Carrier Access to Allows data Current Speed of Expected Other

data modification? storage increase in usable life comments

capacities capacity of single
per unit unit
Magnetic fast random yes up to 200 doubling around 5 generally
disk (eg access gigabytes every 12- years fixed
hard disk) 18 months media
Magnetic linear generally no up to 200 doubling around 5 portable
tape storage so read and write gigabytes every 12- years media
takes longer requires data to 18 months suitable for
to search be overwritten backup
and access
data
Optical disk fast random yes, on some up to 4 slow wide range portable
(CD, DVD) access, but products gigabytes because from say, 5 media.
slower than not used years for
unit costs
magnetic for very low quality
low; low
disk large products to
cost
archives or several
consumer
backups decades for
equipment
high
widely
quality
available
products

Table 16-1 Comparison of large-scale data carriers

Maintenance, support and replacement programmes. System components

generally need to be replaced every few years. Hardware typically has a
working life of around five years before technical support may become
difficult to obtain. Storage carriers also need regular refreshing (rewriting of
data) and periodic replacement by new carriers.

The need to replace storage systems involves significant recurring costs,

covering the equipment itself as well as the procurement and data transfer
processes that precede and follow installation of new equipment. These costs
must be built into long term budget planning.

While the cost of replacing data carriers must be considered, replacement

media typically offer increased storage capacity. Unfortunately, any savings
are usually offset by growth in the amount of data to be stored.

The market for data storage and management systems extends well beyond
preservation programmes, so there are good COTS (Commercial Off The
Shelf) products available. Using COTS technology is possibly the most easily
managed, low risk and cost effective approach as technical support and
upgrades are provided by vendors in a competitive marketplace. Standards are
sufficiently widely used in the storage market to allow mixing and matching
products from various vendors so that a number of upgrade and replacement
paths are available when needed.

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