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Conference ssag::ask_ssag

Title:Ask the Storage Architecture Group
Notice:Check out our web page at http://www-starch.shr.dec.com
Moderator:SSAG::TERZAN
Created:Wed Oct 15 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:6756
Total number of notes:25276

6625.0. "Shelve lifetime of CD-ROM and CD-R?" by COOKIE::FROEHLIN (VMS...riding into the setting sun!) Fri Apr 25 1997 11:24

    What is the expected shelve lifetime of a CD-ROM and a CD-R?
    
    Thanks
    Guenther
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
6625.1Some guesses maybe?COOKIE::FROEHLINVMS...riding into the setting sun!Wed Apr 30 1997 11:175
    Any pointers where to find this information? What is the expected
    technology lifetime for CD-ROM?
    
    Thanks
    Guenther
6625.2LEFTY::CWILLIAMSCD or not CD, that's the questionMon May 05 1997 10:0520
    Drive or media?
    
    When CD audio first came out, Philips was saying 10 year life on the
    media. Now it's in the 30-50 year range, though it all depends on the
    quality of the manufacturing process. Oxidation of the reflective layer
    seems to be the aging mechanism. BTW, my year one CD-audio discs (close
    to 15 years old now!) still play fine.
    
    CD-R is a different process... 10+ years is a safe bet. It probably
    will last a lot longer than that. Storage conditions will affect this,
    though.
    
    CDROM technology has a few more years in it. DVD will take over from
    there, and will be able to read CDROM, so there's a lot of life left in
    the format.
    
    What's the reason you need this info?
    
    Chris
6625.3COOKIE::FROEHLINVMS...riding into the setting sun!Mon May 05 1997 11:527
    Customer asked me at DECUS. He needs to get an idea how long the CD-ROM
    technology can be useful to archive data. It's not only about the media
    lifetime but also the ability to still access the data. Same question
    about CD-R.
    
    Thanks
    Guenther
6625.4archive data?REGENT::HUMMERSTue May 06 1997 14:467
    I think the numbers like 10 years and more are for commercially
    produced CDroms, such as our production SSB CDs (ASD etc.).    I 
    would guess that the write once CDs that are available could be 
    much less, particularly with poor handling and/or storage.    Answer 
    the 'right' question.
    
    \s\Rick