Are 'Regular' Blu Rays 'Good Enough' For Archival Use?

When it comes to using Blu Ray optical media for data archival, the M-Disc gets a lot of attention. However today's "regular" Blu-Rays use inorganic recording layers. Some manufacturers estimate that these discs - with MABL (metal ablative recording layer) - can last more than 100 years. Does that mean that regular Blu Rays are "good enough" for archiving?

[ocular]

Do you think extra layers adds a point of failure? ie would the basic 25Gb BD last longer than the 50, 100. 128Gb ones?

[jamescampbell]

Based on what I've found, the conditions they are stored in are much more important. If it's in a hot, light, or humid place it will kill probably any blu ray. So store them in a cool, dark, dry place. On top of that burn them as slow as possible with error correction using a high quality writer. If you use well made Sony/Verbatim discs that should be plenty. Then store them in a water proof storage container/binder with a silica gel packet and that should probably last you a hundred years

[CCJ]

After having two backup hard drives fail this year I've been looking at revisiting DVD/Blu Ray backup. I still have working burners and discs I burned in the early 2000s that still spin up and work can't say that about hard drives. Very informative and thanks for the videos.

[HermanIdzerda]

I am using BDRs myself for archiving as well. It is dependable and no malware can affect the data once written.

[craconia]

That's a well thought out conclusion, Daniel. I know you've been with this for a while (reddit discussions etc). I totally agree with your line of thought here. Thanks!

[ForwardSynthesis]

Here's a consideration: the data layer itself is inorganic, but a common failure mode of discs is that the plastic layer is scratched so can no longer be read. This can be fixed to some degree with CDs and DVDs because the plastic layer is thick enough to be buffed somewhat to remove light scratches. With a Blu-Ray disc the plastic layer is much thinner and I don't believe scratches can be buffed out of it without compromising the ability of the laser to read it. This isn't a problem for long term cold storage really, but it might be a problem for wanting both long term storage and reasonably frequent usage. The lifetime may then fall to the lifetime of the plastic's resistance to the very light scratches gained from being removed from storage and played.

If the sandwiching layer is still polycarb then that's a lifetime limiter in itself that even in the case of DVDs is usually lower than the data layer lifetime.

[Archmage]

I've been using 2 external HDDs with full backups, and a partial backup of the most important files on DVD. I filled up 4 DVDs with that initial backup, and over a few years I add new files to additional disks.

Since DVD storage capacity is so limited I've been looking at Blu-rays as an alternative, but I've seen conflicting info on how reliable Blu-rays are. One thing that made me pause is that apparently even though Blu-ray disks are optical, something about the way they save data makes that data potentially vulnerable to electromagnetic fields. Meaning they have a similar vulnerability to HDDs. I'm really not sure whether it's worth it to use Blu-ray if that's true, or just to stick with DVDs (and maybe just use more of them) because data on DVDs will apparently survive things that can wipe data from HDDs and Blu-ray (maybe, like I said there seems to be mixed info on whether BD can be affected by EM or not).

[Mae-nrwr]

found this channel because recently a large retailer here is dumping all their BD 25gb 25pack stock for $0.73 , thats 2 cent per disc, or 0, 001 per GB, aka 1 dollar per terabyte? if my math is correct

so yeah blu-ray can still be an option especially if you find good deals or sales, BD at one point was actually cheaper per $ than HDDs until those cheap 8TBs flooded the market. but i always loved dealing with bluray CDs so i always look for a good deal every now and then

[Zimarg]

Varbatim still claims 1000 years for the M disc on their website

[vinishshetty]

The recording layer in regular HTL BD-R discs is a combination of metal oxides. Also regular BD-R 25GB discs you get now a days are all HTL you can know this after burning the Blu Ray Disc if you look at the burning side of the disc under day light (just tilt it) the burnt surface will look non reflective or dull compared to the reflective surface of unburnt section on the disc or an unburnt new disc. So yes regular BD-R 25GB Discs or any brands (CMC sourced) are good for long term data Archival, However when sold as M-Disc those discs come with additional warranty post recording media on them (in case of failure) where regular BD-R discs don't come with any warranty as such other than manufacturing defect.

[triciclosonido]

Digital preservation has 1 axiom, which is "one copy is no copy". 2 minimum, 3 recommended is the amount of copies to make, storing them at different locations, at least 1 in the cloud and 1 local physical.
As long as you comply with that and keep the technology you use readable, the format used is not that important. But the fact is optical media is (at least in my knowledge) seldom used in archival tasks.

[joskejef]

Hey Daniel thanks a lot for sharing your research and practice! I will follow your lead, I think it makes sense what you are saying. Is there perhaps a blu ray burner you would recommend?

[putinscat]

Where does the metal ablate to? I wonder if that stuff will clog up the player?

[nid]

thanks for this info, , , I was almost fooled by the cheap blank bd...I thought the price difference was because of import fee and all

[Name-otxw]

Is magnetic tape not still the golden standard for longevity?

[RockTo]

Is there not a higher chance of data being preserved should a media last 1000 years vs. 100 years?

If something can last 10x longer, then is it not also reasonable to consider the 1000 year discs to more more hardy and more impervious to environmental factors than those discs which are 50 years or 100 years?

[KolyaNadj]

Hi Daniel, so are those Verbatim actually made in Japan?

[goldmmoking]

From my own research, I have basically come to the exact same conclusion.

[tricogustrico]

What is so important that would still be relevant in 100 years

[SubTroppo]

Parchment is your only man. ps Seemingly, tech market wise, Japan is on another planet.