Re: [ARSCLIST] Hard disk drives and DAT

["Richard L. Hess" <arclists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 08:27 PM 2007-03-27, Eric Jacobs wrote:
> I've been following this thread closely, and think a valuable
> exercise would be to create detailed cost models for different
> storage scenarios.  Scenarios might include:
>
>    - Hard disk on a shelf
>    - Optical media (gold CD-R, DVD-R, Blue Ray)
>    - Managed storage (mirrored on-line storage, tape back-up)
>
> Common to each storage scenario:
>
>    - Model three different size collections (1 TB, 10 TB, 50 TB)
>    - Model a 50-year or 100-year life cycle
>    - Make reasonable assumptions for media checking, refreshing,
>      migration, and physical storage
>    - Make assumptions about density and technology evolution
>      (Moore's law-ish)
>
> Maybe there are other storage scenarios to be considered, and
> other details to be considered, but you get the idea.


Good idea, but it's daunting, really and there are so many variables. 
I could see this taking a couple of days to even get a first 
approximation for ten years. It is also interesting to extend this 
into the petabyte region for the video and film people.

Things to consider when you crunch this:
(1) For the optical media solution you need to take into account storage space.
(2) For the hard drives on the shelf, consider the "Active Shelf" 
appliance that has
     e-SATA ports every inch or so that actually connects to the 
drives and lets
     you access them. Jim Wheeler and I have been discussing this off-list.
(3) Consider power consumption.

All factors to consider.

Cheers,

Richard


Richard L. Hess                   email: richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Aurora, Ontario, Canada       (905) 713 6733     1-877-TAPE-FIX
Detailed contact information: http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm
Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes.