> -----Original Message----- > From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron and Jenny Hawkins > Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 7:18 AM > To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU > Subject: Re: Tape stacking, media conversion and data > archival past end of mainframe > > > Len, > > How about storing them as Binary files on NFS mounted SATA? > > You can access from Mainframe or Open System. You choose > whether to store > metadata and file layouts with the files, or convert it to > ASCII on the way > out. > > Ron
OK, I'll be the "goat" and ask one of my usual questions. In this case, would it be a good idea to unload the data (regardless of source: mainframe, UNIX, Windows, i5/OS, whatever!) to a properly structured XML document and store it in Unicode? Of course, I don't define "properly structured". I'd guess that it would mean a strict DTD. The DTD would be saved on the same media as the data. If the data spans physical media, then a copy of the DTD would be on each of them. NO BINARY! STRICTLY Unicode "text" for everything. Now, as to the medium to use. I don't really care. In my opinion, all data should be periodically copied to new media at least every two years. Also, all archival data should have at least three copies made. The media should be stored in house, and at separate off-site locations (preferably well separated locations, say CA, KS, and NY, maybe even internationally!). You'd use the in-house copy to recreate all other copies, with the offsite copies being sent back offsite. I would never want to be forced to bring a backup back to the data center in order to copy it. Yes, this increases the expense. But I am a paranoid about such things in a corporate environment. -- John McKown Senior Systems Programmer UICI Insurance Center Information Technology This message (including any attachments) contains confidential information intended for a specific individual and purpose, and its content is protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, you should delete this message and are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, or distribution of this transmission, or taking any action based on it, is strictly prohibited. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
