fbraab@leuze-owen.de (Fritz B. Raab) (08/14/90)
How long does a tape or dikette reliably hold data ? Is there a scientific publication or even vendor data about that topic ? Who does know details ? I am responsible for media, backup etc. in our company. I would be insterested in some paper or other information . (-: Fritz B. Raab | email: fbraab@leuze-owen.de :-) (-: Leuze electronic, Abt. TDV | old: ..uunet!unido!leuze!fbraab :-) (-: In der Braike 1 | fbraab@leuze.uucp :-) (-: D7311 Owen / Teck W.Germany | voice: +49 7021 573185 fax: 573200 :-)
buckland@cheddar.ucs.ubc.ca (Tony Buckland) (08/14/90)
In article <1472@leuze-owen.de> fbraab@leuze-owen.de (Fritz B. Raab) writes: >How long does a tape or dikette reliably hold data ? Regarding magnetic tape, reel type (I don't have long enough experience with cartridge type yet to comment): reliable is always a relative term. Since magnetic tape is outside the filesave scheme you are (or should) be using, it has no backup unless you provide one. The first rule, therefore, is always to duplicate any magnetic tape as a backup. Secondly, use (at least mount and read) a magnetic tape every six months. This will leave it properly tensioned on the reel and reduce the chance of a read error due to stretching or other physical distortion. Thirdly, store tapes hanging vertically, to reduce the chance of damage along the edge from horizontal storage. Fourthly, store them in controlled temperature and humidity conditions, and open and use them only in dustfree conditions (a small dirt particle, hair, etc is enormous compared to the the density of your data). Fifthly, after about five or ten years, replace the things anyway before slow erosion (from use) of the magnetic medium starts to reduce reliability. Sixthly, reread rule one - always provide a backup by duplicating each tape every time you change its contents.