Archiving digital photos - your choice

[artplumber]

So how are you guys going to do it? I read an article that suggests that all of the CDR data is likely to be not dependable if stored for 20 yrs (even at ideal conditions). Especially for the "family" stuff, this seems important since I'm wending my way through old/yellowing photos at this time. What do you prefer- mult flash drives, cdr/cdrw, dvdr(of whatever kind)? Tape?

EDIT: Oops, meant to post this to off-topic. Will ask it to be moved

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Multiple HD backups across multiple drives. Occasional DVD or CD-R burns.

[Dave L]

I bought an external HD and also have CD backups.

[cowtown]

Stuck a server with a RAID5 array in the garage. Plus every year or so I burn them to DVDs and store them somewhere else, like my parents' house.

[RallyJon]

Google on archival cd-r. Here's one: http://www.archivalgold.com/

[RickM]

Great link, Jon. Thanks.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Yes, I think I found my new SOP for archiving. Thanks Jon!

[Don Ro]

Wait a second here, guys.
Cyber/tech-Doof here.
Are you saying that digital photos I have put onto a CD will last only about 20 yrs? ...or are you speaking about photos on film?
Have I mis-read your Q, art?

[RickM]

You read right. Standard CDs have a limited lifespan. The reflective material and plastic sheathing oxidizes over time. While nothing is perfect apparently superioir materials are used in the archival counterparts.

[Don Ro]

K.
Thanks, Rick.
Will look into it.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

There's even a CD-eating fungus, which makes the gold CDs a better bet:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1402533.stm

[svandamme]

ifolder
2 on my work machines
1 @ home

if either of em craps out , it's still on the other 2 and on the server
if the server craps out , it's still on the workstations

total redundancy
and it sorts out updates, and keeps track of which file is newer
i've used it 3-4 years now, it never get's it wrong ,even with alll pc's active at the same time, can be force to find timestamp confusion , but it will simply put it in the conflict bin

server also has a webclient , so if the server is setup properly with internet access, you can log on and get any file even when not on your own pc...


it's been released to the opensource comunity just recently
runs on mac, linux windoze

encrypts the files on the server , so admins can't snoop
runs in the background , so as long as you save your crap in the ifolder directory , it'll synch to the other boxes


it does require a server though , but if your company has lot's of laptops.. iFolder is the ticket


http://www.ifolder.com/index.php/Download

[artplumber]

Originally posted by Don Ro
Wait a second here, guys.
Cyber/tech-Doof here.
Are you saying that digital photos I have put onto a CD will last only about 20 yrs? ...or are you speaking about photos on film?
Have I mis-read your Q, art?

Don,
Yeah, sucks huh? Ya think ya got a durable archive, and waddya know?....

Anyway, others have described the probs. The multiple drives/RAID option is familiar since we use it for archiving digital medical imaging, but it's a little much for me, since as you see I am roving the sunbelt. Maybe in the future. Jon, thanks for the link, I guess that's what I'll do.

[FrayAdjacent911]

I copy my pics to an external hard drive periodically, and back up specific subjects (like pictures of Stinky, for posterity and historical purposes) to DVD. The problem rumors about CDs MOSTLY affects CHEAP CDs. Not too sure about DVD media, but I keep my pics in multiple places.

Since I was going on vacation (see my Washington DC post), I found a good photo hosting site that gives you 10GB of storage for $24 a year, that has some pretty nice features. I upload my original size photos... if I ever need them, I can get them

[artplumber]

Originally posted by FrayAdjacent911
... The problem rumors about CDs MOSTLY affects CHEAP CDs. Not too sure about DVD media, but I keep my pics in multiple places.

Since I was going on vacation (see my Washington DC post), I found a good photo hosting site that gives you 10GB of storage for $24 a year, that has some pretty nice features. I upload my original size photos... if I ever need them, I can get them

I think its all common CDR's/CDRW's since they are silver. There was a link above to Gold which I guess is supposed to last longer

Your other option is interesting, wonder if their data is secured, ie what happens if the building is on fire and the firemen hosedown everything, is the building in New Orleans... doesn't look expensive.

[island911]

Kodak also has 'photo-protect' or some such. (Gold also)

Then there are archival locations.. . . the big one that I know of is ADIC.

[FrayAdjacent911]

Originally posted by artplumber
I think its all common CDR's/CDRW's since they are silver. There was a link above to Gold which I guess is supposed to last longer

Your other option is interesting, wonder if their data is secured, ie what happens if the building is on fire and the firemen hosedown everything, is the building in New Orleans... doesn't look expensive.

Well, it is a hosting site (forgot to add the link... www.zoto.com), not a backup site. I don't know what their redundancy is, but it's probably decent. When data (pictures) are their livelyhood, they would likely protect it.

[VaSteve]

Originally posted by RickM
You read right. Standard CDs have a limited lifespan. The reflective material and plastic sheathing oxidizes over time. While nothing is perfect apparently superioir materials are used in the archival counterparts.

Isn't this the same thing that was going around about pre-recorded CDs about 15 years ago? Did it ever prove out?

[928ram]

Kodak also has 'photo-protect' or some such. (Gold also)

Kodachrome

[island911]

Correction; "InfoGuard" on the Kodak CD's