typically last for 10 years, according to research by J Perdereau, so many people's fears about degradation are largely unfounded.
The fact that most storage problems encountered with optical media result from issues connected with the initial burning of the disc is something to always bear in mind. That's why it's so important to immediately verify the data on any newly burned optical media disk.
The two main types of degradation that occur after the initial burn are because of the dyes and the reflective surface. Both of these have improved over the years, but you should still double check manufacturer claims as to life expectancy. For longer term data storage it is a good idea to look at gold-based reflective surfaces on your CD-Rs (as opposed to silver), because they do not suffer from oxidation.
DVD-R - Most DVD-R disks are capable of storing up to 4.7GBs, but the double-layer, double-sided variety can handle up to 17.08GB of data. Although quality has a tremendous effect on disk lifespan, testing indicates that DVD-Rs will last between 2 and 15 years. The variability in DVD-R archival lifespan is greater than what is seen with CD-R disks, according to tests runs by NIST (the National Institute of Standards and Technology). A CD-R is probably a better choice for backing up your data unless you need the larger storage capacity of a DVD-R.
The Blu-Ray - A single-layer Blu-Ray disc typically has a 25GB storage capacity, but the double-sided version can hold up to 50GB of data. Early predictions for the popularity of Blu-Ray haven't panned out, and their use isn't as widespread as anticipated. This is probably the result of rapidly increasing broadband speeds and the growing popularity of online streaming in the US. However, Blu-Ray discs provide the largest storage capacity of any of today's three optical media archiving solutions. French research into Blu-Ray lifespan determined that Sony and Panasonic Blu-Ray (HTL) discs were the most reliable for archival purposes. The same study concluded that Blu-Ray (LTH) discs were not appropriate for digital archiving purposes.
Each of the different storage solutions offers a cheap and easy way of backing up your data. They allow you to have your data in a properly portable format and release you from total dependence on external services. However, while you should have a backup copy of your data in a physical archival format such as the three I have described, it should not be your only backup due to uncertainties about long-term data storage. So you would also be wise to additionally have an online digital backup in place as well.
About the Author:
See http://www.cdaces.com/cdr-for-business.html for more information. CD Aces has been in the CD and DVD business for over 15 years working with blank media, duplication, and replication.
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