Recommendations: On archiving data in a server.

[DAM]

Well, our novell server has stuff from many many moons ago, and I am thinking of just taking it off the server and putting it on a cd or something like that. However, I want to know what you guys think? If I do burn them onto cds then I have to keep a log of what cd has what, like a dir listing of all files and stuff of that matter. I was thinking of putting it all in a tape drive however, that will be a bit contraproductive since if someone wants an old file I will be the only one that can get it for them, and I rather just give people a cd and tell them, here find it.

Well, what should I do? How should I archive files? by date? by size? etc.




thanks yall.



dam()

 

[Beau]

Get an NAS to put them on. It's readily available, but doesn't take up server space. (NAS = network attached storage: ie: Snap! server from Quantum)

 

Make sure you make backups of the backups.
Tape would probably be the easiest to archive from a server, but a CD would be the most practicle if users are going to need regular access to thoes files.

 

[Windogg]

CDs and CD-RW are not good for long term storage. Despite "100 year shelflife" many CDs will be rendered unsable in a few years. Tape is the best medium for long tern storage since it will hold data indefinitley under good storage conditions. Right now I just move the data to a less loaded server. the NAS solution is also a good one since an appliance is easier to manage than a full server. The prices are coming down on alot on them.

I would personally spend $700 - $800 and get a basic Celeron BX system w/ 2 x 100GB 5400RPM HDDs in RAID1.

Windogg

 

[kranky]

Here's a rare event - I disagree with Windogg. Tape will not reliably store data indefinitely, even under ideal storage conditions. How to store data long-term is a problem for many people.

I have been successful in using 9-track tapes that are 15 years old, but not all the time. They were recorded at low density and stored in climate-controlled conditions - an ideal combination. I've talked to others who couldn't read their tapes after 5 years.

If you use tape, how can you be sure that the hardware/software needed to read them will exist when you want the data back? Tape formats change a lot. I think you have a much better chance of recovery with CD-R - quality ones, not the 5/$1 type. At least it's a non-magnetic storage medium.

Better yet, use both. What is the value of the data if it is irretrievably lost? That will help you decide what to do.

 

[Beau]

Or you could just use a NAS... or attatch a *spare* hard drive to your server, back it up on it, and store it in a static controlled env. I agree with above in that tape is not exactly a reliable media to store it on, and CD's don't last as long as they say.

 

[DAM]

awesome info guys, thanks!


Hmm, so what quality tapes are these you speak off? I am really leaning towards making two copies on cdr of everything and putting one copy in a vault.


So about organization, how do you know what cd has what? I was thinking of putting everything in once big folder getting a dir listing and puttin that in a text file and put that file in the cd, then zip up the folder and burn one big zip file and one txt file.




dam(suggestions)