Backup is a word that has become synonymous with online solutions. Having a physical copy of your data in the form of optical media is a wise decision: it DE-centralizes the data and means that access to it is not dependent on your computer, it removes dependence on third-party backup services, and it establishes a means by which data can be independently transferred to a third party.
There are two main issues when it comes to choosing which optical media you'll use to archive your data: the storage capacity of your media must be large enough to serve its intended purpose (data needs have increased rapidly over time); and the optical media you use must be reliable and able to safely store your data throughout the time period you anticipate. Blu-Ray, DVD-R and CD-R are the three current optical media choices for digitally archiving your data.
The CD-R - As a general rule, the storage capacity of a CD-R is 700mb. CD-R specifications were initially published in 1988, but the price of a CD-R recorder didn't drop below $1000 until the Philips 4020i launched in 1995. Now, however, virtually every computer includes a CD-R recorder. The average lifespan of a CD-R is about ten years, according to research conducted by J Perdereau. Many users worry about data degradation with CD-Rs, but this research shows their worries are largely unfounded.
It's important to remember that problems with optical media are usually caused by issues related to burning the data onto the disk. As soon as you burn data onto an optical media disk, check to make sure the data has copied correctly.
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.
The DVD-R - The storage capacity of most DVD-Rs is 4.7GBs of data. It is, however, possible to obtain double-layer, double-sided DVD-R discs with up to 17.08GBs of storage capacity. Disc quality has a significant impact on longevity, but research has shown that the lifespan of DVD-Rs ranges from 2 to 15 years. According to the NIST (the National Institute of Standards and Technology), the duration of archival usability of DVD-R discs is much more variable than CD-R discs. So, if you don't need the DVD-R's larger capacity, the CD-R is probably the better option.
Blu-Ray - A normal single layer Blu-Ray Disc holds 25GB of data, while a double-sided one holds 50GB. Commercially Blu-Ray has not caught on as much as was earlier predicted, largely due to the quick growth of broadband speeds and the rise of online streaming in the United States. But as an archival format it offers the greatest capacity of any of the current mainstream optical media solutions. In one French Study into its longevity it was concluded that Blu-Ray (HTL) discs produced by Panasonic and Sony offered the greatest reliability for archiving, and that Blu-Ray (LTH) discs should be avoided for this purpose.
All three of these optical media storage solutions are inexpensive and easy to use for data backup. They're portable, and they eliminate the need to be completely dependent on third-party backup services. That being said, there are uncertainties about their appropriateness for long-term data storage. Having a physical backup copy of your data on one of these three optical media formats should not be the only step you take. An online backup of your data (in addition to your optical media backup) would also be a smart choice to make.
There are two main issues when it comes to choosing which optical media you'll use to archive your data: the storage capacity of your media must be large enough to serve its intended purpose (data needs have increased rapidly over time); and the optical media you use must be reliable and able to safely store your data throughout the time period you anticipate. Blu-Ray, DVD-R and CD-R are the three current optical media choices for digitally archiving your data.
The CD-R - As a general rule, the storage capacity of a CD-R is 700mb. CD-R specifications were initially published in 1988, but the price of a CD-R recorder didn't drop below $1000 until the Philips 4020i launched in 1995. Now, however, virtually every computer includes a CD-R recorder. The average lifespan of a CD-R is about ten years, according to research conducted by J Perdereau. Many users worry about data degradation with CD-Rs, but this research shows their worries are largely unfounded.
It's important to remember that problems with optical media are usually caused by issues related to burning the data onto the disk. As soon as you burn data onto an optical media disk, check to make sure the data has copied correctly.
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.
The DVD-R - The storage capacity of most DVD-Rs is 4.7GBs of data. It is, however, possible to obtain double-layer, double-sided DVD-R discs with up to 17.08GBs of storage capacity. Disc quality has a significant impact on longevity, but research has shown that the lifespan of DVD-Rs ranges from 2 to 15 years. According to the NIST (the National Institute of Standards and Technology), the duration of archival usability of DVD-R discs is much more variable than CD-R discs. So, if you don't need the DVD-R's larger capacity, the CD-R is probably the better option.
Blu-Ray - A normal single layer Blu-Ray Disc holds 25GB of data, while a double-sided one holds 50GB. Commercially Blu-Ray has not caught on as much as was earlier predicted, largely due to the quick growth of broadband speeds and the rise of online streaming in the United States. But as an archival format it offers the greatest capacity of any of the current mainstream optical media solutions. In one French Study into its longevity it was concluded that Blu-Ray (HTL) discs produced by Panasonic and Sony offered the greatest reliability for archiving, and that Blu-Ray (LTH) discs should be avoided for this purpose.
All three of these optical media storage solutions are inexpensive and easy to use for data backup. They're portable, and they eliminate the need to be completely dependent on third-party backup services. That being said, there are uncertainties about their appropriateness for long-term data storage. Having a physical backup copy of your data on one of these three optical media formats should not be the only step you take. An online backup of your data (in addition to your optical media backup) would also be a smart choice to make.
About the Author:
CD Aces contributed information on blank CDs. 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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