[Gllug] Data migration and electronic archaeology

[Chris Bell]

On Tue 21 May, John Hearns wrote:
> 
> On Tue, 2002-05-21 at 14:23, tet at accucard.com wrote:
> > 
> > >What do you do in the Real World (TM) when your computing platform
> > >is reaching (or has passed) obsolesence?
> > 
> > In my case, old machines have been redeployed as file/print servers
> > or firewalls once they cease to be useful as a desktop client.
> > 
> Sorry - that is not what I meant.
> I was more talking about (say) if your critical application runs
> on a PDP 11 (yes = I KNOW you can still buy them).
> Or more about transferring data between databases -
> how easy is that in the Real World, and how often is it actually done?
> 
> I'm thinking examples in my own experience from medical imaging.
> 
> I was involved on the sidelines in the purchase of a PACS image
> database.
> Main server was a Solaris box - that was five or so years ago.
> How easy is it IN REALITY to get data out of old hardware onto new?
> 
> My experience was, in the medical world, that lots of old hardware 
> was still being used? Hence my comments about the rack-mount tape
> drive going to a hospital.
> 
> (Y2K did a lot of good there, forcing people
> to think about maintaining old kit).
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > That said, there are still issues. Tapes and the drives to read them
> > do wear out. But then, you should be perioically rearchiving stuff
> > on newer and more durable media where possible anyway. It's not hard
> > to transfer data from Exabyte onto DLT or CD, for example. Sure,
> > it's a pain in the ass, but it comes down to whether your data is
> > sufficiently valuable to warrant the effort or not.
> 
> Good stuff - that's what I'm trying to start a debate on.
> How often in reality is that REALLY done?

   I have a small stack of magneto-optical discs, which are virtually bomb
and radiation proof, with a specified life of at least 25 years, together
with a failed SCSI drive.

-- 
Chris Bell



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