[aklug] Re: SSDs

I'm up late (can't sleep - stupid work nightmares again :-) and happened
to be doing some research trying to resolve a question in my mind about
SD Card archival life. I.e., the issue of how well SD cards work for
long term storage of data when the card is left in a powered off state
for long periods of time. Due to the fact that SD cards are based on
flash memory (NAND Flash, I think) data is stored by trapping charge,
and eventually that charge leaks out. (Or, at least, that's what people
keep telling me.) So, for example, if you stuck an SD card in a drawer
for ten years and tried to read it again, the data might have vanished away.

Thought it might be worth bringing up this point of discussion for SSD
as well, as (from the little I understand) they are based on similar
technology (flash memory). If your drive was left in a powered off state
for a long period of time (really long vacation...? coma...? computer
left in the attic...?) the data would dissipate in the above mentioned
manner.

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1502663

The above link is a bit old (2 years) but indicated two interesting points:

1) SSD keeps data fresh by moving it around in memory regularly
according to some algorithm. (In short, the SSD is purposely wearing
itself out in order to keep your data alive.)

2) Some SSD designs ideas might purposely cut down on the archival life
of the drive considerably, in order to attain faster data access speeds.

I just thought I'd mention that for the sake of discussion. Haven't done
the research yet to give any up-to-date or reliable conclusions.

-- 
frigidcode.com
indicium.us

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