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Is stuff online worth saving?

(rubenerd.com)
128 points Brajeshwar | 8 comments | 17 Dec 24 14:31 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source | bottom
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underseacables ◴[21 Dec 24 14:15 UTC] No.42479808[source]▶
I suppose it comes down to what the purpose of such archiving is.

I think it's the preservation of information, but I also believe 90% is absolutely pointless. There is just so much of it, and data storage so cheap, that it makes sense to just save everything.

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1. dreamcompiler ◴[21 Dec 24 14:47 UTC] No.42479985[source]▶
That data storage is also ephemeral. Nobe of it will last as long as a paper note, unless some human goes to the trouble of copying it all onto new drives with new software every ten years or so.
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2. Atreiden ◴[21 Dec 24 15:23 UTC] No.42480154[source]▶
With a proper NAS and RAID10 for double parity, it's a bit like Theseus ship. Just keep swapping out drives when they become unhealthy and you never have to rebuild or migrate
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3. ninalanyon ◴[21 Dec 24 15:52 UTC] No.42480339[source]▶
Eventually the controller will die and eventually compatible ones will no longer be produced or will at least be inconvenient to obtain or commission and hence expensive.

Paper lasts for centuries without any attention beyond keeping it moderately dry and away from things that eat it.

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4. emptiestplace ◴[21 Dec 24 16:01 UTC] No.42480390{3}[source]▶
No sane person uses hardware RAID in 2024, if that's what you're referring to.
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5. ◴[21 Dec 24 16:06 UTC] No.42480412[source]▶
6. zamadatix ◴[21 Dec 24 16:07 UTC] No.42480415{4}[source]▶
Whether you're using hardware RAID or not you still need a hardware storage controller of some type which accepts the new disks you can buy and works with the NAS. What they are saying is eventually that'll be more $ and time than just migrating off the system would be. From ENIAC to now could fit in one lifespan, would you still be maintaining a home floppy drive backup system in the 2040s or just save the time and effort with a migration?
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7. ◴[21 Dec 24 16:07 UTC] No.42480417{3}[source]▶
8. jpalawaga ◴[21 Dec 24 21:31 UTC] No.42482497{5}[source]▶
sure, you can always move the old storage mechanism to something new if it is too cumbersome.

why still back up floppies if you could just move the data to a single dvd, or throw is on the SAN?

RAID is just algorithms, the actual transport doesn't matter (i.e. spinning platter and solid state both use SATA connectors).