Hard-core data preservation: The best media and methods for archiving your data

A lot is written about the importance of backing up data, but the media and methodologies proposed aren’t generally suitable for archiving. Securing your data for posterity, i.e., archiving, requires a different approach, where shelved media life and future file compatibility trump the speed and convenience that make backup palatable to the average user.
We’ll discuss methodology later, but here’s the low-down on the media types available for backup and archival purposes.