Filing CD/DVD discs...need some advice

[Loren Jones]

I have a relatively simple system that has worked well for me:

1. Images are uploaded to a local hard drive in directories named for the shoot, i.e. 20070414_Smith_Jones_Wedding. If multi-camera weddings, image date/time are sync'd (shoot a digital clock with each camera, then batch adjust time with Breeze Browser.) If multi-camera I'll rename them in time sequence order.

2. Quick quality edit pass to dump the obviously bad shots, missed focus, etc.

3. Copy Directory to Archive NAS server

4. Archive to two or more DVDs using Veritas Record_Now utility. It automatically labels the disc with the current date and time, i.e. 070414_1123

5. Catalog DVDs with Advanced File Organizer (a sweet little, $30 disc cataloging database.) I have it set to read Directories-only, not all the file names. Occasionally I'll add some other meta data in the comments field, but usually don't have to.)

6. Discs get slipped into the 4" 3-ring binders using Fellowes CD/DVD 4x4 Binder Sheets (product #85699), always starting at the last sheet in the binder and working forward (so most recent is towards the front, older towards the back.) I have a row of five of these three-ring binders sitting on the shelf above my workspace that currently hold 753 discs containing 2.90TB of data in 8,483 folders holding 728,419 files (according to AFO!)

It's a simple, cheap system that's proved very effective. I have purchaed iView, but have never gotten around to implementing it. Even if I ultimately do, I suspect I'll continue this as a secondary organization mechanism.

[ksgkphoto]

Originally Posted by michaelnotar

i think i am going to separate my OS on on SATA drive in my computer and my personal shots on my other SATA drive also in my computer tower. i will place all my work images on a desktop array i think they are called..basically large multidisk HHDs set up in RAID 5 but maybe mirrored.

curious to know what other think of this system for stability or in general
would like to here from ksgkphoto.

Hi,

Separating your "images" from your "OS" helps in the event that your "OS" crashes so severely that you need to rebuild the PC. For safeties sake I'd advocate disconnecting the "data" drive during the rebuild. Also in a "pinch" you can pull the data drive and pop it into another computer and access your data. (or even better just use an external firewire drive for your data, very portable)

BUT...
IMHO its still an eggs in one basket approach.

Now using a desktop raid (per the d-link item from Tigerdirect in my previous post which offers RAID 1, or something more extravagant that offers RAID 5) is "nicer" because it tolerates a drive failure and keeps on running.

keeping the data on your "local second SATA" and on a secondary RAID 1 external box would be a "nice" solution. That way if you keep the RAID box updated (with second copy (see previous post) or an equivalent) then at worst if the PC SATA drive dies catastrophically you have only lost a days work or so.

Now RAID 5 inside your PC itself is a "really" nice thing as the drives can give you some decent performance improvements BUT, its pricey, runs hot and noisey, I'd stick with one or two SATA-II seagate drives in mirror configuration and "live with it".

Note that using Motherboard RAID is IMHO dangerous as any issues with that Motherboard and you tend to loose your data, I've lost data flashing a BIOS and when a MB died and and equivalent was not available. (stick to a mainstream RAID card from Adaptec, Promise or 3Ware) For inexpensive I like Promise, (Adaptec have a habit of obsoleting products frequently to keep sales going))

There are some "pricey" RAID 5 boxes that come with a firewire cable, I haven't tried that but that seems "cute" it has big capacity, its portable (no or minimal drivers to install), and its firewire and fast.

RAID 5 over a network is "pointless" unless you are going "big" (in which case speed isnt what you are "getting" its size efficiency)... I have 8x 400gig in a RAID 5 server (with a 3ware card) which gives me 2.4 TB of storage with a hot spare (I can add a further 8 more drives as needed). But as I alluded my case is special (and no that is not 2.4TB of imagery..) . Experience wise I personally have run multiple different RAID arrays in one form or another for the last 12 years and at my "last corporate job" the IT department reported to me.



Hope that helps.

K

[Richard Brown]

I tried many storage methods. I have thousands of backup CDs and DVDs. But I would first like to proffer this caveat: Do you burn your CD/DVDs for ARCHIVES, or for HEARTBREAK?

Burn speed is the critical thing. And think SLOW. As SLOW as you can. 1X if possible. It has to do with pit depth, and regardless of the sensitivity of your media, the SLOWER you burn, the more apt your archive will survive past 5 years. Well, 3, actually, according to computer industry white papers, which actually say "do not archive anything important on CDR media..." etc. these days.

Sure, everybody will have flukes that SEEM to last though they were burned at 48x. Just give it time.

I have 20+ year old CDs I burned at 1x. They work fine. Buy quality media, burn slowly, and be happy while you wait for holographic storage.

As to storing the things, when you get a LOT of discs, I find the Case Logic big books, with 250+ disc capacity, tend to conserve shelf space. I tried the thin disc cases, but eventually, the shelf space is all used, and you have no place to go. Case Logic really helps condense things to manageable levels.

When you go to high density storage, you need to database the images so you can find them easily. I use the last, pre Adobe buyout version of iView Media Pro, and have recently begun testing Aperture, but iView is lean and very functional for media databasing.

-Richard Brown

[ChrisPerry]

Richard - since the data is actually burned to the underside of the label, what's teh current 'white paper' thoughts on writing/printing on the label face?

I have used Sharpies, but not sure they're 'sage' long term - things you hear ya know.

And what's a 'qualiity' disc? I've got CD's that I use in my car for music that are certainly abused and work just fine - they were the cheapie circuit city brand

[Noel_Carboni]

I'm coming into this late, but here's what works for me:

I keep my imagery under folders on my hard drive organized by Year, Month, and Occasion.

When I back my data up I do it by date.

I find going back to the folders or backups by year, month, and occasion fairly easy.

Regarding physical storage, unfortunately I just have a long row of discs in boxes or soft covers on the shelf. Probably not the best approach.

-Noel

[Dave New]

Originally Posted by BillyGarrett

Chris,

As for me, I store all my CD/DVD's in slim jewel cases vertical in used file cabinet drawers. I bought one 6 drawer filing cabinet at a auction for $5. I keep the file cabinet in a closet. You can store a lot of DVD'd there. The only thing that I had to do was make a small rack to keep all the disk vertical.
So in the cabinet they are dust free (almost), and in a near controlled environment.

My racks are made from simple wood products. I went to my local home depot, purchased a few fir strips. 1/2"x1"x8'. cut some plywood into squares to match the jewel case covers and screwed the ends together using wood screws. did add a 3/4" difference to the top of the racks so that I can stack another rack on top of each other. As for the divders to seperate the months, I cut normal file dividers in half and made tabs on them.


billy g.

Not to be an alarmist, but wood products can outgas various chemicals (natural or otherwise) that might not be much of a problem in a fairly open environment, but enclosed in a file cabinet may concentrate enough to be detrimental to your media.

I have no idea what Fir or plywood might produce, nor if what they do produce is known to be problematic with long-term CD/DVD storage, but I would advise caution in this area. Perhaps sealing all the wood with something known to be non-problematic would be helpful.

At least you are storing the discs vertically in (slim) jewel cases, which is the best recommended practice. Even though the cases are not airtight, they may decrease the exposure to any outgassing of the wood products in the cabinet.

[Tim_Butterfield]

Originally Posted by Dave New

Not to be an alarmist, but wood products can outgas various chemicals (natural or otherwise) that might not be much of a problem in a fairly open environment, but enclosed in a file cabinet may concentrate enough to be detrimental to your media.

I have no idea what Fir or plywood might produce, nor if what they do produce is known to be problematic with long-term CD/DVD storage, but I would advise caution in this area. Perhaps sealing all the wood with something known to be non-problematic would be helpful.

(Background: I am an amateur woodworker also.) I don't think the wood itself outgases. What releases gas is the glue used to bond pieces of it together, either pieces of solid wood or the layers of plywood. Some finishes may also release gas as they cure, though this is not as much of an issue as with adhesives. Solid wood (not plywood) held together with screws shouldn't have a problem.

Tim