Steven Schuchart Jr., analyst with Current Analysis and Contributing Editor for Network Computing Magazine, recently wrote an article called State of the Art: Long-Term Storage Strategy for Network Computing. In it, he discusses the limits of current storage solutions, the inevitability of hardware and software obsolescence and the evitable data migration that bad backup decisions create. Just how can individuals, companies and enterprises ensure future access to critical archived data and what technologies are available today to make the entire process painless? Join Steven and the geeks to discuss home storage and backup solutions this Friday on GeekSpeak.
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Steven Schuchart Jr., analyst with Current Analysis and Contributing Editor for Network Computing Magazine, recently wrote an article called State of the Art: Long-Term Storage Strategy for Network Computing. In it, he discusses the limits of current storage solutions, the inevitability of hardware and software obsolescence and the evitable data migration that bad backup decisions create. Just how can individuals, companies and enterprises ensure future access to critical archived data and what technologies are available today to make the entire process painless? Join Steven and the geeks to discuss home storage and backup solutions.
recommended for burning data to CD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW or DVD-R/RW discs.
With Nero, you can archive your data, make a video CD or DVD, make a
Photo CD or Slide Show, make a Backup of your personal data and even
copy DVD movies using Nero Digital
Smaller USB flash devices and flash cards are great for moving data
between computers quickly. They are typically are available in 32MB to
256MB sizes and can even run into the gigabyte range. However, don’t
count on these devices for critical data as they are not reliable backup
solutions.
DVD burners, either DVD-R/-RW
or DVD+R/+RW, are
both good backup solutions for home users. Drives that support both
standards are readily available today at good prices. Both formats hold
approximately 4.7GB of data and both take about an hour to burn a full
DVD disc at 1x speed. As noted on the show, DVD media does not last as
long as people expected. Only use branded CD and DVD media from
companies that you recognize – it can make the difference when storing
data over long periods of time. Also, even though error-correction
technology on DVD discs is nearly 10 times better than CDs, the higher
compression used by DVD makes scratches in the media more of a problem
compared to CDs, which is why DVD discs should be handled carefully. As
for which format is better, the argument depends on what article you are
referring to and who you are speaking with as the two formats were
actually two warring factions until the new multi-format drives arrived.
Compatibility is now just dependent upon choosing the right type of DVD
media based on your other DVD hardware needs.
To increase the compatibility of your CD and DVD discs with older
drives, use the ‘Write once or Finalize CD’ feature; even though it
means no further writing to the disc is possible, it will increase
compatibility. This feature is best used when filling a CD or DVD
completely. Use the ‘Multisession disc’ feature when you want to add
more data to the disc at a later time.
Always take the time to catalog the data you backup onto CD and DVD.
This is very important, especially later after you have stacks of discs
as there just is never enough space for proper written labels on the top
of the disc media.
Steven J. Schuchart Jr., joined Current Analysis in 2004 as a Senior Analyst
of Enterprise Infrastructure, where he is responsible for analysis of Ethernet switching
and storage networking. Prior to joining Current Analysis, Steven served as the Technology
Editor for Network Computing Magazine and oversaw the Storage and Server Technology section
of the publication. Prior to that, Steven served as the Network Architect of Information
Systems for ShopKo Stores, Inc. Often called upon by Network Computing Magazine, and Storage
Pipeline Magazine, Steven is considered an industry expert in the areas of enterprise
infrastructure, storage technology, and networking.
