Kristen’s question about server
storage is a good one. Most professionally-managed digital libraries and
electronic archives use server based storage to enable sufficient capacity for
large scale retention and preservation. This has the advantage of avoiding the
pitfalls of media preservation (tape, disc, etc.) but there are still other
things to consider:
Is this server professionally managed and maintained?
Specifically are IT professionals there to ensure software upgrades, firewalls
and virus protection are maintained? We’ve had some real fun trying to
manage our own servers in our department with skilled people that were not up
to the task. Keep in mind Microsoft applications and operating systems have
been particularly vulnerable to attack, especially if the software upgrades are
not installed in a timely manner.
Are we relying upon a single server? What
is the backup or mirroring strategy? Redundancy is a longstanding principle in
preservation and it is particularly important with digital materials.
Assuming server content is backed up, you
should ask some questions about the backup routines: What is the frequency of
backup? Does IT reuse the same media for rolling backups (reuse tends to reduce
reliability of the media). Does the backup application employ lossy compression
that might not be appropriate for image files? What quality control processes
are in place to ensure the scope of the backup is correct as the server content
grows?
Server based storage is absolutely
necessary to achieve the scale we need for digital archives, especially as we
move into more digital video and audio content. However managing servers is not
for everyone. Employing IT professionals that have appropriate skillset,
workload and professional development support is the best way to ensure your
machines and software are operating with the least potential for loss.
Rob Spindler
University Archivist
To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask]
Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html
Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>