What are the best DVD drives and media for data archival?

[Aztech]

I know DVD-RAM is supposed to be geared towards data archival. I'm reading more about that right now. Does anyone have information about +R/RW vs -R/RW for data archival?

I want solid drives and media to maximize successful reading and writing. This is for work and cost is not a factor when it comes to our critical data.

Thanks.

 

[Roguestar]

If cost isn't a factor and it's archived critical data, don't use DVDs. Use backup tapes, or at least cloned and stored hard drives.

 

[CalvinHobbes]

Whatever you choose make multiple copies. I'm not sure I would trust DVD media to critical data.

I've had great success with NEC and Pioneer burners. For media, I would use one of the top tier companies. Look at TDK Armor media as well.

CDRLabs.com has lots of good info.

 

[Aztech]

We want to use DVDs. They're simple and fast. We can always make multiple copies. We've been using tapes for years, but for the amount of data we like to put on a media, it's not really worth it. Plus, I wanna finally get away from SCSI and I don't know of any IDE tape drives.

I'm going to check out CDRLabs now...

 

[StopSign]

Taiyo Yuden is good stuff, but you gotta order that online. Basically anything Made in Japan is good.

For non-MIJ media, CMC versions of the MCC004 media is good. It's usually branded as Verbatim 16x +R. However, those sometimes will contain Prodisc instead of CMC.

 

[Auric]

Yes, DVD-RAM is superior in every way and the premium is happily negligible these days. Cartridges are an option if the media will be handled frequently. In that case the choice of drives narrow but at the same time eliminates junk. Likewise, eschewing media from other than Hitachi-Maxell and Matsushita-Panasonic (or rebrands) will avoid problems.

If cost (and wide compatabilty) are really not factors then go for UDO instead.