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.
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.
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.
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.
Most cases of CD-R data degradation are the result of dyes and the disk's reflective surface. Improvements have been made with regard to reflective surfaces and dyes, but double-check the manufacturer's statements regarding longevity. If you need long-term digital storage, consider disks with a gold-based reflective surface. They'll be a better choice because they won't oxidize like disks with a silver-based reflective surface.
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.
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.
These storage solutions are cheap and they all provide an easy mechanism to create a digital archive of your data. Each type of disk is portable and reduces your reliance on a third-party archiving service. There are, however, some questions about long-term data storage using optical media. That's why I recommend having an online digital backup service in place as well as creating a physical digital archive of your data on one of these three types of optical media disks.
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.
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.
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.
Most cases of CD-R data degradation are the result of dyes and the disk's reflective surface. Improvements have been made with regard to reflective surfaces and dyes, but double-check the manufacturer's statements regarding longevity. If you need long-term digital storage, consider disks with a gold-based reflective surface. They'll be a better choice because they won't oxidize like disks with a silver-based reflective surface.
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.
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.
These storage solutions are cheap and they all provide an easy mechanism to create a digital archive of your data. Each type of disk is portable and reduces your reliance on a third-party archiving service. There are, however, some questions about long-term data storage using optical media. That's why I recommend having an online digital backup service in place as well as creating a physical digital archive of your data on one of these three types of optical media disks.
About the Author:
John Franks at CD Aces contributed information on businesses recording on CD. See CD Aces 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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