[KLUG Members] writing dvd

[Bruce Smith]

> I am really lost here. I can't tell the difference between all these 
> formats. 

It's very confusing.  Not counting DVD-RAM, my understanding is the dash
formats came first (DVD-R DVD-RW). 

Then came the plus formats (DVD+R DVD+RW).  

I've heard the plus formats are "better" (whatever that means), but the
dash formats are more compatible in normal DVD players (not computers).

Now it's a VHS vs. BETAMAX type war.  Who will win?  Time will tell...

> I just want to make a simple (?) backup. Can you tell me why 
> DVD[-|+][r|w] won't last. Does the data put on media vapporize?

I don't know the technical reasons why, but everything I've read on the
subject says to only use DVD-RAM for backups.

I could _guess_ it's because that other formats are primarily for video
and DVD-RAM is for storing DATA.

Does it matter if a byte or two gets corrupted on a _video_ DVD? 
Probably not, you may get a millisecond of static on your TV.

>From a recent ask-slashdot posting (moderated to 5, nobody disagreed):

 "Remember that DVD-RAM is the only standard that is reliable for 
 backups, the only one with (optional) data verification, the only one 
 with long life cycles for constant use (100,000 records vs 100-1000 
 for DVD-/+R/W)."

> I usally used tapes they never gave me any problems. But now I want to 
> save data for a longer period, without the need to ever rewrite the 
> backup. (I need to backup some transactional data that needs to be kept 
> for a period of about two years. So I thought that a dvd would just do 
> that. )

Depends on how important it is, if you should trust it to anything bug
DVD-RAM.  And if you do use a different format, make sure you manually
verify it in a different DVD drive after you burn your backup.  IMO...

--------------------------------------------
Bruce Smith                bruce@armintl.com
System Administrator / Network Administrator
Armstrong International, Inc.
Three Rivers, Michigan  49093  USA
http://www.armstrong-intl.com/
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