For those with large photo/video archives: what does your actual backup setup look like?
Hi all,
I have a large personal photo/video collection built up over the years and want to make sure it’s properly protected. Right now everything sits on two external HDDs, and I’ve read that drives have a limited shelf life, so I’m looking to build a more reliable long-term system.
A few things I’d love input on:
The 3-2-1 backup rule: I understand the basic idea (3 copies, 2 different media types, 1 offsite), but how do people actually implement this in practice for a home photo/video archive? What’s your setup, brands, models, and how it’s all connected?
File formats: should I be converting anything, or keeping the original format?
Backup methods: NAS vs. cloud vs. cold storage HDDs vs. optical media (M-DISC, etc.)? What’s actually held up well for you over 5-10+ years?
HDD lifespan: how often do you actually need to replace/refresh drives, and how do you monitor drive health before something fails?
Specifics/cost: if you’re using a NAS, which model, how many bays, and what did it cost to set up? If cloud, which provider and what’s the monthly/yearly cost for your storage amount? If cold storage HDDs, which brand/model do you trust, and roughly how much per TB?
Would really appreciate hearing what’s worked (and what hasn’t) for people who’ve been doing this a while, including rough costs so I can budget properly.