Disk system for storing archival data

richard rhodes wrote:
+ I am interested in our thoughts and comments on a raid system that
+ would be used for storing archival data.
+
+ Requirements:
+ - maximum capacity
+ - minimum dollars (but not cheap, as in poor quality)
+ - minimal performance need (the data mostly just sits there)
+ - must provide "phone home" capability to the vendor for hardware
+ problems
+
+ Any thoughts/comments/recommendations are appreciated!

A 1TB PC (e.g., four 250GB SATAs) can be:
- purchased for one-to-two thousand dollars,
- installed anywhere in cyberspace,
- mailed anywhere cheaply and conveniently,
- configured for various levels of reduncancy,
- set to "wake on network",
- controlled via a remote console,
- remotely verified for data integrity,
- remotely queried to retrieve archived data.
Next year, for another $2K, you can replace that 1TB system with a 2TB
system, move this 1TB of data forward, and retire the 1TB system. The
year after you can move that 2TB of data to a 4TB system, and retire
the 2TB. And so on, forever.

Tom Payne